Freedom School
From Social Justice Wiki
"Promoting emotional and spiritual liberation through movement, music, art and open discussion."
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What Is The Freedom School?
The Sista II Sista Freedom School for Young Women of Color was founded in 1996, meant to be the core of the SIIS organization. Its aim was to aid young women of color develop both politically and personally "through an exploration of cultural identity, community organizing, and long term relationship building." (from SIIS website )
What Are the Four Main Components?
Whose Streets? Our Streets!- Community Organizing
This section helps the young women to see themselves as leaders of their communities, through identifying the issues that are central to their community and learning important ways to fight to shape their community positively around these issues. The current Freedom Schools of SIIS are focused on creating concrete changes (culturally and institutionally) against violence against the women of color in their Bushwick, Brooklyn community.
My Temple, My Power!- Physical Development
From Breakdancing and Capoeira to Yoga and Self-Defense, this aspect of the project emphasizes the link between "a strong mind, strong spirit, and a strong body." Young women engage in physical workshops in fields such as dance and self-defense techniques to improve themselves physically as well as mentally.
Herstory, Ourstory!- Growth Through SistaHood
During the Freedom School, young women participants meet to share their personal strories with each other, forming a collective “Herstory”. “Herstory” is essentially a project that employs several expressive media (music, video, dance, drama, and creative writing) to express the individual stories of each young women, which, when finished is put on at the Sista Speak benefit which takes place at the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe each year for community members, supporters, and family.
Vision & Logistics
The Freedom School was created from the vision of the founding members of the SIIS Collective, who wanted to see an organization that aimed at developing the whole person as well as educating young women politically. At its incipience, its aim was different; the focus was on the holistic personal and political development of the young women, but not necessarily on political organizing. However, the direction of the Freedom School comes from the young women who are the Freedom School, and three years after its start, the FS had a new goal.
The sistas of the 1999 Freedom School recognized violence against women of color in their community as a problem that needed to be fought and thus it became the focus of subsequent Freedom Schools. Now, the FS has become a place to learn about organizing as well as devlop personally. Young women coming through the program are giving the skills and the tools to organize and change their communities themselves, creating young, passionate activists as well as spiritually and emotionally supported young women.
During the NYC high school calendar year, the Freedom School takes place three times a week at the SIIS space in Bushwick. In the summer, the FS is able to meet more frequently, and yougn women wishing to get involved can apply through Sista II Sista (Interested? Click here to find out more).
SIIS Freedom School in Context
The Sista II Sista Freedom School comes from a legacy of Freedom Schools that had great significance during the Civil Rights Movement. Educating each other and working to empower and reshape their community, the young women of SIIS follow in the strong tradition of these Freedom Schools.
However, SIIS are trailblazers, formulating Freedom Schools that are not only specifically aimed at women of color, but are also lead by women of color. Sista II Sista believes in using the positive templates of the past, such as the Freedom School, and positively critiquing old models to BUILD a new and improved version.
The Sista II Sista Freedom School is that version. Incorporating ideas of organizing into the everyday lives of the young women involved, the FS helps young people take on active leadership roles at the front of the social justice battles of today as opposed to being the foot soldiers exclusively. The FS also addresses all forms of oppression and is does not limit its scope to one particular aspect. In addition, the SIIS Freedom School actively works to combat sexism and heavily incorporates culture as a means of achieving its political and personal goals.