Marian Wright Edelman Mini - Research Paper Example

Marian Wright Edelman Mini Research Paper Marian Wright Edelman most famously known for her work at the Children's Defense Fund (CDF) is the founderand president of CDF. CDF was started in 1973. She is a social activist, lawyer and a premiere advocate of children’s rights in United States. She began her career in the mid 60s and was admitted in Mississippi Bar. In her entire professional career in America, she has acted as an advocate for the disadvantaged. The CDF became a national voice for children and families under her leadership.

She also started the Washington Research Project. She has also been the director at Harvard University for the Center for law and Education (Children's Defense Fund, 2011). Mrs. Edelman served as member from 1971 – 1977 at the Yale University Corporation. She was the first woman to be elected as the member. Albert Schweitzer Humanitarian Prize, Heinz Award, etc are the some of the many honorary degrees that she has received. Marian Wright Edelman Institute in San Francisco State University was named after her but Mrs.

Edelman is not directly associated with the Institute. Still she has extended her support to the institute. The University has strong productive history in attraction of grants for spending on the study of children and families. The Marian Write Edelman Institute achieves its goals through education, training and research. The Institute addresses many issues of equity for children, youth and their families through various programs like interdisciplinary child and adolescent development bachelor's degree, training and education etc.

The mission of Children's Defense Fund is LEAVE NO CHILD BEHIND. It's desire to ensure Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start so that every childhood successfully passes to adulthood. Accordingly CDF organizes various programs and campaigns which includes CDF Freedom schools program, youth Development and Leadership, Cradle to Prison Pipeline campaign, Faith-Based Action Programs etc. Mrs. Edelman always wants strong voice on behalf of children and families.

She identified that school going children must enjoy and also they should enhance their skills during childhood itself. She thought that there should be some program so that the children can gain without any interruption of their regular school. Based on the parameters, CDF designed the CDF Freedom Schools Program. The main purpose of this program was to provide summer and after school enrichment. Through this program children were able to read with love, generate positive thoughts towards learning, increase their self esteem, etc.

The program was designed based on a model curriculum which provides children and families with 5 essential components. This program made it possible for children to experience and get high quality education and academics, intergenerational leadership development, improved physical and mental health, increased parent and family involvement, increased civic engagement and social action. Every child must learn and possess skills that are necessary to succeed in life. The CDF free school programs are aimed at ensuring that every child possesses these skills and qualities.

Marian Wright Edelman imagines the summer school in such a way for which the children hopefully clap, chant, laugh and learn to fall in love with books and reading. At about, 80,000 children have experienced CDF Freedom schools. The children who joined the program enter at 8.00 am to the program site and the child will be greeted and are served with nutritious break fast. In the class room, there will not be more than 10 students and the children are engaged in theme-based reading, hands-on activities etc.

role playing, group discussions, read aloud, creative writing, visual arts etc. Children thoroughly enjoy such extra curricular which are new to them (Burch, 1994). After lunch, children participate in afternoon activities which include well-planned music, dance or other cultural enrichment activities that are designed in intergraded reading curriculum. At the end of the day, daily debrief is exposed about the success and challenges. The brief also introduces the next day activities. Such programs really enhance the quality of life of the children.

children who joined the program enter at 8.00 am to the program site and the child will be greeted and are served with nutritious break fast. In the class room, there will not be more than 10 students and the children are engaged in theme-based reading, hands-on activities etc. role playing, group discussions, read aloud, creative writing, visual arts etc. Children thoroughly enjoy such extra curricular which are new to them. After lunch, children participate in afternoon activities which include well-planned music, dance or other cultural enrichment activities that are designed in intergraded reading curriculum.

At the end of the day, daily debrief is exposed about the success and challenges. The brief also introduces the next day activities. Such programs really enhance the quality of life of the children (Otfinoski, 1999). Reference Burch, J.J. (1994). Marian Wright Edelman (Pb). Brookfield, Connecticut: The Millbrook Press. Children's Defense Fund (2011). Marian Wright Edelman. [Online]. Available at: http://www.childrensdefense.org/about-us/leadership-staff/marian-wright-edelman/ Accessed on 01 April, 2011.

Otfinoski, C. (1999). Marian Wright Edelman: Defender of Children's Rights. Demco Media.