Nurturing Black Joy Through the 5280 Freedom School Approach

• In Event: We Got Dance-Offs, Spotify Karaoke, and Poetry: Pedagogies of Joy for the Global Majority

Abstract

In July 2018, the Black Lives Matter 5280 Education Squad launched the inaugural 5280 Freedom School Summer Camp to teach K-5 students about racial literacy and civic engagement through the lens of Black knowledge, individuals, and principles. The curriculum focused on social-emotional learning, coping skills, community wellness, self-care, Black love, and liberation, addressing the significant lack of inclusive educational opportunities for Black children in traditional school systems.

Mission
The 5280 Freedom School teaches Kindergarten to 5th-grade students to become racially literate and civically minded by centering Black knowledge, people, and principles so that they can dismantle oppressive systems, liberate themselves, and transform the world.
Vision
The 5280 Freedom School envisions a community where individuals are loved, valued, safe, and free to be themselves, cultivating students into leaders for social change.

Purpose and Techniques
During the COVID-19 pandemic, the 5280 Freedom School introduced Saturday school programming to provide additional opportunities for students to engage, socialize, and learn from other Black students and educators throughout the school year. In Fall 2021, the organization began the process of expanding into a full-time public charter school within an urban city in a western state, navigating the barriers set by the district as they worked toward this goal.

Through its programs, students and educators explore personal and collective identities based on the 13 principles of Black Lives Matter at School: diversity, globalism, queer-affirming, trans-affirming, collective value, Black families, Black villages, Black women, intergenerational support, empathy, restorative practices, loving engagement, and unapologetically Black. 5280 Freedom School actively addresses educational inequities rooted in systemic anti-Black racism by creating a space where Black individuals and their allies feel loved, valued, and free to express themselves.

The organization's priority is to serve marginalized Black femmes, supporting those living at the margins and facing various challenges. While the focus is on these individuals, the programming and resources are accessible to all people of color.

Perspectives and Points of View
This practitioner paper presents the 5280 Freedom School as a case study grounded in intersectionality and inclusivity, aiming to increase educator impact (Smith, 2023), and counteract the effects of racism through direct services, equity promotion, and the creation of a Black-affirming environment. This presentation shares information collected from observations and discussions with participants, families, and staff to provide evidence of the 5280 approach’s success and how audience participants can glean knowledge from our design.

Scholarly Significance
By nurturing the talents of Black children, 5280 Freedom School strives to educate the whole child, providing equal opportunities for talent exploration and development. Students are encouraged to pursue their passions across various disciplines, including science, math, poetry, art, leadership, music, and athletics. The universal talent development framework allows students to identify their strengths, fostering confidence and agency, which promotes belonging and achievement and ultimately contributes to educational reform and positive outcomes for all students. This model of pedagogy has been successful across the U.S. in Freedom Schools to support Black youth in finding joy in learning and community through activism and their own brilliance.

Author

• Branta D. Lockett, University of Colorado - Denver