The Freadom Road Foundation

10/29/2026

Before children write words, they write possibilities.

A child’s first marks on paper can be the beginning of a lifelong relationship with writing, reading, learning, and self-expression.

Through Celebrating Scribbles!, The Freadom® Road Foundation recognized the joy and importance of early writing experiences—drawing, making marks, holding crayons, turning pages, and sharing stories with trusted adults.

Early literacy grows through ordinary, joyful moments: a book within reach, a picture drawn, a question asked, a song sung, and a caregiver who makes learning feel possible.

Give a High Five: share this reminder with a caregiver, educator, librarian, or early-childhood professional who helps little hands begin to write.

10/22/2026

In 2020, The Freadom® Road Foundation and Family Focus–Englewood celebrated families who created welcoming home libraries—special places for books, early writing, art, stories, and time together.

Families brought creativity, care, and their own ideas about what would make learning inviting at home. The result was more than a shelf of books. It was a space for connection, imagination, conversation, and growth.

We are proud to celebrate the families, supporters, and partners who made the “Create The Best Home Library” contest possible.

Give a High Five: share this post with five people who believe every child deserves books within reach!

10/15/2026

B is for Books. F is for Families. K is for Kiwanis.

A box of books can be the beginning of many small but powerful moments: a baby turning pages, a caregiver telling a story, a child touching a new texture, a family laughing together, or a favorite book being read again and again.

In collaborative partnership with Family Focus Englewood and with the longtime support of the Kiwanis Club of Lake View under the umbrella of Kiwanis International ‘s Young Children: Priority One, The Freadom️® Road Foundation provided brand-new sensory board books for babies and the families who love them.

We believe new books send an important message: children, families, learning, and imagination are worth investing in.

Give a High Five: make a gift in a multiple of five—$5, $25, $50, or any amount meaningful to you to support family literacy.

https://thefreadomroadfoundation.org/donations/

10/08/2026

A High Five for a Leader of Readers.

The Freadom® Road Foundation’s children’s early literacy community programming was launched, and sustained, with the generosity of The Honorable William J. P. Banks, long known as "Leader of Readers". His initial and continuing support helped open the door to books, new partners, and opportunities for children and families in Chicago.

His story reminds us that one person’s decision to invest in children and families can create a ripple effect that reaches far beyond the initial dream.

As we celebrate a decade of community programming, we honor the supporters who believed in the work from the beginning—and those who will help carry it into the next decade.

Give a High Five: make a gift in a multiple of five—$5, $25, $50, or any amount meaningful to you.

Donate using the link below today!
https://thefreadomroadfoundation.org/donations/

10/08/2026

10/01/2026

Why The Freadom® Road Foundation began.

Founder Maria Hayley’s work in library services at the Cook County Department of Corrections (Cook County Jail) made clear that incarceration affects more than one person. It can touch children, families, and entire communities.

That experience led to a lasting question: What can we do to support children and families in building stronger paths forward?

The Freadom® Road Foundation responds through books, early literacy experiences, family learning, library connection, and community partnerships. We believe no child’s future is predetermined.

Watch Maria share the story behind our mission. Then help us expand its reach: follow The Freadom® Road Foundation and share this video with someone who believes every child deserves opportunity.

Enjoy the videos and music you love, upload original content, and share it all with friends, family, and the world on YouTube.

09/24/2026

A decade of books, families, learning, and possibility.

Today, The Freadom® Road Foundation launches High Five for F(read)om®—a 10-week celebration of the people, partnerships, and stories that have shaped our community programming.

For more than a decade, we have worked to help break cycles of intergenerational incarceration through books, literacy resources, family learning, library connection, and community partnerships.

Over the next 10 weeks, we will look back at the stories that brought us here—and invite you to help build what comes next.

Give us a "High Five" today: follow our page and share this post with five people who believe that books, families, and opportunity belong together.

Books. Families. Opportunity.
Celebrating a decade, building the next.

08/31/2026

STORIES of TRANSFORMATION, BOOKS, and DIALOGUE

We are celebrating being recognized as one of 2026 Illinois Humanities Project Grant grantee partners. Our grant will allow us to bring quarterly literacy programs featuring stories of transformation, books, and dialogue to Cook County Jail PACE Institute.

Read the Illinois Humanities News release on our website.

2026 Illinois Humanities Project Grant August 29, 2026 The Freadom™ Road Foundation is proud to be recognized as a 2026 Illinois Humanities Project Grant grantee partner. Through this support, we’re advancing community-centered public humanities work that helps preserve stories, foster dialogue,...

08/31/2026

The path to reading success starts long before children read their first words.

When young children sing, listen to stories, talk with caring adults, and explore books through play, they're building the literacy skills that support future learning.

That's why we created Word Wonders, a FREE early literacy and language curriculum for children ages 18–48 months.

- 20 play-based activities
- 10 original songs and rhymes
- Free to download

Help children build vocabulary, communication skills, listening comprehension and a lifelong love of books: https://bit.ly/4g9xeKx

06/26/2026

People think abuse is easy to recognize because they imagine cheating, shouting, hitting, or controlling money. And yes, that is abuse. That is the obvious version. That is the version people can point at and say, “This is wrong.” But the dangerous part is that abuse does not always look loud.
Sometimes abuse looks like a mother who acts more like her son’s emotional wife than his parent. She competes with you, controls the relationship, and makes sure her son stays emotionally loyal to her instead of building a healthy marriage with you.
Sometimes abuse looks like family members who always take the abuser’s side while pretending they are your well-wishers. They act neutral, but somehow every conversation ends with you being blamed and the abuser being excused.
Sometimes abuse looks like enablers contacting you on the abuser’s behalf. When the narcissist cannot control the narrative himself, he sends other people to pressure you, guilt-trip you, or convince you to give him another chance. Sometimes abuse looks like people calling it “adjustment” when what they really mean is tolerating disrespect. They ask you to lower your standards, ignore your pain, and keep accepting behavior they would never accept themselves.