Freedom Writers Foundation

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Freedom Writers Foundation

Welcome to the Official Page of the Freedom Writers Foundation! www.freedomwritersfoundation.org

06/18/2026

Day 4 of the Teacher Training Institute was one of our favorite moments of the week: awarding scholarships to four incredible young people as they prepare for the next chapter of their educational journeys. 🎓

At the Freedom Writers Foundation, we spend weeks, months, and sometimes years building relationships with students through our Outreach programs. We witness their resilience, celebrate their successes, and support them through challenges. By the time they graduate, we know just how much potential they possess—and how many obstacles still stand in their way.

That is why the Freedom Writers Scholarship Fund is so important. Since 1998, the fund has helped students pursue higher education by providing critical support at a pivotal moment in their lives. These scholarships do more than help cover expenses. They send a powerful message: *You belong here. We believe in you. Your future matters.*

The four scholarship recipients pictured here represent the promise, determination, and courage we see in so many of the students we serve. We are honored to play a small role in their journeys and excited to see all they will accomplish.

If you'd like to help us support the next generation of Freedom Writers Scholars, please consider making a gift to the Freedom Writers Scholarship Fund. Whether it's $5, $50, or $500, every donation helps students take the next step toward their goals.

www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/donate

Congratulations to our scholarship recipients. Your Freedom Writers family is cheering you on every step of the way. ❤️

06/15/2026

On Day 3 of the June Teacher Training Institute, we got into the nitty gritty of the Freedom Writer curriculum and methodology, and we covered a lot of ground! Our methodology is a delicious combination of old school hands-on techniques and multi-media learning that both engages students in the real world and meets them where they’re at with technology they enjoy. By the time we’re in the lesson, the students (and teachers) have completely forgotten about the world inside their phones, and are connecting with their education and each other in a whole new way.

Become a Freedom Writer Teacher and get this training for yourself! There are still open slots in our July institute.

We ended Day 3 at the Long Beach Art Theatre, where we hosted a screening of the Emmy-winning PBS documentary on the Freedom Writers, AND screened six wonderful videos written, created, and shot by the teachers themselves as part of a group project! Their creativity was nothing short of 👩🏻‍🍳💋.

06/12/2026

Day 2 of the Teacher Training Institute was an impactful field trip to the Museum of Tolerance. Teachers not only got to soak in the museum as visitors, they got an insider’s view of what can make a simple field trip into a life-changing experience for students. They were open, receptive, and empathetic throughout, and it was profound to watch their imaginations at work as they daydreamed how to bring a version of the field trip home to their communities. ✨🚌🧡

06/11/2026

The June 2026 Teacher Training Institute is officially underway!! This group of 23 teachers is seriously dedicated to the journey we have planned for them over the next five days. Today, we started to get to know one another and gave them a deeper overview of the Freedom Writers story. We enjoyed the beauty of Long Beach at the Hotel Maya and ate our first delicious shared meal together. Let the fellowship and learning begin!! 🍾📝🧡

06/09/2026

It’s scholarship season!! As students are donning their mortar boards and graduation gowns, they’re also hearing about the results of all their applications and essays. The Freedom Writers Scholarship Program couldn’t be prouder of our scholarship recipients! Here are just a few of the brilliant students we are thrilled to support this year:

Rehyanna Tuaula is attending Antelope Valley College in the fall to study Radiology. Semaj Carter is attending University of Montana where he will study Business and play basketball! And Violet Martinez is attending CSU Long Beach with the goal of becoming an ESL Teacher.

Aren’t they amazing?? Donate today to support our scholarship program! www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/donate

06/07/2026

The Freedom Writers concluded our workshops at Liberty High School this week! The feeling in the room was celebratory, momentous, and transformative. Students were challenged to write their own stories, sharing a piece of themselves with their classmates and connecting their personal experiences to literature. They raised a Toast for Change with delicious , envisioning a bright future for themselves. We couldn’t be prouder of this intelligent, inspired group of students!

06/05/2026

It’s graduation season! Huge congratulations to the graduating seniors of Oak View High School. You did it! After getting to know this extraordinary group of students, it was so moving to witness their big accomplishment. We are so proud of them.

06/04/2026

Our very own Erin Gruwell was honored to be the opening Keynote Speaker for the first annual “Teaching the Holocaust” conference hosted by the Alabama Holocaust Education Center.

Beginning in Fall 2026, the new social studies standards for Alabama schools will have the strongest set of Holocaust studies guidelines in the nation. In support of this important change, the conference wisely and boldly provides research and context to educators across the state.

Holocaust education has been such a crucial part of Freedom Writers history, that we were honored and humbled to be a part of helping educators learn how to incorporate this vital history into their curriculum. The breakout sessions after the keynote address enhanced our experience in Alabama as much as we hope they enriched the education of the participants. Thank you having us!

06/02/2026

We ended our New York trip last week at a very special middle school in Clinton, NY. Students were ready to be seen and heard. One very brave student shared with us after the Assembly and Workshop, “This was the best day of my life.” His candor and vulnerability had us all in tears.

Sometimes all it takes is for someone to witness you in your truth and listen to your side of the story. That’s the power of writing, the power of speaking your heart, the power of finding community in commonality. It was an honor to witness the students, teachers, and community members of Clinton Middle School. You showed us what real-life magic looks like. Thank you.

05/29/2026

Our hearts are overflowing from this New York trip! Our day in Westmoreland Central School District this week was action-packed and absolutely auspicious.

We hosted an assembly, a community meet-and-greet, an evening presentation, and witnessed 61 six graders acting as docents for a touring Anne Frank exhibit. Check out the faces of the adults as they learn from these amazing kids! 😭🫶✨ Families, area school officials, and local and state representatives were moved to the core by the knowledge, insight, and empathy of these young people.

We were overjoyed to share the experience with 25 Freedom Writer Teachers who joined us from all around New York state. It was a reunion, a reinvigoration, and a reminder of the sheer power of storytelling to transform the lives of young people. We have more to share about this trip! Stay tuned!

Address

PO Box 41505
Long Beach, CA
90853

Telephone

+15624335388

Website

http://www.freedomwritersfoundation.org/

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