In 2014, the Center for Leadership and Justice (CLJ) began working with parents from Milner School on Vine Street. One of their early successes was implementing Freedom School, a six-week, free summer program for grades K-3, which boosted summer school attendance from about 15 students a day to 75 students daily, effectively addressing summer learning loss.
Parents raised concerns about traffic safety, as the playground lacked a gate. Cars occasionally cut through the school grounds, at high rates of speed. As a result of organizing efforts with CLJ, parents won the installation of a safety fence around the playground.
When it was announced that Milner School would close, and students would need to walk to alternative schools, CLJ collaborated with parents to secure busing for all students, addressing the risks associated with walking through areas with high crime and drug activity.
