Your gift to the 1619 Freedom School Fund will help support the creation of the 1619 Freedom School program. This program's aim is to increase literacy among African-American youth in the Waterloo Community School District in Waterloo, Iowa.

About 1619 Freedom School

Mission Statement: Creating compassionate learning spaces where students and teachers learn to use language and literacy in critical and empowering ways.

Vision: Liberation Through Literacy

The 1619 Freedom School will be a five-days a week after school program dedicated to delivering intensive literacy instruction and a culturally responsive curriculum to help bridge the academic achievement gap amongst low-income Black and public school students in Waterloo, Iowa.

This groundbreaking effort will be lead by a steering committee with deep ties to the community:

• Nikole Hannah-Jones, 2020 Pulitzer Prize winner, creator of the New York Time Magazine’s 1619 Project and native of Waterloo

• Sheritta Stokes, Waterloo Community School District, Third Grade Teacher and Literary Specialist

• Joy Briscoe, Waterloo Community School District, Talent and Outreach Specialist

• Lori Dale, UNI Center for Urban Education, Advisor

• Sharina Sallis, CUNA Mutual Group, Community Relations Manager