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Children’s Defense Fund Freedom School Executive Director Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons will be part of the Education Summit at the 58th Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee on Friday at Wallace Community College-Selma between 9 a.m. and noon.

A reception for Clemons will be held Thursday at 6:30 p.m.  at McRae-Gaines Learning Center.

The  Selma CDF Freedom School Initiative of McRae-Gaines Learning Center sent Clemons an invitation for a close look at the communities of Selma and Dallas County, and the Bridge Crossing audience from throughout the country with the Freedom School mission, curriculum and unique pedagogical methodology.

The goal of the CDF Freedom School is teaching the children to enjoy the reading process. They give the kids six to eight books.

The Selma CDF Freedom School has recruited a staff to deliver its program this summer at Ebenezer Missionary Baptist Church.

“McRae-Gaines’ vision is that we start that process in the community of Selma and Dallas County at the Selma Bridge Crossing Jubilee,” Board Member and Volunteer Stephanie Dillon Hamm said.

The challenge will be to finalize staff contracts, raising sufficient funds to cover the costs of personnel and operating expenses, field trips, food and STEM  and afternoon enrichment programming.

Last year, a grant from the Alabama Department of Early Childhood Development covered 85% of the program’s costs. The January 12 tornado that hit Selma  hurt the program.