The Meridian Freedom Project
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Our mission is to create a corps of academically capable, socially conscious, and mentally discipline
In 1998, three Teach for America teachers in Sunflower County, Mississippi realized that if their students were ever going to have the freedom to choose to pursue an education beyond high school and Sunflower, something had to be done. Yes, their students were going to school, but to close the opportunity gap that existed between their students and their peers in other communities, their students needed more. So, three teachers, Chris Myers-Asch, Shawn Raymond, and Gregg Costa set about to create a program that would support their students outside of school and create pathways to college so that committed, hard-working teenagers in Sunflower County would one day have the freedom to make choices about their futures. Now, 15 years later, the Sunflower County Freedom Project is thriving, offering students six years of year-round growth and opportunities in rigorous core academic support, arts enrichment, health and fitness training, character development, and educational travel. In 15 years, 100% of the Freedom Fellows that have completed their six-year commitment to the Freedom Project have gone on to and graduated from college. Starting summer 2014, The Meridian Freedom Project will open its doors to offer the same program to Meridian's own committed and hard-working students, grades 6-8. This summer, we will offer six weeks of intensive summer school, with a week of "college life" at Ole Miss, and two opportunities for a no-frills camping trip to major historical monuments across the South. Following the end of our summer session, we will continue with year round programming throughout the week and on Saturdays. We believe that education is the seed of freedom, and we work hard to partner with our schools and community to make that belief a reality. Our Meridian Board of Directors:
Thomas Huebner
Amir Badat
Tra Alford
07/02/2023
We ended our week with a special presentation about the 9th & 10th U.S. Cavalry. A Probationary member of the NABSTMC Louisville Chapter also spoke to us about how her Motorcycle Club is dedicated to sharing the history of the these troopers known as the Buffalo Soldiers with students and adults alike. We would like to thank “Probie 1” (That’s what she told us to call her) for such an enlightening presentation. We would also like to thank the Buffalo Soldiers MC Meridian Chapter for coming and bringing their iron horses (we call them motorcycles) for our fellows to see and even sit on. Also thanks so much for providing a pizza party for our fellows. What a great way to end the week!
Dr. Robert Damm visited the Meridian Freedom Project and lead us in a powerful drum circle. We learned new rhythms from West Africa. And we even learned new ways to play some others. Thank you Meridian Symphony Association for arranging the program.
06/22/2023
Here are some pictures from June 21st, 2023. Our fellows held a memorial for Chaney, Goodman and Schwerner at the site of the Meridian COFO office. We visited the site of Meridian’s Freedom School in 1964. At the Freedom School site Rev. Gerald Hutson stopped and shared his wisdom with our fellows. We also visited the grave of James Chaney. We enjoyed a time of fellowship with a pizza party.
06/22/2023
We are so proud of our Freedom Fellows and our Leadership Team for helping our community remember the lives of these three freedom fighters.
Meridian Freedom Project honors three famous civil right leaders The Meridian Freedom Project honors the lives of James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner on the 58th Anniversary of their death.
06/20/2023
Come out as we pause to remember these heroes.
Chaney, Schwerner and Goodman remembered on 59th Anniversary of their disappearance Daily recording of WTOK's Midday News
06/20/2023
Join the Freedom Fellows of the Meridian Freedom Project as the remember the lives James Chaney, Andrew Goodman and Michael Schwerner on the 59th anniversary of their deaths. The short memorial will be held at 10am at the site of the former COFO building in downtown Meridian.
Parents: Due to the threat of severe weather this evening(Tuesday), we are canceling programming for MFP. We will resume programming tomorrow. (Wednesday)
10/12/2022
The Meridian Freedom Project would like to give a huge shoutout to our MFP Alumni Parent Melissa Brown for volunteering to help chaperone our Fall Break 2022 trip. She is the one in the purple shirt! 😂 Thank you so Much!
10/12/2022
Spring Break 2022 Hattiesburg Trip pt 3. Our final stop on our trip was to the Mississippi Grand Canyon, aka Red Bluff in Morgantown, MS. This is a spectacular sight! Well worth the drive.
10/11/2022
Fall Break 2022 Hattiesburg Trip pt 2.
We visited the Pocket Museum in downtown Hattiesburg. We broke up into two teams to complete to see who could find the most items. This was so much fun!
10/11/2022
Fall Break 2022 Hattiesburg Trip pt 1. We began our trip with a tour of the University of Southern Mississippi. A big thank you to our tour guide Cade McCormick for an excellent tour of campus. We had lunch at the “Fresh” with former freedom fellow Ms. Roberts and we also saw another former freedom Mr. Thigpen. Our fellows loved the school, but lunch at the “Fresh” was the tipping point. One fellow said “The food at USM just hit different.” 😂
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725 Front Street
Meridian, MS
39301
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