Freedom Project Network

THE FPN'S MISSION IS TO ELEVATE THE WORK OF THE FREEDOM PROJECTS AND TO PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING. AS A BACKBONE ORGANIZATION, OUR PRIMARY FOCUS IS THE SUSTAINABILITY AND GROWTH OF EXISTING AND FUTURE FREEDOM PROJECTS.

FREEDOM PROJECT PROGRAMMING DISBURSEMENTS: AS A BACKBONE ORGANIZATION, THE FPN DELIVERS ON ITS MISSION BY PROVIDING THE FREEDOM PROJECTS WITH RESOURCES THAT PROMOTE OPERATIONAL EFFICIENCY AND HIGH-QUALITY PROGRAMMING. THIS YEAR, DIRECT PROGRAM ASSISTANCE TO THE FREEDOM PROJECTS TOTALED $42,421, ALL OF WHICH WENT TOWARDS PROGRAM EXPENSES AT THE FREEDOM PROJECTS. $30,000 OF THIS AMOUNT WENT TO GENERAL PROGRAMMING EXPENSES AT THE ROSEDALE FREEDOM PROJECT. AN ADDITIONAL $4,921 WAS SECURED BY THE FPN TO SUPPORT THE ROSEDALE FREEDOM PROJECT'S GENERAL PROGRAM EXPENSES. FINALLY, AN ADDITIONAL $7,500 WAS SECURED BY THE FPN TO PROMOTE LGBTQ PROGRAMMING AT THE FREEDOM PROJECTS, WHICH WENT DIRECTLY TO LGBTQ PROGRAMMING AT THE ROSEDALE FREEDOM PROJECT.

FREEDOM SUMMER COLLEGIATE: FREEDOM SUMMER COLLEGIATE RECRUITS, TRAINS, AND FUNDS DOCTORAL CANDIDATES TO DESIGN AND FACILITATE TRANSFORMATIVE SUMMER SEMINARS AT EACH FREEDOM PROJECT SITE. IN THIS PROGRAM, HIGH-SCHOOL FREEDOM FELLOWS EXPERIENCE A POWERFUL COLLEGE SIMULATION FROM THE COMFORT OF THE FREEDOM PROJECT AND EARN COLLEGE CREDIT FROM MILLSAPS COLLEGE. IN 2021, DUE TO THE CONTINUED DISRUPTIONS OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC WE OFFERED THE PROGRAM VIRTUALLY WITH 12 INSTRUCTORS WORKING IN PAIRS TO OFFER 6 COURSES FOR STUDENTS. THE PROGRAM WAS LED BY A PROGRAM MANAGER AND WAS SUPPORTED BY A PART-TIME COMMUNICATIONS FELLOW. IN 2021, FSC STUDENTS EXPLORED CLIMATE CHANGE AND CLIMATE JUSTICE; CONNECTIONS BETWEEN SCIENCE AND POETRY; OPPRESSION AND SOCIAL JUSTICE FROM A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE; SOCIAL MEDIA'S IMPACT ON POLITICS; STORYTELLING IN THE BLACK QUEER SOUTH; AND HOW MASS INCARCERATION AND POLICE VIOLENCE CHALLENGE UNDERSTANDINGS OF DEMOCRACY.

ALUMNI COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM: THE ALUMNI COLLEGE SUCCESS PROGRAM SUPPORTS ALL FREEDOM PROJECT ALUMNI WHO MATRICULATE INTO COLLEGE BY PROVIDING MENTORSHIP CALLS, ACADEMIC COACHING, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND MONTHLY STIPENDS. WE HAVE A PART-TIME PROGRAM DIRECTOR WHO OVERSEES THE ADMINISTRATION OF THIS PROGRAM AND PART-TIME COORDINATORS AT EACH OF OUR THREE FREEDOM PROJECT SITES (SUNFLOWER COUNTY, MERIDIAN, AND ROSEDALE, MS) WHO LEAD THE STUDENT-FACING PROGRAMMING. THIS YEAR WE SUPPORTED 21 ALUMNI FELLOWS WHO ENROLLED AT 11 COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

FPN ALSO OVERSEES CENTRALIZED PROGRAMATIC PLANNING FOR THE FREEDOM PROJECTS, PROVIDES PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR FREEDOM PROJECT STAFF IN THE FORM OF FPN SUMMITS AND EXTERNAL OPPORTUNITIES, AND CONDUCTS SITE VISITS FOR BOTH PROGRAMMATIC ACCOUNTABILITY AND SUPPORT AT EACH FREEDOM PROJECT.