Noah “Sensei” Townsend has been a part of CFS since joining the freedom fellowship in 2013. Noah came to CFS to involve himself in more social and economic programs and gain knowledge to help the community. Noah has centered his focus on the social issues that many youth face such as food deserts and the school to prison pipeline. Noah was also one the 2018 youth coordinators and is currently the supply and distribution manager. Coming from a background of childcare, first aid, and massage therapy, Noah is fully engaged in helping those around him.

“When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace’

-Jimi Hedrix

 

Makiah Lyons is a 2014 Freedom Fellow (Fair & Just Schools Cohort) and a 2016/2018 Freedom Fellowship Youth Coordinator. She has also served on the Chicago Freedom School’s Youth Board. Makiah returned to CFS in 2020 to work on CFS’s COVID-19 mutual aid relief effort and supports CFS’s social media. A recent graduate of Howard University, Makiah is a first-year law student who wants to become an education attorney, working to eradicate the school to prison pipeline.

Imi Rashid is a queer Bangladeshi Muslim immigrant. she is a certified public accountant based in silver spring, maryland after living in chicago, iIllinois for 25 years. during her time in chicago, imi started off her career in the corporate sector but felt the need to shift her work priorities to be more values aligned with her various identities. after more than a decade in the corporate sector, she left in 2008 to start her own business, dedicated to providing accounting and tax services to individuals, non-profit and grassroots organizations.

Since her departure from the corporate world, imi has worked with small to mid-size non profit organizations across the united states, providing varying degrees of finance and accounting support with a social justice lens. she has worked with organizations in various movement building sectors including reproductive health, rights and justice, youth leadership, environmental justice, racial justice, AIDS advocacy and LGBTQ rights, among others.

Imi is deeply honored to have been working as the accountant for CFS for over a decade!

Andrea Y. Adomako began working with Chicago Freedom School in 2018 because of her commitment to young people of color. She aims to help create healthy environments where young people are given opportunities and resources to advocate for themselves, their communities and promote self-determination. Andrea is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of African American Studies at Northwestern University. At Chicago Freedom School, Andrea has served many roles including, but not limited to, organizing the Mariame Kaba library, working as a campaign coach for the Freedom Fellowship, and is currently the Interim Development Director. In all her roles, Andrea is committed to combating anti-Blackness through knowledge, healing practices, and organizing.

Timmy Chau is an organizer, lawyer, and facilitator based in Chicago. His work seeks to challenge all forms of militarism, policing, and imprisonment. He is Co-Director of the Prison / Neighborhood Arts and Education Project (PNAP) and Co-Founder of Dissenters, a new national youth-led anti-war organization. Timmy’s organizing methodology incorporates a restorative and transformative justice lens, and this reflects his broader commitment to anti-violent approaches to addressing harm. He believes in developing strong leaders, building popular movements, and changing systems. Timmy has proudly served as a Board member for the Chicago Freedom School since 2019.