Freire Schools believes that knowledge is brought to life by action and experience. We strive to develop our students’ understanding of themselves as part of their world, and to create learning experiences that center on real-world communication and action. We achieve this through our Freire Forward program, a range of trips, on-site courses, internships, mentorship programs, dual enrollment programs, and extracurricular programs that emphasize hands-on learning — bringing our classrooms to the world and the world to our classrooms.
These experiences are made possible through partnerships with a diverse portfolio of community organizations and businesses that help Freire students connect their classroom learning to hands-on experiences and begin to establish a vision and framework for their future.
PROFESSIONAL PREP
Our professional prep programs connect students with the professional world through career fairs, job exposure field trips, networking opportunities, resume workshops, and more. Through our partnership with Real World Leaders Radio, students engage in live interviews with local business leaders, honing their communication skills and gaining insights into diverse career paths. This Zoom radio show airs on over 160 radio stations worldwide via Radio America. You can listen to Freire High students interview our very own CEO, Kelly Davenport, here!
In June 2024 we launched our summer Experienceship Program as the centerpiece of our professional prep program. Our first cohort of 30 students from TECH Freire and Freire High (selected from over 75 applicants) were immersed in a two-week paid internship program. They took part in soft skills lessons, an Improv team building leadership course, six days of job shadowing at eleven different companies/organizations, and reflected on their experience/lessons learned. Beginning in summer 2025, this valuable learning opportunity will expand to serve more students and all of our high schools. For more information about our professional prep programs, click here.
A’yana Holloway
Freire High School Class of 2024, Penn State Class of 2028Our Experienceship Program partners include:
- Philadelphia Financial Scholars
- Tester Construction Group
- D’Lauro & Rodgers, Inc.
- Ben Waxman
- Jeffery Young, Jr., Esq.
- Judge Colleen Osborne
- Gilbane Building Company
- O’Donnell & Naccarato
- BRR Architecture
- Quantum Restoration Services
- Chapman Auto Stores
- Parkway Corporation
These career exploration initiatives are crucial for our students’ future success, preparing them to confidently enter a competitive workforce.