Freedom's mission is to provide a positive arean where children can take part in safe supervised
and productive activities, where positive behavior is rewarded and encouraged. In addition to training them to be community leaders, grassroots activists for social justice, and to give back to the community.

Description and/or History:
The Freedom's Kids Program is a valuable asset to the community. The program is free and offers the following:
AFTER SCHOOL HELP: Homework assistance, literacy development and Eco-Art.
FREE SUMMER DAY CAMP: Children are taken on 35 educational trips so that they learn what NYC has to offer as the cultural capital of the world.
COMPUTER SCIENCE: Tutoring and work, so the children can stay on top in the new millennium.
SMOG SQUAD: Young environmental organizers that are trained to fight for environment justice and to train the community on environment issues.
BOYS BASKETBALL TEAM: To be part of the team these gentlemen are required to sign a contract, to participate in community service and do well in school.
In addition, Freedom, is the the host of a free boys basketball tournament serving 168 boys from all over NYC. Boys basketball tournament are big business. ($400-$600 per team, per tournament)
GIRLS HIV PREVENTION ADVOCATES: This program is geared towards young women of color. Our community has a serious HIV/AIDS epidemic due to unprotected sex and shared syringes used by drug users. Freedom trains young women to be HIV Prevention Advocates and give workshops to inform other girls how to protect themselves against possible lethal diseases. Follow up support to females clients who receive education & female condoms. We have the Gerardo Resource Room that is a haeven of information on HIV/AIDS and sexual health.HIV Rapid Testing & referral for health care & social services.
LA COCINA DE SANDRA: This is Freedom's soup kitchen run by Freedom's Kids serving the homeless& seniors citizens.
All the children receive a hot dinner, for many of them without this meal, they would have nothing to eat for the rest of the day.

Freedom Community Resource Center, Inc. (Freedom) was founded on October 6, 1996 by Sandra Hernandez to empower the forgotten victims of society through community organizing.

Born and raised in the South Bronx,in her early years Sandra became a member of a gang called the Reapers. "With gang life came certain privileges domestic violence and drug addiction." Sandra became a homeless mother suffering from substance abuse problems,sleepting on rooftops, selling scrapes of metal & eating out of garbage cans .Her strong will power eventually helped her escape from that troubled life.

In order to keep the youth from making the same mistakes she had Sandra founded Freedom.

On November 30, 2007 she passed away from cancer. Her life depicts how one person can touch so many, give so much hope & send the message that life is all about second chances. Because of Ms. Hernandez hundreds of at risk youth were taken off from the streets & moved to lead productive lives.

IN ever community children are left to find their recreation & companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them.

Freedom prides itself on continuing, Sandra's legacy & maintain it's mission.

Freedom's staff is all volunteers and approximately 75% of the operating funds are from out of the pockets of said volunteers. The other 25% is raised through fund-raising initiatives and donations. To date Freedom has received well deserved support from The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. In 1999 Freedom was recognized through the prestigious Union Square Award.

Contact people:

Joe Perez, Executive Director, (347) 269-6651, (email) Veronica Torres, Treasurer, (646) 842-2650, (email)

Address:

455 East 140th Street Garden Level Bronx, NY 10454 (See a map)

Directions:

Take the # 6 subway to Brook Ave walk to 140th Street turn left walk 1/2 block to Freedom   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: # 6,   Walk distance (in minutes): 2   Nearest Bus Stop: 15, 1 minute walk