July 15, 2026 – Under the theme, ‘Are the Children Well?’, more than 500 local school-aged children will raise their voices to advocate for the mental health resources essential to their success.
Media Contact: Jaren Sorkow, jsorkow@childrensdefense.org, CDF-CA State Director, 510-882-1742 (On-site Contact)
John Henry, jhenry@childrensdefense.org, Media Relations Manager, 708-646-7679
SAN FRANCISCO, CA– On Thursday, July 16, CDF Freedom Schools scholars from across the Bay Area and Sacramento will participate in the National Day of Social Action (NDSA) at the Chase Center in San Francisco.
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. The CDF Freedom Schools program provides 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.
This year, CDF Freedom Schools scholars are observing the National Day of Social Action (NDSA) under the theme, “Are the Children Well?,” to highlight the critical importance of mental health and social-emotional wellness among youth. The Chase Center event, which is sponsored by the Golden State Community Foundation and the Golden State Valkyries, will feature a day of advocacy and engagement, opening with Harambee, a high-energy tradition of cheers, chants, and collective spirit, followed by discussions with special guests, including San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie and Civil Rights Leader Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown.
The Golden State Community Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Golden State Warriors and the Golden State Valkyries. Established in 2012, it works to expand educational opportunities and support young people throughout the Bay Area. Through grants, partnerships, and community initiatives, the foundation invests in students, schools, and local organizations to help build stronger, more equitable communities.
WHAT: National Day of Social Action
WHERE: Chase Center, 1 Warriors Way, San Francisco, CA 94158
WHEN: Thursday, July 16, 2026, 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Special Guests: San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie, Civil Rights Leader Rev. Dr. Amos C. Brown, and other CA Youth Advocates
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 young people living with disabilities as well as those in low-income families and rural areas.
NDSA 2023: Northern California CDF Freedom Schools Scholars Participate in NDSA at Sacramento’s Golden 1 Center
“The mental health and social-emotional wellness of children and young people across California must be a chief concern for state leaders in Sacramento,” said CDF-California State Director Jaren Sorkow. “Over the last several years, we have seen that when our scholars unite and amplify each other’s voices on issues that directly affect their lives, they become powerful drivers of meaningful change in their communities.”
Local CDF Freedom Schools sites participating in this year’s NDSA will include Lincoln (Oakland), the West Contra Costa Public Education Fund and Easter Hill United Methodist Church (Richmond), the Roberts Family Development Center (Sacramento), and the African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative and Booker T. Washington Community Service Center (San Francisco).
CDF-CA would like to thank the Golden State Community Foundation for sponsoring the event. CDF-CA also extends gratitude to the 49ers Foundation for its generous contribution to this year’s NDSA.
*Journalists interested in covering the National Day of Social Action at the Chase Center should contact CDF Media Relations Manager John Henry at 708-646-7679 or JHenry@childrensdefense.org to RSVP.
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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
ABOUT GOLDEN STATE COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
The Golden State Community Foundation is the philanthropic arm of the Golden State Warriors and the Golden State Valkyries. Established in 2012, it works to expand educational opportunities and support young people throughout the Bay Area. Through grants, partnerships, and community initiatives, the foundation invests in students, schools, and local organizations to help build stronger, more equitable communities.