What is the Freedom Project’s mission?
The Freedom Project’s mission is to create a corps of academically capable, socially conscious, and mentally disciplined young leaders in the Mississippi Delta.
Where is Sunflower County, Mississippi?
Located roughly 100 miles north of Jackson and 150 miles south of Memphis, Sunflower County lays in the heart of the Mississippi Delta. Though it is historically one of the poorest areas in the country, Sunflower County has a rich history filled with legendary blues musicians such as B.B. King and heroic civil rights activists such as Fannie Lou Hamer. The Freedom Project headquarters is based in the Town of Sunflower (population 1,166) in the geographic center of the county.
Are there other organizations already doing this?
In short, no. The Sunflower County Freedom Project is an anomaly in the Mississippi Delta, reversing a trend of low rates of high school graduation and even lower rates of college enrollment. Through our six-year program, we genuinely reach students who would otherwise be left behind by a failing system. The SCFP is not simply a program meant to “keep kids off the streets;” we offer real academic and social enrichment that leads to real successes. One hundred percent of Freedom Fellows who complete the program not only graduate high school but go on to enroll in competitive four-year colleges and universities. All have graduated or are on track to graduate on time from these institutions.
What is a typical student in your program like?
Our students are dynamic, motivated young people driven to succeed. We do not recruit students based on test scores or grade point averages. Rather, we look for students who possess a quality of motivation that we can cultivate into an appetite for academic success. In terms of demographics, our students typically come from one-parent homes and live at or beneath the national poverty line. Most of our students will be the first in their families to attend a four-year university. Although we are open to students of all races, we serve the public school community and thus, all of our students are African-American. You can browse through student profiles in the Meet our Freedom Fellows section
What are the results of the program?
The Freedom Project is a results-oriented organization. One hundred percent of Freedom Fellows who complete our program go on to four-year colleges and universities. After four consecutive years of college enrollments, we have 10 college students at top institutions all over the country. Eighty-seven percent of Freedom Project students make the honor roll or above within two years of being in our program and our 11th and 12th grade students boast ACT scores nearly thirty percent higher than the county average. Read more about the results of the Freedom Project in the Results section.
How is the Freedom Project funded? How does it spend its money?
The Freedom Project is funded entirely by private sources – since our inception in 1998, we have taken $0 from local, state, or federal governments. Roughly XX% of our annual budget comes from foundations, XX% from local businesses, and $XX% from student fundraising. Money donated to the Freedom Project goes primarily toward programming — only XX% is spent on fundraising or administration. For a breakdown of how donated money meets operational costs, please see the Support the SCFP section.
How can I get involved with the Freedom Project?
The number one way to affect our students in a positive way is by donating money. It takes approximately $2,615 to run our programs for one week and we rely entirely on grants and private donations. You can also serve as a volunteer, a summer intern, or set up an alternative fall-, winter-, or spring- break. For more information about any of these opportunities, please see the Get Involved section.
How can I schedule an interview with a student or staff member? How can I schedule a visit?
You are more than welcome to visit the Freedom Project and talk to any of our staff or students. Please contact Nick Allen by phone at (662) 569-2441 or by e-mail at allen@sunflowerfreedom.org. For more information about our office hours or for directions, please Contact Us.
