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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2025 Hall-Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry
Building Beloved Community: A Place for Play & Laughter
Join us this year at the Prathia Hall-Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Child Advocacy Ministry—a place where faith, action, and joy come together to build a better world.
Young People Lead Podcast
The podcast aims to demonstrate how young people can and should lead by telling their stories of how youth are transforming policies for the better and examining research on the policies that most affect them.
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CDF Celebrates 50 Years
Children's Defense Fund's 2023 Policy Forum and Celebration of Joy at Howard University, Washington, D.C., marked our 50th and 30th Anniversaries of CDF Freedom Schools®. This event, focusing on health, early childhood development, communities, economic mobility, and civic engagement, united various community members for two days of learning, networking, and growth.
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Education
Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson on Dept. of Education Executive Order: ‘Education is still the Path to Freedom and Fairness’
Every student in America must be prepared for global workforce competition and equipped to vote, volunteer, and lift their voices in public life through stage-appropriate instruction, learning about their culture, democracy, and history. …
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“Everyone Is Welcome”
An Idaho middle school teacher recently made headlines for refusing to take down a classroom poster she said she was told was “controversial” and “an opinion.”…
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Service Announcements
CDF Welcomes Jaren Sorkow as New State Director for California
The national youth advocacy organization Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) has named Jaren Sorkow the new state director of its Children’s Defense Fund-California (CDF-CA) office.…
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Women’s History: Vision and Light
Forty-five years ago, President Jimmy Carter issued the first presidential proclamation designating March 2-8, 1980, as National Women’s History Week. …
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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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Subscribe to “For Our Children”
Sign up to receive the weekly column by Rev. Dr. Starsky Wilson.
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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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