Chicago Freedom School

Location: Chicago, Illinois

The Chicago Freedom School is not a traditional school, but a nonprofit organization committed to supporting social change movements led by youth with support from adult allies. The Chicago Freedom School provides a space where young people and adult allies can study the work of past movements, deepen their understanding of current social problems, build new coalitions and develop strategies for change. We support new generations of critical and independent thinking young people who use their unique experiences and power to create a just world. The Chicago Freedom School is inspired by the many freedom schools started in the 1960s in Mississippi and by local groups throughout the country to address racial inequalities in the educational system.

Highlights:

The Chicago Freedom School offers several educational opportunities for youth and adult activists to be lifelong learners.  Through Communiversity courses, workshops on social movement history and other public programs, CFS provides spaces for community members to examine the history of social justice movements and to learn about current issues in a historical context.  This critical study of the past provides a platform for more thoughtful action and organizing in the present.

CFS works with local communities, organizations and schools to create intergenerational spaces through which youth and adults explore issues of injustice, develop organizing campaigns, and work towards building a sustaining social change movement.  This work is done through trainings, national convenings, and research and evaluation.

Initiatives of Chicago Freedom School:

• Youth Leadership Development: Freedom Fellowship, Youth Leadership Board, Alternative Spring Break
• Movement-building and Organizing: Trainings and Professional Development
• Education: Communiversity, Public Programs, Workshops

Links:

• Chicago Freedom School - http://chicagofreedomschool.org

Submitted by Dana Bennis on: Wednesday, February 09, 2011 - 10:31 am

Tags for this entry:
community, leadership, activism, empowerment, social awareness