Modeled after the successes of the Civil Rights Movement and Freedom Schools of the 1960s, as well as the success of the Sunflower County Freedom Project, the Rosedale Freedom Project is designed to help students become academically capable, socially conscious leaders in their communities. Students in Rosedale are not given after-school opportunities. Beyond sports and step, many students are desp
erate for a chance to exercise their creativity, explore the world, and push themselves academically beyond the school day. Further, students need a deep connection to the past, and the successes of local Freedom Fighters like Fannie Lou Hamer, Amzie Moore, and others can be a source of inspiration and determination for young students. The RFP uses academic and artistic opportunities to engage the whole student. We provide students with academic support; creative experiences in drama, hip-hop, and creative writing; exposure to new places and knowledge of the past through our civil-rights based trips; and ultimately preparation for attending and thriving at four-year colleges and universities. This summer, the RFP will offer students in 7th and 8th grade a full summer school experience, including reading novels about civil rights, exploring a rigorous math curriculum, and participating in art, drama, and hip-hop. At the end of the summer, students will travel to Alabama, Tennessee, and Arkansas to camp in the wilderness, visit civil rights sites, and learn more about the deep-rooted history of empowerment and social justice in the South. Through these experiences, students will learn about the power of our LEAD principles (Love, Education, Action, and Discipline), and will develop themselves as socially conscious, determined leaders in their community!
