Making Hope Real

TRIBE ONE prepares youth for active citizenship in their city through spiritual mentoring, literacy and work experience,  all within a supportive community.  Activities focus on a comprehensive and holistic approach toward spiritual formation, skillbuilding, and civic engagement.  We see these as the most effective avenues through which we can elevate, educate and activate young people toward their own strength and success. 

TRIBE ONE, in partnership Children's Defense Fund (CDF) will launche the Knoxville Freedom Schools program June 21, 2010, running for six weeks ending July 30, 2010. The program will serve 50 children in grades 3-8. The program provides summer enrichment helping children fall in love with reading, increase self-esteem, and generate more positive attitudes toward learning. Children will be taught using a model curriculum that supports children and families around five essential components: high quality academic enrichment;parent and family involvement; civic engagement and social action; intergenerational leadership development; and nutrition, health and mental health.

Freedom Schools Program

The Big Idea

In “A Dream Deferred” the African American poet Langston Hughes asks the question what happens to our dreams if put off or neglected.  Do they dry up like a raisin in the sun or fester like a sore, or do they explode?  He asserts, in his poem, our dreams, our hopes are the active ingredient for change. Hope is not inert. As stated in scripture, it is the rawforce that flourishes with direction.  Scripture warns us that without vision the people perish. (Proverbs29:19) Much like the language of the poem it also says hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life. (Proverbs 13:12)

Buckminster Fuller once mentioned that if you want to teach people a new way of thinking, don't bother trying to teach them. Instead, give them a tool, the use of which will lead to new ways of thinking and activate the hope within them. We found that out many years ago and the main reason we started our screen printing business.

We give young people a clear pathway of tools that lead to a new way of thinking and making hope real.

Classroom Items Quantity
Post-It Super Stick Wall Easel 10
Kraft Paper Rolls Assorted Colors
Construction paper 5 packs
Crayola Washable paint Assorted Collors
Paint brushes
College Rule paper 20 packs
3-Ring Binders 50
Board Games Ages 7-15

Misc Items
Hand soap Refills 10 bottles
Paper towels 60 rolls
Garbage bags
Misc Cleaning Products
Cloroxx Wipes 20

Digital Video camera 2
Digital Cameras 5

30-50 gallon trash cans 4
Small Trash Cans 10