Liberty Partnership Program
The Liberty Partnership at Bank Street College (LPP), now called Liberty LEADS, began 27 years ago with 300 students and I was its founding Director. It continues today, as a beacon of sustainability and effectiveness.
It began in 1989 as a New York State Education initiated program, one of 52 consortiums created between schools and districts, higher education and community based organizations. It was an effort at treating poverty and failing schools ecologically while eschewing a deficit model. The focus of these partnerships was a comprehensive intervention strategy for inner city youth, beginning at the middle school level.
It produced a wide range of direct service components (after school programming, a weekend enrichment program, designed to encourage and support them to complete high school and seek post secondary opportunities.
Entering its 27th year, Bank Street's Liberty program works as a remarkable example of sustainability and when the design of a program matches those of the children it seeks to transform.