Education

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.

Communiversity

The Communiversity initiative features multi-week courses on the history of social movements and community organizing campaigns.   This spring, we offer three courses:

1) Prison Industrial Complex (in partnership with Project Nia) – A series of six workshops that will prepare participants to join a teaching collective that educates the public about the realities and impacts of mass incarceration on individuals, families, and communities.   All sessions will take place on from 2 – 5 pm on Saturdays (January 30, February 27, March 27, April 24, May 22, and June 26) at the CFS Center for Social Change.  Download Registration Form.  Please visit Project Nia for more information.

*This course now has its own website featuring readings from the class and more information.  Visit the Prison Industrial Complex Communiversity website.*

2) History of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) – In honor of the 50^th anniversary of the formation of SNCC, this six-week course will focus on its history, 1960-1966, legacy and the lessons for today.   Tuesdays, March 2 – April 6, 6 – 8 pm at the CFS Center for Social Change.  Download Registration Form.

3) History of Gangs in Chicago – This course examines the history of gangs in Chicago through the lens of racism and social movements.  Rather than explain Chicago’s history of gangs as a one-sided story of criminality, the course looks at how gangs have played political roles in Chicago and have changed in response to local conditions. Begins in late February.  Download Registration Form.

Professional Development for Educators

CFS offers professional development workshops for educators on a number of topics that support liberatory education practices in traditional classrooms. Check here again soon for more information about upcoming workshops and opportunities.

Movement History Workshops

CFS staff and volunteers work together to develop 1 – 3 hour workshops for youth ages 13 – 21 on the history of social movements.  Currently, we offer workshops on the following topics:

- The History of Voting and Voting Disenfranchisement in the U.S.

- Lifelong Activism:  A Study of Ella Baker

Contact us at info@chicagofreedomschool.org if you are interested in CFS facilitating a movement history workshop for your classroom or organization.

Public Programs

CFS hosts a variety of public programs for intergenerational audiences throughout the year including film screenings and community dialogues.  Please see our calendar for more information about upcoming public programs.