RFDC
Parent Empowerment
The engagement of not only parents, but the entire community, in the growth and development of children is a core value of RFDC. To promote this engagement RFDC provides many opportunities for education and involvement. At each of our after-school program sites we hold monthly Parent Meetings and quarterly Family Education Nights during the school year. During the summer, we hold weekly Parent Workshops for parents whose children are enrolled in Freedom Schools. In partnership with local school districts we hold annual Parent Empowerment Conferences. Our annual National Night Out celebrations are held at the end of summer to celebrate community spirit and stands up against neighborhood violence. Our new position as lead agency for the North Sacramento Community Coalition, whose battle cry is “Taking Back Our Community”, and as the Del Paso Heights Community Incubator Lead expands our ability to make a powerful positive impact in our home location of North Sacramento/Del Paso Heights.
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Community Impact Story
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In 2010, when RFDC began providing services in the Twin Rivers Housing Complex, community residents rarely actually knew their neighbors and would go out of their way to avoid one another. In 2013 RFDC’s satellite site at Twin Rivers Housing Complex began holding an annual Community Harvest Festival. That first year, approximately 50 families whose children were enrolled in RFDC programs attended. In 2014, several community members stepped up to plan the Harvest Festival with support from RFDC to secure donations and provide needed resources. That year, the event truly became a community event with 36 community residents sitting on planning committees, over 100 dinners were served, and more than 200 children participated in the festivities. In 2015 and 2016, the tradition continued, but with very limited support from RFDC. The community came together to plan the event, secure donations, and obtain the needed resource. There was food for everyone, games for the children, a pumpkin patch, music, and a trunk-or-treat. Over 500 people attended. RFDC’s positive impact in the community is evident over the past six years, not only are residents becoming more involved in their community, but they are showing pride and ownership over their community.
