LIBERTY

Life Is Being Equal, Responsible, and
True to You.

LIBERTY means “Life Is Being Equal, Responsible, and True to You.” This new program will be offered to LAUSD schools starting in the 2025-2026 school year. In a nutshell the LIBERTY program teaches inclusiveness, diversity, and respect through Safe & Civil Play, music, dance and lyrics, fitness games and live story telling.

For more information on the LIBERTY Program, email us at contact@gangfree.org or call (888) 293-9323.

Intant Recess®

With the principals of the successful, evidence-based Instant Recess® developed by Dr. Antronette Yancey as a foundation, LIBERTY revolutionizes the concept by adding verbal, culturally sensitive, collaborative, and leadership elements to its core activities. The reason for using Instant Recess® as the foundation is GAP’s long affiliation with the UCLA/RAND Prevention Research Center (PRC). Not only has GAP been partnering with the PRC for more than a decade, but several GAP staff members have been trained and certified through UCLA’s Fielding School of Public Health in the theory and application of Instant Recess®, and it has been widely adopted for use at GAP’s STEP UP! after school program, in our Gangfree Life® curriculum, and even in our offices for employees.

Through LIBERTY students learn physical activities and culturally-specific lyrics, then put them together in ten minute physical and lyrical routines using music from the cultural context of the lyrics. Added to this are stories, discussions, and activities related to the values taught during the routines. Students learn leadership and cooperation as they become helpers, then leaders in planning and creating new activities and routines. They also develop fitness and flexibility that helps improve their FITNESSGRAM scores, which many schools are failing to meet.

GAP’s innovation is called LIBERTY. Its core activity stimulates the body, mind, and spirit.

Civil & Safe Play

Incorporating the Institute for Learning’s Principles of Learning based on the National Staff Development Council Standards, Gangfree Life®’s LIBERTY provides a durable platform of innovation and student achievement. Lessons (or sessions) are organized on the five-step model:

1. Introduction: tell the students what they will do and why.

Activity: conduct a ten minute physical routine that includes culturally relevant music and lyrics to recite.
Awareness: explain an element of the activity that relates to the development of body, mind, and/or spirit through an effective question/answer dialogue.
Engagement: do a practical exercise that reaffirms the central message.
Enlightenment: allow the students to incorporate the lesson(s) learned in direct interaction with their peers.

In addition, there are FITNESSGRAM Focus Games, mentoring, BullyFree activities, and Gangfree Life® prevention activities for participating students.