Legacy Builders Freedom School: Educating for Liberation
10-Month Youth Empowerment Program | Grades 6-12
Presented by: Legacy League of Black Women
Date: January 7, 2026
Our Mission
The Legacy Builders Freedom School, an initiative of the Legacy League of Black Women, honors the tradition of Black women as educators, organizers, and community leaders. Inspired by the Freedom Schools of the Civil Rights Movement, the program blends Africana studies, literacy, digital skills, and leadership development to help young people understand their history, affirm their identity, and build lasting legacies.
Through culturally affirming learning, mentorship, and hands-on social action, Legacy Builders prepares the next generation of changemakers to carry our stories, strength, and leadership forward.
Why a Freedom School?
- Black youth deserve space to learn who they are and where they come from
- Our traditional schools often erase or misrepresent Black history
- This program gives Black youth tools to think critically, love themselves, and lead their communities
- It's not just a class—it's a community, a healing space, and a movement
🖤 "If you know whence you came, there is really no limit to where you can go." — James Baldwin
What Is a Freedom School?
Inspired by
The 1964 Mississippi Freedom Schools (SNCC)
Continued by
The Black Panther Party's youth and education programs.
Modernized
For today's youth with art, activism, mental wellness, and organizing.
Safe Space
Joyful, unapologetically Black space for learning.
✨ Freedom Schools teach us not just facts—but how to be free.
Our Curriculum Framework: Identity → Systems → Action → Care → Legacy
The Legacy Builders Freedom School is intentionally sequenced to move students from self-understanding to system analysis, into action, and then toward sustainability and legacy. Each phase prepares students for the next.
Phase 1: Identity & Grounding (Month 1)
Question: Who am I? Who are we?
Students understand Blackness as a historical, cultural, and political identity, learn Freedom School traditions, and establish trust, belonging, and voice.
Outcome: Students are grounded, affirmed, and ready to engage.
Phase 2: Historical Truth & Resistance (Months 2–4)
Question: How did we get here—and how did we survive?
Students learn erased or distorted history, understand race's construction, and see resistance as continuous.
Outcome: Students gain clarity, recognizing injustice as systemic, not personal failure.
Phase 3: Movement Building & Youth Leadership (Months 5–6)
Question: How have people like me organized for change?
Students study youth-led movements, learn collective organizing, and see leadership as accessible and shared.
Outcome: Students begin to see themselves as participants, not observers.
Phase 4: Systems & Narrative Power Today (Months 7–8)
Question: How do systems operate now—and who controls the story?
Students analyze current systems (education, policing, housing, environment), examine media, and learn how narratives shape public opinion.
Outcome: Students develop critical consciousness and voice.
Phase 5: Health, Mental Health & Sustainability (Month 9)
Question: How do we stay whole while doing this work?
Students learn about mental and physical health in Black communities, understand stress and trauma, and practice rest, boundaries, and collective care, recognizing that care is strategy.
Outcome: Students gain tools for emotional regulation, resilience, and sustainability.
Phase 6: Legacy & Action (Month 10)
Question: What will I do with what I've learned?
Students design social action projects, reflect on personal and collective legacy, and share learning with family and community.
Outcome: Students leave with confidence, clarity, and a sense of responsibility.
Program Overview
Program Schedule
February to December (10 Months)
Saturdays, 2 hours per session
Location
In-person, community-based location (TBD)
Curriculum & Activities
Includes art, journaling, books, community speakers, organizing, and healing
Learning Materials
Freedom Journals and core reading included
Monthly Curriculum
Themes & Breakdowns
A 10-month journey through Black history, identity, healing, and power
Month 1 - February
February – Who Am I? Who Are We? | Roots, Identity & Blackness
Focus: The Freedom School tradition (1964 Mississippi → today), Codification of "Black" as a racial term, Ubuntu, Sankofa, Kujichagulia (self-determination), Identity: family, culture, neighborhood, ancestry
Key Outcomes:
- Students understand Black as a political, cultural, and historical identity
- Begin Freedom Journals (used year-round)
- Build trust and community norms
Month 2 - March
History We Were Never Taught | Africa to Enslavement
Focus: Pre-colonial African civilizations, The invention of race, Transatlantic slave trade, Resistance, not victimhood
Empires
Mali, Ghana, and Songhai
Knowledge Systems
African contributions to math, architecture, governance, and spirituality
Culture
Cultural traditions: oral storytelling, music, cosmology
Truth
Deconstructing "Africa as poor" narratives
Key Outcomes:
- Students can explain Africa beyond slavery
- Understand how race was constructed to justify power
- Reframe enslaved Africans as freedom fighters
Projects:
- African civilization research mini-posters
- Timeline activity (Africa → Americas)
Month 3 - April
Resistance & Liberation | From Rebellion to Revolution
Focus: Enslaved resistance (Nat Turner, maroons, everyday resistance), Abolitionists (Black-led movements), Reconstruction and backlash
- Middle Passage, chattel slavery in the U.S.
- Resistance: Maroons, revolts, escaping, and spirituals
- The fight for literacy and dignity under captivity
Key Outcomes:
- Students identify resistance strategies
- Connect past resistance to modern movements
Projects:
- Resistance role-play
- Freedom Journal reflection: "What does resistance look today?"
Month 4 - May
May – The Civil Rights Movement & Freedom Schools
Focus: SNCC and grassroots organizing, Mississippi Freedom Schools (1964), Youth leadership in social change
Key Outcomes:
- Students understand why Freedom Schools existed
- Youth see themselves as leaders
Projects:
- Mock Freedom School lesson (students teach peers)
- Oral history analysis
Month 5 - June
Jim Crow, Migration & Cultural Power
Focus: Jim Crow laws and segregation, The Great Migration, Harlem Renaissance & Black cultural power
Key Outcomes:
- Understand systems vs. individual prejudice
- See culture as resistance
Projects:
- Harlem Renaissance showcase (poetry, art, music)
- Family migration stories (interviews or research)
Month - July
July – Summer Break & Recharge
July marks a crucial midpoint in our program, offering students and staff a much-needed opportunity to rest, reflect, and spend time with family. This period ensures everyone returns refreshed and ready to dive into the next phase of our curriculum, focused on systemic analysis and action.
While there are no formal sessions, students are encouraged to continue their Freedom Journal reflections and engage in community activities, embodying the spirit of continuous learning and growth.
Month 6 - August
Black Power, Self-Determination & Community Control
Focus: Black Power movement, Community programs (breakfast programs, health clinics), Media misrepresentation of Black activism
Key Outcomes:
- Students critically analyze narratives
- Understand community self-reliance
Projects:
- Media comparison activity (headline vs. reality)
- Design a community program
Month 7 - September
Systems, Power & Justice Today
Focus: Mass incarceration, School-to-prison pipeline, Housing, policing, and environmental justice
Key Outcomes:
- Students learn how systems function
- Build critical thinking skills
Projects:
- Local issue research
- Guest speaker or community leader dialogue
Month 8 - October
Voice, Media & Storytelling
Focus: Who controls the narrative?, Social media, misinformation, and truth, Black journalism, art, and digital storytelling
Key Outcomes:
- Students use their voices responsibly
- Learn storytelling as power
Projects:
- Podcast clip, spoken word, or short video
- Digital storytelling workshop
Month 9 - November
Health, Mental Health & Collective Care
Focus: Mental health in Black communities (history, stigma, healing), Physical health: sleep, stress, nutrition, movement, Joy, rest, and boundaries as survival and resistance, Collective care and mutual support systems
Key Outcomes:
- Students understand mental health as part of overall health
- Identify healthy coping strategies and support resources
- Recognize the connection between mind, body, and community
- Learn to advocate for personal and collective wellness
Projects:
- Personal Wellness Plan (mental, emotional, physical)
- Community Care Map (people, spaces, resources)
- Freedom Journal reflection: "What does being healthy mean for me, my family, and my community?"
Month 10 - December
Legacy, Action & Our Future
Focus: What does it mean to leave a legacy?, Youth social action projects, Celebration and public sharing
Key Outcomes:
- Students connect learning to action
- Present their work to families and sponsors
Culminating Project:
- Youth-designed social action or community project
- Freedom School Showcase / Celebration
Empower Your Future: Register for Freedom School!
The Legacy Builders Freedom School is a completely free program, empowering youth with critical thinking, historical knowledge, and tools for social action. Join a vibrant community committed to building a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
Secure your spot today to embark on this transformative journey. Enrollment is limited, ensuring a personalized and impactful experience for every participant. Don't miss this opportunity!