Welcome to

Charles L. McNair
Freedom School of Saginaw

FREE SUMMER SCHOOL
June 16 - July 25, 2025

2025 Theme

"I Can Make A Difference"

Enriching the Whole Child

Children's Health and Healing

Education for Civic Life and Work

Family Stability and Economic Mobility

Just and Caring Communities

Early Learning and Development

We're committed to tackling challenges impacting the health and well-being of all children and youth across America by ensuring access to nutritious meals, mental health support, and essential health care.

Every student should be equipped for success in the global workforce, enabled to participate in the democratic process, and equipped to raise their voice in public life. This empowerment comes through stage-appropriate learning experiences that encompass their culture, democracy, and history. We champion education that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures active, informed, and engaged young people.

We're dedicated to ensuring every young person starts their journey from a stable and nurturing home. Whether through birth, kinship, foster, or adoptive families, we believe in providing a solid foundation. Our mission is to equip children and youth to exceed the achievements of the generations before them.

Our nation's young people should have the freedom to play in parks, walk to bus stops, and attend school - safely. They deserve neighborhoods where both neighbors and public servants actively safeguard their well-being. We work to transform this vision into reality, advocating for safe environments where the young can thrive without fear.

We're dedicated to every child's early years ensuring they receive vital prenatal care, fostering early bonding with their caregiver, and providing a seamless, high-quality learning journey, preparing them for a successful start in kindergarten. We believe in nurturing the youngest members of our society, laying the foundation for a future filled with possibilities and opportunities.

Our Approach

CDF Freedom Schools provides summer enrichment through a research-based and multi-cultural program model that supports K-12 scholars and their families through five essential components.

We focus on:

High-quality academic and character-building enrichment
Parent and family involvement
Civic engagement
Social action intergenerational servant leadership development
Nutrition, health, and mental health.

Parent Enrichment

Parents are required to engage with their children during freedom school and take an active interest in their development.

On September 3, 1934 in Gadsden, Alabama, a great man was born. Charles L. McNair, the son of Johnny McNair and Louise Kirby, beloved principal, mentor, community pillar and friend, left his mark on this world. He went from labor to reward on Wednesday, December 4, 2019 after 85 blessed years.

Mr. McNair attended school in Gadsden, graduating from Carver High School. After graduation he attended Bethune Cookman College in Florida before moving on to Tougaloo College in Jackson, Mississippi where he received his Bachelor's degree. He later went on to attend Ohio State University. In 1973, he made Saginaw, Michigan his home, leaving a lasting imprint in the schools and community.

Mr. McNair was a special man who loved people. He loved education, children, music, chess and sports. He believed in being a well-dressed man and was always stylish. It gave him great joy to see young people succeed in all things related to education and the betterment of themselves and the community. Mr. McNair believed in his students, he had such a way with words that he could scold and give you constructive criticism with such love that you would receive it as if it were complimentary.

Mr. McNair worked in education for 53 years where he served as a teacher, counselor, principal and father figure to many. He served anywhere he saw a need. He started as an elementary teach in LaGrange, Georgia. After completing his studies at Ohio State University, he received his first assignment in Saginaw as Principal at Potter Elementary School. He went on to work at several schools in the Saginaw School District, serving as Assistant Principal at Saginaw High School (SHS), Principal at Morley Elementary, Houghton Elementary and Assistant Principal at Webber Middle School. He founded the Charles L. McNair Booker T. Washington Student Development Foundation in 2011 holding the first reception at SHS where he awarded scholarships to several deserving students.

Mr. McNair was a member of SANKOFA Inc., Morley Enrichment Center Inc., Growth and Afrocentric Program and Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc. He was a longtime organizer of the Saginaw African Cultural Festival, Inc. which is the longest three-day Black arts festival in the country.

In the words of Mr. McNair - "Me and You"

Mr. Charles L. McNair

Sunrise: Septemberr 3, 1934

Sunset: December 4, 2019

Click Here - Tribute to Mr. McNair