Chicago Freedom School

About Us

Founded in 2007, the mission of the Chicago Freedom School (CFS) is to create new generations of critical and independent thinking young people who use their unique experiences and power to create a just world. CFS provides training and education opportunities for youth and adult allies to develop leadership skills through the lens of civic [...]

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Freedom Fellowship

The Chicago Freedom School’s vision is to support youth development and activism; specifically to provide deep engagement with Chicago youth of color who may not otherwise have opportunities to develop their own unique voice, power and ability to impact and effect social change in their lives and in their communities. The Freedom Fellowship was created to support this [...]

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History of Freedom Schools

During the summer of 1964, thirty Freedom Schools were established in towns throughout Mississippi to address racial inequalities in the educational system. Mississippi’s black schools were poorly funded, and teachers had to use second-hand textbooks that offered a racist slant on American history. The Freedom Schools offered a rebuttal to this reality. Their curricula included black history, [...]

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Public Education

The Chicago Freedom School offers several public education 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 [...]

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Donate Now

CFS relies on generous donors just like you to help us support young people to make a positive change in our communities and schools. Your contribution, no matter the size, helps CFS continue to be a resource for youth and adults across Chicago. “In school, we often learn things that we are told will help [...]

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News and Updates

YLB & Me: One Youth’s Journey on the Youth Leadership Board

Efren Ramirez: 2012 Freedom Fellow & Growing Activist My name is Efren Ramirez Jr. and I grew up on the south side of Chicago and currently live in the Brighton Park neighborhood. I am a junior at Lane Tech High School by Addison and Western. During the Summer Leadership Institute, I was so excited to [...]

May 1, 2013 | By admin | Reply More

Jessica Havens: White Folks & Racial Justice

The Chicago Freedom School is excited to present Jessica Havens, a new facilitator for the White Folks and Racial Justice training series. This series continues a long tradition of white ally work at the Chicago Freedom School, aiming to empower white folks in the fight for racial justice in an informed and accountable fashion. Jessica [...]

April 30, 2013 | By admin | Reply More

Welcome Eva!

Eva Nagao will be joining the CFS staff on April 29th as our new Outreach & Operations Coordinator. We could not be more excited…Read on and learn why. Eva hails from the D.C. metro area and brings a background of activism through art and creative resistance against the prison industrial complex. The Chicago Freedom School [...]

April 24, 2013 | By Lindsay | Reply More

CFS and Crossroads Fund Honor Dr. King

Honoring Dr. King’s Legacy by Mary C. Piemonte Activist and photographer Bernard Kleina (left) talks to Chicago Freedom School graduate Richard Wilson at a recent commemoration for Dr. Martin Luther King. Photo by Mary C. Piemonte. People around the city recently celebrated the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. while organizing to continue the fight [...]

April 9, 2013 | By Lindsay | Reply More

Let’s get to work…

I can’t believe I am a part of the staff of the Chicago Freedom School. After over 10 years working as a community organizer and youth worker, I’ve come to love the community education side of the work most, and specifically facilitating popular education workshops. The dynamics of taking education out of oppressive institutions and [...]

April 5, 2013 | By Xavier | Reply More

Seeking Campaign Coaches for Freedom Fellowship

We are seeking Campaign Coaches who will design and lead four 6-hour courses (24-hours total) for youth ages 14 – 17 enrolled in the 2013 Freedom Fellowship Summer Leadership Institute. Coaches will be comprised of people who are activists, organizers, teachers and/or professionals interested in working with young people. Coaches will design creative and engaging [...]

April 4, 2013 | By Lindsay | Reply More

News and Updates

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