YES Freedom School is a summer-long, weekly program designed to educate YES leaders on different issues pertaining to organizing and political education, in order to develop their personal skills as leaders and advance social justice in their schools.

YES Freedom School focuses on developing students into leaders, as well as placing their understanding of organizing in the context of the historic fight against systemic and institutionalized oppression. We do not organize in a vacuum, but in a world with specific systems in place that keep people oppressed. Student leaders must understand these systems if they are to truly understand the purpose of their work. We will especially explore issues of educational justice, racism, sexism, classism, and immigrant rights.

Participants will take weekly courses designed to develop their organizing capabilities, their knowledge about systemic oppression and the forms of injustice in our society, as well as learn from the experiences of other movements in the long struggle for universal justice and liberation. Students will develop skills in the areas of: facilitating meetings, educating other students, working with teachers and administrators, public speaking, fundraising, and building the leadership skills of other students in their YES chapters. 

Important dates:

Applications due: June 15th Turn in to Elliott (317) 997-3558 or Fernada (262) 721-6008. You can email your application to elliott@vdlf.org or fax it to 414-643-162. You can also mail or drop off your application at the Voces de la Frontera office 1027 S. 5th Street Milwaukee, WI 53204

Classes will be on Wednesdays from 1:30pm to 5:00pm. There is a possibility that there may be events on days other than Wednesday for this program (movie nights, field trips, etc.), in which case both the participants and their guardians will be notified ahead of time. Our first class will be Wednesday, June 20th.

Expectations:

Students that participate in YES Freedom School are expected to:

1) Attend every session (one excused absence will be permitted)

2) Commit to help lead the YES chapter at their school during the 2018-19 school year – includes attending weekly chapter meetings AND the Tuesday (Racine) or Thursday (Milwaukee) leadership meetings

3) Be ready to apply what they learn during the Freedom School sessions (facilitating meetings, leading workshops at their YES chapters, etc.)