"From Conversation to Action"

Maplewood, New Jersey - MAPSO Freedom School will present “From Conversation to Action”, taking place at South Orange Middle School Auditorium on Saturday, August 13th (9:00am-2:00pm), and featuring political art, student testimony, Student/Teacher Facilitated Discussions, an Open Mic segment, and representatives from the Black Lives Matter Movement. Freedom Schools were temporary, alternative free schools for African Americans mostly in the South. They were originally part of a nationwide effort during the Civil Rights Movement to organize African Americans to achieve social, political and economic self-determination in the United States. Our modern-day MAPSO Freedom School seeks to build on the original concept while understanding that the freedom struggle has evolved with new challenges to overcome. The first event on August 13th is intended to begin to move the conversation on race and community policing beyond the discussion and dialogue stage, to organizing and mobilizing as change agents in our community. The MAPSO Freedom School consists of SOMSD students, teachers and parents, as well as students and teachers from other districts (Montclair, Newark, Roselle). This event is free and open to the public. Attendees can RSVP and confirm their attendance at Eventbrite under MAPSO Freedom School