Children’s Defense Fund builds community so young people grow up with dignity, hope, and joy.

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We envision a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive.

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Recent News

  • New Report Chronicles Los Angeles County’s Systemic Failure to Educate Incarcerated Youth

    The Education Justice Coalition (EJC), a consortium of youth advocacy and civil rights groups, today released a new report that examines the historical failures of Los Angeles County’s juvenile detention system and the current conditions that young people incarcerated face. …

  • Education

    Who has the power?

    Los Angeles County has failed to ensure access to the essential tool of a quality, culturally affirming, robust, and individualized education to the thousands of students under its care in juvenile detention facilities each year. This failure disproportionately affects low-income communities of color and persists due to the lack of transparent and responsive accountability mechanisms.…

  • Early Childhood

    The Best of What Education Can Be

    The CDF Freedom Schools model is indeed designed to light a spark and be an example of the best of what education can be. CDF Freedom Schools sites provide summer and after-school enrichment through a research-based and multicultural program model that supports students, or “scholars,” in grades K-12 and their families. …

  • Child Health

    Medicaid Turns 60: Celebrate Coverage, Not Cuts 

    For six decades, Medicaid has served as a lifeline, protecting children’s health and strengthening communities. Now, as Medicaid marks this milestone, that promise has been broken.…

Young boy laughs with his friends at a CDF Freedom Schools event.

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Find a CDF Freedom Schools® Site

At CDF Freedom Schools, we’re not just educating. We’re nurturing lifelong learners and advocates for progress. We’re sculpting a brighter tomorrow where we celebrate every young person’s potential, and affirming their impact on the world is profound. Find a CDF Freedom Schools site near you.

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Young boy laughs with his friends at a CDF Freedom Schools event.

Dr. Starsky Wilson speaks into a microphone.

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For Our Children

CDF’s President and CEO, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, shares insights, challenges, and hopes for the future in “For Our Children.”CDF’s President and CEO, Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson, offers a personal perspective on challenges, victories, and the path ahead in “For Our Children.” Delve into a unique narrative that guides our mission, celebrates milestones, and navigates the journey toward a brighter tomorrow. Explore now for an inside connection to our vision—where the story of our commitment to children and youth unfolds.

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