On Saturday, May 5 (Cinco de Mayo), the owners of the old Rosedale Firestation #10 will host "Firehouse Fiesta," a special-event benefit for the Rainbow Mennonite CDF Freedom School.

The Freedom School is an intensive, 6-week summer educational enrichment program for urban children and youth. Rosedale's Freedom School (to be held at Rainbow Mennonite Church , in partnership with RDA and other Rosedale organizations) will serve 100 children in grades K-8. The vast majority of the children will be Rosedale residents, but the program is open to those from other areas, as well. The program will operate June 18-July 27, 2007.

"Fiesta at the Firestation" will be a fun and festive event, celebrating the first year of the Freedom School 's presence in Rosedale and bringing people together to support it. The event will be held 5:00-8:00 p.m. on May 5. There will be a brief program at 6:30 p.m.

For a $25 per person ticket, attendees will be able to tour the old firestation, which has been converted into an absolutely stunning luxury home by the owners, Rick Bumgardner and Don Fields. The residence has been featured in Kansas City Homes and Gardens magazine and will be featured in an upcoming documentary on HGTV.

Guests will also be treated to fabulous Latin American-themed h'ordurves and drinks, some of which will be provided by Rosedale-area businesses. There are plans to have a Mariachi band, as well, and there will be a silent auction of gift baskets and specialty items provided by Rosedale-area artists and businesses.

You do not want to miss this evening of fantastic entertainment for a good cause. There are several ways you can make "Fiesta at the Firestation" a success: (1) buy a ticket (or two or three!) and attend on May 5; (2) donate an item for the silent auction; and/or (3) assist in planning and preparation for the event.

To purchase tickets, to donate an item, to volunteer, or for more information, call: (913) 677-5097 or (913) 236-8820.

"Fiesta at the Firestation" will be a great opportunity to support a worthwhile program that will impact Rosedale children and families. This is the first Freedom School to be located in Rosedale , although there are hundreds of Freedom Schools across the country. In fact, there are 18 in the Kansas City metropolitan area alone.

The program is unique because of its key components, which include: promoting the joy of reading and improving literacy skills; fostering cultural awareness and appreciation for diversity; building a sense of pride and ownership in the community; required parental involvement; multigenerational mentoring; leadership development; and community service projects.

The Freedom School model is built on the legacy of the famous 1960s-era Freedom Schools, which focused on voter registration and education among impoverished African-Americans in the South. While the modern-day Freedom Schools come out of the African-American tradition, there has been an effort to expand the reach of the program to other communities. This is one of the reasons Rosedale was selected as a host site - its high level of racial and ethnic diversity.