The Birth of Freedom Schools
How a Movement for Educational Freedom Emerged from the Civil Rights Struggle
October 6, 2026 | 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM EST | Virtual
Freedom Schools emerged from the struggle for voting rights and educational justice during the Civil Rights Movement. Join three distinguished movement veterans and leaders for a conversation about the origins of Freedom Schools, their enduring legacy, and their relevance today.
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 | Charles E. Cobb Distinguished civil rights organizer, journalist, and educator. As a field secretary with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC), Cobb originated the idea of Freedom Schools as part of the 1964 Mississippi Freedom Summer Project. He is the author and coauthor of several influential books on civil rights history, including This Nonviolent Stuff'll Get You Killed and Radical Equations. |
 | Dr. Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons Civil Rights Movement veteran former SNCC organizer, and director of a 1964 Freedom School during Freedom Summer. Dr. Simmons is Professor Emerita of African American Religions and Islamic Studies at the University of Florida and continues to advance peace, freedom, and justice through organizing, scholarship, and community engagement. |
 | Rev. Dr. Charles Franklin Boyer Pastor of Greater Mt. Zion A.M.E Church and co-founder of Salvation and Social Justice. A leading faith voice for racial justice in New Jersey, Boyer has championed voting rights restoration, restorative justice, decarceration initiatives, and community-based responses to violence. |
