The Imagining Freedom Institute

11th Annual Summit…the numbers are in!

"Similar to most of my fellow Millennials and even Gen Xers who grew up in Dallas, I did not know the full story of the Black community I had frequented growing up — how could I have when most of it had been destroyed?"

'The site of Dallas' original Black high school, erased from history, will become a taxpayer-subsidized Kroger project.' Check out the first of many historical writings on the Black schools of Dallas by ED Amber Sims.

The site of Dallas’ original Black high school, erased from history, will become a taxpayer-subsidized Kroger project - Dallas Free Press Kroger purchased “expensive," “desirable” land where one of Dallas’ oldest Black schools, B.F. Darrell, was built as the original Colored High School.

It’s hard to believe that ’s Teen Equity Summit is almost here! Tomorrow at 10am, 300+ teenagers across the DFW Area are coming together on issues they care most about. Know someone that should join them? Just have them register by 9am! http://bit.ly/2021YLSCsummit

"Students don't need to learn about equity, intersectionality, or any of those 'adult problems'." 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩

This couldn't be further from the truth! In fact, EVERYONE needs to learn about these topics, and 9th-12th grade students will have an opportunity to do so at Young Leaders. Strong City.'s 8th Annual Teen Equity Summit on Saturday, November 13th. Registration is now live! https://bit.ly/2021YLSCsummit

1. TAG a student you want to attend!
2. SHARE with parents, educators, and others with high school students in their family or network.
3. REPOST! This event will be virtual and we can never have too many students present.

Dear Allies: If you know a high school student in the DFW area, we need your help! Young Leaders. Strong City.'s Youth Advisory Council meets the second Saturday of every month, and this Saturday they're discussing the school-to-prison pipeline. From school uniform policies to police officers in schools, we are looking for young leaders to share their expertise.

Share this flyer with every 9th-12th grade student and encourage them to lift THEIR voice on the issue. To register, students can scan the flyer or register with the first link at linktr.ee/ylscmovement!

It’s North Texas Giving Day and a wonderful time to give to our student-centered racial equity platform, Young Leaders Strong City! We’re calling all of our adult allies to help YLSC reach their $20,000 goal. Donate and share! https://www.northtexasgivingday.org/youngleadersstrongcity

In case you missed it, our student-centered racial equity program Young Leaders. Strong City. is participating in North Texas Giving Day next Thursday! Save the date and visit www.northtexasgivingday.com/youngleadersstrongcity to learn why you should support student leadership and learning at this critical time.

Today, our country celebrated the 56th anniversary of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 that aimed to remove local and state barriers to access for Black/African American citizens. While this legislation marks what should have been the end of a centuries-long fight for equality at the polls, we know and are witnessing today just how prevalent systems of voter suppression still are.

There is much more work to be done and learning to take place to ensure that all U.S. residents and citizens are granted the opportunity to shape this country and participate in democracy with a vote in the local, municipal, and state elections that will affect their livelihood. And still, we acknowledge those who came before us and carry the torch through the work that we do with organizations, school districts, businesses, and more.

Learn with us. Work with us. Dismantle with us. Build with us at The Imagining Freedom Institute.

📷: US National Archives

What does Environmental Justice look like for Dallas’ BIPOC communities? Who’s leading the charge to rectify years of environmental racism?

Join us TONIGHT at 6:30pm for the Healing Pieces Symposium Series as we explore the topics of culture, environment, and social justice with a focus on Dallas’ historical and present role in shaping communities.

Sipp Culture Page / Young Leaders. Strong City. / Chicana in Nature / Ignite/Arts Dallas

Earth Meets Mother Jones link in bio to register) Culture, the Environment & Social Justice. A conversation with David Marquis (author of "The River Always Wins"), Susana Cruz (Chicana in Nature) and featuring Carlton Turner (SIPP Culture)
Tuesday, June 29 6:30-8 p.m. CST

Historically, the narratives of the United
States Environmental Justice movement have excluded BIPOC people and communities. Yet, as Environmental Racism remains pervasive, BIPOC people are consistently most impacted and impactful. Over the last several decades, the dynamics have shifted considerably and that shift is accelerating. In this session of the Healing Pieces Symposium, we slow down and talk to three different humans – all artists and educators – to look at Dallas’ history and present at it relates to these issues, while we hear from a rural contemporary case study focused on intersectionality and the transformation of place – Utica, Mississippi and the Mississippi Center for Cultural Production (SIPP Culture).

https://healingpieces.art/Symposium

We're excited to announce that the W.W. Caruth Jr. Fund of Communities Foundation of Texas has invested in our youth-facing program, Young Leaders. Strong City., with a multi-year grant. The Foundation joins a growing list of funders and supporters investing in YLSC's student leadership and racial equity framework. Thank you all!

Interested in supporting YLSC's work to build organizers and decolonize history? Visit https://www.ylscmovement.com/supportylsc to learn how.

TONIGHT!

Join one of our co-founders Jerry Hawkins, in conversation with attorney and social entrepreneur, Brittany K. Barnett at 6:30pm CST in partnership with SMU Meadows and Ignite Arts!

The symposium series, which will continue through 2021, is part of Healing Pieces: Offerings of Art, Expression, and Nature, a collaborative multi-year arts and engagement initiative led by Ignite/Arts Dallas with myriad partner organizations and individuals. Healing Pieces examines how architecture, green space, urban planning, and community development can lead to the transformation of the city. It seeks to illustrate how Dallas and its communities can enter conversations that encourage understanding and stimulate meaningful change across race, culture, geography, criminal and environmental justice reform, and urbanism.

Learn more and register here: https://healingpieces.art/symposium