July 7, 2026 – From state capitols to local landmarks, nearly 12,000 youth leaders are uniting to lead collective action projects and strengthen their civic voices for this year’s ‘National Day of Social Action.’
Media Contact: John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
WASHINGTON, DC– On Wednesday, July 15, nearly 12,000 CDF Freedom Schools® scholars across the nation will participate in the National Day of Social Action (NDSA).
This annual event, organized by the national child and youth advocacy organization, Children’s Defense Fund (CDF), empowers CDF Freedom Schools scholars to lead collective action projects in their local communities. CDF Freedom Schools provide K–12 students and their families with summer enrichment rooted in a research-backed, culturally responsive curriculum that fosters academic success in more than 180 partner sites nationwide in 26 states, including Washington, D.C. By organizing and mobilizing, these scholars raise awareness about the critical issues directly impacting their lives and futures.
For this year’s NDSA, CDF Freedom Schools scholars will highlight the importance of mental health and social-emotional wellness under the theme, “Are the Children Well?”. Nationwide, CDF Freedom Schools scholars and partner sites will organize public events, such as speeches, sign-making, and community demonstrations, at state capitols and local landmarks to advocate for the necessity of supporting children’s emotional well-being.
NDSA 2024: Austin Students to Stand Up for the Right to Read at Texas Capitol (KUT News – NPR)
This year’s NDSA takes place at a critical moment. Public schools have traditionally been the most accessible sites for students to receive essential services, including counseling, therapy, nutrition, and health screenings. However, these programs face growing pressure. Funding cuts to public schools and important basic needs programs, like Medicaid and SNAP, threaten to disproportionately affect children and young people living with disabilities as well as those in low-income families and rural areas.
CDF Freedom Schools Managing Director Shaquité Pegues said this year’s NDSA theme reflects CDF’s belief that mental health and social emotional wellness is a building block for health and has a major impact on the ability children and young people to thrive.
NDSA 2023: More than 1,600 Students Rally at MN Capitol to Speak Out Against Guns (CBS News – Minnesota)
“Young people aren’t just the leaders of tomorrow; they’re the leaders of today. The goal of CDF Freedom Schools every summer is not only to educate scholars and help them develop a love for reading and learning. It is also to provide them with a safe space to form an opinion and a platform to make their voices heard in their family, community, and country,” she said. “By taking a collective action on issues as important as mental health and social-emotional wellness, nearly 12,000 young people will be able to strengthen their civic voice and help build communities across America that are more just, joyful, and equitable.”
*Journalists interested in covering CDF’s National Day of Social Action or an NDSA event in their local community are encouraged to contact Media Relations Manager John Henry at 708-646-7679 for more information.
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About Children’s Defense Fund
Founded in 1973, Children’s Defense Fund envisions a nation where marginalized children flourish, leaders prioritize their well-being, and communities wield the power to ensure they thrive. The only national, multi-issue advocacy organization working at the intersection of child well-being and racial justice, CDF advances the well-being of America’s most diverse generation, the 74 million children and youth under the age of 18 and 30 million young adults under the age of 25. CDF’s grassroots movements in marginalized communities build power for child-centered public policy, informed by racial equity and the lived experience of children and youth. Its renowned CDF Freedom Schools® program is conducted in nearly 100 cities across 30 states and territories. Learn more at www.childrensdefense.org.