Resources
Curriculum and Youth Action Grants
In 2010, the Chicago Freedom School has partnered with Project Nia and Teachers for Social Justice along with other volunteers to develop a curriculum guide entitled “Something is Wrong: Exploring the Roots of Youth Violence.” This guide was created to contribute to and expand the ongoing efforts by young people and their adult allies to analyze the root causes of youth violence and to create local solutions.
At a time when frustration is running high and many are expressing a sense of powerlessness in the face of pervasive violence, this curriculum guide is an offering intended to make a positive contribution to the dialogue about violence in the lives of young people.
Through this curriculum, we want to challenge youth to think about a) the roots of violence in their lives; b) the enforcers and victims of violence; c) the effects of violence on both victims and perpetrators; and d) how violence can ultimately be minimized through systemic changes.
“Something is Wrong: Exploring the Roots of Youth Violence” is a 350-page curriculum guide that is being provided digitally at no cost to the community. In lieu of compensation, please complete the following questions PRIOR to downloading the guide.
You can hear founding director Mariame Kaba on Chicago Public Radio promoting the Guide.
You can also purchase hard copies of the guide here:
Applications for grants for up to $1000 are now available to groups utilizing the curriculum. Download the Urgent Action Fund Grant Application – 2010
Crossroads Fund, Mikva Challenge and CFS have partnered to sponosor a joint public release of the grants available from these organizations that support youth-led social change. Grant applications from all three organizations can be found at the Youth Action Grants website.
Lending Library
The Chicago Freedom School maintains a lending library for youth and adult activists and educators across the city. A current list of CFS holdings can be found at our LIBRARYTHING account here:
A deposit is required of all library members. The cost is $5.00 for youth age 21 and under and $20.00 for those over age 21. If you are interested in becoming a CFS library member, please complete and send in the Library Patron Form.
Online Resources
We welcome everyone to browse the CFS favorite websites found on our DEL.ICIO.US page.
Selected Bibliography
Aaronsohn, Liz; Cobb, Charles; Lynd, Staughton; Garrett, Jimmy; Lauter, Paul; O’Connell, Barry; O’Malley, Susan; and Perlstein, Dan. (Contributors). (1991) “Mississippi Freedom School Curriculum 1964.” Radical Teacher. Fall (40), 6-40.
This publication includes the actual curriculum of the 1964 Freedom Schools.
Belfrage, S. (1966). Freedom Summer. London: Andre Deutsch limited
Stories of the actual volunteers of the 1964 Freedom Summer.
Chilcoat, G. and Ligon, J. (1999). “Helping to Make Democracy a Living reality: The Curriculum Conference of the Mississippi Freedom Schools.” Journal of Curriculum and Supervision. 15(1), 43-68
This article provides insight into the proceedings of the conference which shaped the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Schools.
Horton, M. (1998). The Long Haul: An Autobiography. New York: Teachers College
An indirect look at the Highlander Folk School Citizenship schools, led by Septima Clark, which influenced the Freedom School curriculum.
Perlstein, D. (1990). “Teaching Freedom: SNCC and the Creation of the Mississippi Freedom Schools. History of Education Quarterly. 30 (3), 297-324.
An excellent introduction to the Freedom Schools, its rationale and its struggles
Rachal, J.R. (2000). “We’ll Never Turn Back: Adult Education and the Struggle for Citizenship in Mississippi’s Freedom Summer.” Adult Education Quarterly 50 (3), 166-196.
An excellent resource for the adult educator interested in the Freedom School experience.
Rothschild, M.A. (1982). “The volunteers and the freedom schools: Education for social change in Mississippi.” History of Education Quarterly. 22 (4), 401-420.
This article provides background to the nature of education in Mississippi in the early 1960’s.