Our Wedding Gift: A Freedom School
Donation protected
Brittney and Eric met in 2012. On May 23, almost exactly 3 years later they are getting married in the city that they both love, Nashville. The engaged couple have one gift in mind to celebrate their special day: a Freedom School.
Freedom Schools are near and dear to both Eric and Brittney. As a community organizer, Eric worked to bring the first two Freedom Schools to Nashville in 2014. As a graduate student at Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt, Brittney has seen first hand the disparities that exist in elementary schools across the Greater Nashville area. Instead of asking for the typical fine china, linens, and kitchen gadgets, they wanted to receive a gift that would give back well into the future. Thus the "give back" wedding was born.
Freedom Schools are a free summer based enrichment program designed to enhance scholar literacy rates. It truly is a community affair- the "schools" are located in the communities that they serve, engaging parents and local commmunity leaders in the learning environment. The schools employ college students as servant leaders, providing summer jobs for them and positive role models for scholars. Freedom schools aren't like tradiditonal schools- they're meant to be fun, engaging, and creative. The morning Harambee, meaning "Let's pull together" in Swahili, is meant to get students excited for the days activities- check it out below!
Born out of the civil rights movement, Freedom Schools were reimagined by Marian Wright Edelman as a part of Children's Defense Fund's mission to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. Eric is the Lead Organizer for the CDF Nashville Team. See his OpEd in The Tennesseean on the project here: Nashville needs to expand network of Freedom Schools
Brittney and Eric firmly believe in the value this program offers to children and want to be directly involved in the continued success of the progam in Nashville, TN. In foregoing a traditional registry, they would like to give back to the community that has supported them. Their vision is that every school in Nashville will one day host a Freedom School. Please help to make their dream come true!
Donations collected will be provided to the Nashville Freedom School Partnership.
Thank you for your support. With love, Eric and Brittney
Freedom Schools are near and dear to both Eric and Brittney. As a community organizer, Eric worked to bring the first two Freedom Schools to Nashville in 2014. As a graduate student at Peabody College of Education at Vanderbilt, Brittney has seen first hand the disparities that exist in elementary schools across the Greater Nashville area. Instead of asking for the typical fine china, linens, and kitchen gadgets, they wanted to receive a gift that would give back well into the future. Thus the "give back" wedding was born.
Freedom Schools are a free summer based enrichment program designed to enhance scholar literacy rates. It truly is a community affair- the "schools" are located in the communities that they serve, engaging parents and local commmunity leaders in the learning environment. The schools employ college students as servant leaders, providing summer jobs for them and positive role models for scholars. Freedom schools aren't like tradiditonal schools- they're meant to be fun, engaging, and creative. The morning Harambee, meaning "Let's pull together" in Swahili, is meant to get students excited for the days activities- check it out below!
Born out of the civil rights movement, Freedom Schools were reimagined by Marian Wright Edelman as a part of Children's Defense Fund's mission to ensure every child a Healthy Start, a Head Start, a Fair Start, a Safe Start and a Moral Start in life and successful passage to adulthood with the help of caring families and communities. Eric is the Lead Organizer for the CDF Nashville Team. See his OpEd in The Tennesseean on the project here: Nashville needs to expand network of Freedom Schools
Brittney and Eric firmly believe in the value this program offers to children and want to be directly involved in the continued success of the progam in Nashville, TN. In foregoing a traditional registry, they would like to give back to the community that has supported them. Their vision is that every school in Nashville will one day host a Freedom School. Please help to make their dream come true!
Donations collected will be provided to the Nashville Freedom School Partnership.
Thank you for your support. With love, Eric and BrittneyOrganizer
Brittney Jackson
Organizer
Nashville, TN