Summer programming at HYPE Freedom School doesn’t begin with attendance or announcements. Students are greeted with good morning cheers and breakfast before joining a Harambee circle. Inspired by the Swahili meaning of the word “pulling together,” the spirited gathering filled with songs, affirmations and recognition encourages participants to believe in themselves and one another – embodying the heart of what it means to be a HYPE scholar.  

“My mom signed me up for HYPE, and at first, I thought it was kind of boring because I didn’t want to do the morning chants,” 10-year-old Evan Cockerhan said with a laugh. “Then I started to get into it, and now I really enjoy coming every day, making new friends and reading all the books about our history.” 

This year, Harris County Department of Education’s (HCDE) County Connections Youth Summer Initiative awarded the HYPE Freedom School a $20,000 grant to support student literary development. Funding for the enrichment curriculum is approved by Harris County Commissioners and administered to vetted programs by HCDE’s Center for Afterschool, Summer and Enrichment (CASE) for Kids.  

HYPE operates four campuses in the heart of the Sunnyside and South Park communities for a six-week program that keeps more than 350 kindergarten through 12th-grade students from low-income households engaged in literary, leadership and family engagement activities.  

“Even if you never left the city or your community, when you read a book, it takes you to a new place,” explained Brandi Brown, the executive director and co-founder of HYPE. “This program gives us a chance to take our young people all over the world through the books that they’re reading, and in turn, engage their families in activities and showcases that demonstrate their newfound knowledge.”  

Each week, scholars dive into a specially designed integrated curriculum that uses diverse literary characters and stories to spark conversations about real-life challenges, including academics, community violence, grief, conflict resolution and responsible decision-making. Rather than simply reading the material, students bring each lesson to life by acting out scenes, performing musical chapter summaries and leading group discussions that strengthen reading comprehension, critical thinking and public speaking skills.  

“I thought I was bad at reading because I would mess up and think to myself, ‘I should have known that,’” said Mari Grays, an incoming eighth grader and HYPE student for longer than she can remember. “HYPE has helped me become more confident in my abilities, and now I have fun laughing with my friends about what’s happening in the books and connecting with the stories.”  

Learning extends well beyond the classroom through partnerships with organizations such as the YMCA, Precinct One and the Children’s Museum Houston, giving students the opportunity to mingle with those enrolled at various HYPE campuses during weekly field trips. 

“This is a life-changing experience for some of our scholars,” Brown said. “When they leave us, these kids show up to the new academic year looking like more confident, experienced and polished students. While their peers may not have been part of a structured enrichment activity, we know HYPE scholars are a step above everyone else, and that’s because of funding from CASE for Kids and the County Connections program, so we are super grateful.”  

The grant allows HYPE Freedom School to offer the six-week program at no cost to families, removing barriers that often prevent children from participating in high-quality summer programming. Families are asked only to invest their time and commitment in their children’s HYPE experience by attending recitals, talent shows and more.  

Parents with younger children not old enough to enroll are invited to participate in the morning and afternoon Harambee circles, giving them the chance to experience the program’s culture while introducing the next generation of scholars to HYPE. To further support the well-being of every family, the organization also provides free therapy and counseling services, recognizing that students thrive when their mental and emotional health – and that of the family members supporting them – are prioritized.  

“We strive to ensure our scholars know that we support the adults in their lives just as much as we support them,” Brown explained. “That’s part of the intergenerational model that we are constantly working toward, from our students to the parents, to the college students we have leading our classrooms. We want everyone to leave this program stronger and more productive than when they arrived.”  

At the heart of HYPE is the belief that everyone can grow when given the right support, opportunities and encouragement. Scholars are challenged to step out of their comfort zones, explore new ideas and discover the joy of learning. For Grays, that journey changed the way she viewed herself as a reader, and now she hopes other students will give HYPE the same chance.  

“To the kids who say reading all summer sounds terrible, I say, ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover,’” she said.