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Luke’s Leaders

Luke’s Leaders, a weekly, after-school leadership development initiative developed by the Outreach and Justice Ministry of St. Luke’s UMC, is excited for the start of our 2025-2026 program. There are currently 67 students from all three Washington Township middle schools registered to start their journey with Luke’s Leaders, and we continue to register more each week. There are still spots available for interested students.

Sixth graders will meet at their respective middle schools beginning Tuesday, September 16 at 4:30 p.m. for Westlane, and on Thursday, September 18, at 4:40 p.m. for Eastwood and Northview. The sixth-grade groups are led by the Peace Learning Center.

The seventh and eighth graders will meet at St. Luke’s UMC beginning Wednesday, September 24 at 5 p.m. Both groups will be led by the YMCA of Greater Indianapolis. Transportation from school will be provided by Luke’s Leaders. Following their session, the students and volunteers will have dinner from 6 -6:30 p.m. Seventh grade will be participating in the Luke’s Leader Program and the eighth graders will be in the Youth in Government program.

For more information about the program, please visit our website.

Please contact Tom Lange at 317-697-1177 for questions.

Submitted by Carol Loggins

Freedom School recap

Click here to view the recap video!

The hallways are quiet again, and the summer-long accumulation of artwork has been taken off the walls. Scholars have returned to their regular school classrooms, and interns have started back to college or other jobs. I always struggle with emotions at this time of year. There is a sense of relief that we made it through another summer, and gratitude for all the hours that were given by so many to make it successful. There is nostalgia from the happy memories that were created, and finally some rest! And what makes it all worthwhile is when I get to look at the results of all of our assessments and post-program surveys. Here is some data to celebrate!

We had 85 scholars in K-8 grade participate in Freedom School this summer:

• 93% of scholars maintained or increased their reading levels
• 93% of scholars feel more proud of themselves and are more confident about achieving their goals
• 90% of scholars feel more confident that they can make a difference around them
• 79% of scholars feel less likely to give up when life gets challenging
• 77% of scholars are more motivated to go to college
• 72% of scholars feel more confident that they can solve arguments without fighting

Comments from our interns:

• I’m very blessed to be able to do something meaningful over the summer.
• I genuinely enjoyed myself!
• This has been an amazing experience. I will forever be a part of CDF Freedom School.
• With it being my first year here, I feel way more confident with myself in all aspects.

And from our parents:

• 100% of responding parents said they have a better understanding of how to help their children to be successful, they plan to be more engaged in their child’s schoolwork this year, their child has more confidence, their child learned ways to resolve conflicts, and they would recommend Freedom School to other parents,
• Freedom School has given my baby a voice. She was nervous at first, but now she feels she has a voice and is more confident when she speaks. She is also reading better and stronger. She loves it here!
• I came into the program not knowing what to expect and my expectations were exceeded. My daughter was not excited about attending but loved it after the first day. I am so thankful to have found this program!
• My children come home excited after attending Freedom School. They talk about real world issues and want to find ways to be involved.

Well done, Freedom School and St. Luke's, WELL DONE!

Click HERE to support our 2026 Freedom School program!

submitted by Shelly Clasen