Freedom School Vision Action Plan

VISION + ACTION JUNE 2022

FREEDOM SCHOOL WHY US? Black students in the Denver metropolitan area need learning environments that are loving and safe.

The 5280 Freedom School will combat the oppression of anti-Black racism by creating a safe, racism-free space. 5280 Freedom School addresses the ways in which BIPOC students and educators are harmed by many of Denver’s current educational institutions and the school-to-prison pipeline.

5280 Freedom School creates greater spans of time during which BIPOC can exist free from racism and all its harmful manifestations.

This, in turn, benefits whole communities and generations. 5280 Freedom School is designed close opportunity gaps that have existed for decades.

Our school culture creates safe and affirming learning spaces for students to take academic risks. We engage students in inquiry-based learning and Culturally Responsive and Sustaining pedagogy. We will prepare students to develop habits of mind that lead to them becoming independent learners and thinkers.

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OUR SQUAD

Branta Lockett, Executive Director Branta Lockett identifies as a Black woman, educator, activist, and lifelong learner. Director Lockett founded the 5280 Freedom School Summer Program, which is now in its 5th year. She received her Master of Arts Degree from Brown University in Urban Education Policy. She has worked as an elementary school teacher and a Program Manager in the Leadership Development Pipeline Program for Denver Public Schools. Director Lockett has also completed the Residency Bridge Year Program and been a School Launcher Fellow for Moonshot edVentures. As a summer site Director of Generation Teach, Ms. Lockett directed teachers, cultivated a thriving culture, and mentored student teachers to help diversity the teaching profession to the benefit of students of color.

Marissa Chandler, Family Engagement Coordinator Marissa Chandler, who prefers to be referred to as Marz, identifies as a Black woman, mother, entrepreneur, and educator. She is currently teaching pre-k through 4th grade literacy at the Wilson Baker Academy, a unique school that centers African culture and the African worldview. Marz is also the Program Director of the 5280 Summer Freedom School Program. Marz has developed programming, coordinated family involvement, built curricula, and provided direct instruction within the 5280 Summer Freedom School for five years in this capacity.

Marz received an M.A. in Culturally & Linguistically Diverse Education from CU Denver.

Amy Brown, Director of Development Amy E. Brown identifies as a Black woman, mother, and activist. Ms. Brown is a Co-Founder of Black Lives Matter 5280, the chapter under which the 5280 Freedom School was formed.

She is an experienced Community Organizer who has successfully executed advocacy efforts for communities of color while serving the Speaker of the California State Assembly, the Sacramento City Council, labor and civic service organizations. As Director of Development for BLM5280, Ms. Brown has successfully raised over one million dollars for the organization. She also supported the BLM 5280 chapter’s successful effort to purchase a building in Denver’s historically Black Five Points neighborhood, which will serve as home to the 5280 Freedom School.

Vincent Bowen, Board Treasurer

With over fifteen years of investment banking origination, strategic and institutional sales experience, Bowen’s experience encourages Vince to actively advocate for racial and economic justice by helping build economic self-sufficiency in Black and other marginalized communities in Denver and beyond as a core leader of BLM5280. Specifically, he is focused on building models of community ownership of sustainable food sources via urban farming, cooperative grocery store and other business ownership. Vince graduated from Harvard College with a degree in Economics and MBA from the University of Virginia with honors.

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ORGANIZATION BUILDS POWER

MISSION The 5280 Freedom School teaches students from ECE-8th grade to become racially literate and civicallyminded by centering Black knowledge, people, and principles.

The 5280 Freedom School exists in order to dismantle oppressive systems, to liberate ourselves, and to empower our students to transform the world.

VISION The 5280 Freedom School is where people are loved, valued, safe, and free to be themselves, and where students become leaders for social change.

VALUES 1. RESTORATIVE JUSTICE We are committed to collectively, lovingly, and courageously working vigorously for freedom and justice for Black people and, by extension, all people. As we forge our path, we intentionally build and nurture a beloved community that is bonded together through a beautiful struggle that is restorative, not depleting.​ 2. EMPATHY We are committed to practicing empathy; we engage comrades with the intent to learn about and connect with their contexts.

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3. LOVING ENGAGEMENT

9. INTERGENERATIONAL

We are committed to embodying and practicing justice, liberation, and peace in our engagements with one another.

We are committed to fostering an intergenerational and communal network free from ageism. We believe that all people, regardless of age, show up with capacity to lead and learn.

4. DIVERSITY We are committed to acknowledging, respecting, and celebrating difference(s) and commonalities.

5. GLOBALISM We see ourselves as part of the global Black family and we are aware of the different ways we are impacted or privileged as Black folk who exist in different parts of the world.​ 6. QUEER AFFIRMING We are committed to fostering a queer‐affirming network.

When we gather, we do so with the intention of freeing ourselves from the tight grip of heteronormative thinking or, rather, the belief that all in the world are heterosexual unless s/he or they disclose otherwise.

7. TRANS AFFIRMING We are committed to embracing and making space for trans siblings to participate and lead. We are committed to being self-reflexive and doing the work required to dismantle cis-gender privilege and uplift Black trans folk, especially Black trans women who continue to be disproportionately impacted by trans-antagonistic violence

10. BLACK FAMILIES We are committed to making our spaces family-friendly and enable parents to fully participate with their children. We are committed to dismantling the patriarchal practice that requires mothers to work “double shifts” that require them to mother in private even as they participate in justice work.

11. BLACK VILLAGES We are committed to disrupting the Western-prescribed nuclear family structure requirement by supporting each other as extended families and “villages” that collectively care for one another, and especially “our” children to the degree that mothers, parents and children are comfortable.

12. UNAPOLOGETICALLY BLACK We are unapologetically Black in our positioning. In affirming that Black Lives Matter, we need not qualify our position.

To love and desire freedom and justice for ourselves is a necessary prerequisite for wanting the same for others.​ 13. BLACK WOMEN We are committed to building a Black women affirming space free from sexism, misogyny, and male‐centeredness.

8. COLLECTIVE VALUE We are guided by the fact all Black lives matter, regardless of actual or perceived sexual identity, gender identity, gender expression, economic status, ability, disability, religious beliefs or disbeliefs, immigration status or location.

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TIMELINE SUMMER PROGRAM TO SCHOOL OPENING

2022

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Charter Application Process Summer Camp Location Scouting

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Construction

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

Freedom School submitted their application with details on possible facilities, as well as curriculum and programming specifics. Their application was reviewed by both the staff and Denver Public School Board, but the charter was ultimately denied in June 2022.

In July 2018, the first Summer Freedom School was held.

Historically, Freedom Schools were developed and led by Black Americans in the South as an alternative school and encouraged Black youth to become change agents within their communities during the Civil Rights Movement.

Summer Freedom School has been held every summer since.

Freedom School is appealing to the Colorado State Board and should receive final confirmation on the status of their charter by October 2022 at the latest.

2023 Summer Camp

School Opens SPRING Freedom School will have selected a location to open their school at and will be underway on the design and construction of any tenant improvements that need to occur.

FALL Freedom School expects to open with at least interim capacity for the Fall 2023 school year.

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EXISTING CHAPTER BUILDING RECLAIMED SPACE

The purchase of historic Fern Hall is an initiative of Black Lives Matter 5280 that is strategically developed to reclaim space and reparations in the form of property in Five Points for Denver’s Black community.

Five Points is a historically Black neighborhood near downtown Denver that served as a home to Denver’s Black community for much of the twentieth century.

Deeply impacted by over-policing and gentrification, Five Points now serves as a symbolic “last stand” for many Black residents and business owners whose numbershave deeply diminished.

The purchase of this property by an unapologetically Black-women-led, Black- centered organization sends a powerful message to profit-driven developers, local government entities/individuals, those who actively gentrify Black and BIPOC spaces, and most importantly to our Black community.

With this purchase, BLM5280 is boldly stating that

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Black people will not be driven out of our homes and communities. Black people will not be arrested, killed, intimidated, or priced-out of the neighborhoods that hold our legacies. Rather, we will reclaim these properties and transform them into safe, flourishing spaces for our community.

The purchase of Fern Hall aligns with the powerbuilding model of our Economic Justice Squad in multiple ways. The purchase equips a Black organization with a valuable resource. Additionally, Fern Hall’s three-unit layout provides retail space that BLM5280 can make available to Black-owned businesses who would not otherwise be able to afford retail space. Our model includes offering incubator space to up-and-coming businesses, offering incentives to those who employ formerly-incarcerated persons so that we can be a part of building Black economic power at various levels.

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ENROLLMENT MAPPING SUMMER CAMP ATTENDEES

Now entering its fourth and largest year to-date, the 5280 Freedom School is one of the most successful programs offered by BLM5280.

Summer Freedom School has doubled enrollment every year, added Saturday school in response to parent and student demand, and met the challenges of remote learning head-on amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. 5280 Freedom School has been able to engage their families to understand location needs

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for the future school location.

As shown on the adjacent map, Freedom School has the highest enrollment from students who live in East Denver including the Far Northeast. However, they also pull students from as far away as Longmont.

Due to these enrollment patterns, locating near major highways and along transit lines is important to the school.

Highest Enrollment

Longmont

Lowest Enrollment

Lafayette

Northglen

Westminister

Chapter Building Aurora

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PRIORITY AMENITY MAPPING RESIDENTIAL AREAS AND POLICE STATIONS

Elyria Swansea

Cole Clayton North Park Hill City Park West Colfax

Lowry Field

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Residential Areas And Police Stations Police Staions Residential Areas Industrial areas

Black, Indigenous, Students and Educators of Color are harmed by many of Denver’s current educational institutions and the school-to-prison pipeline. There is a lack of spaces in which our community can escape the violence of anti-Black racism in Denver.

At 5280 Freedom School, our goal is that our students not only feel safe but that they contribute to the safety of others. When our students grow up, we want them to expect safety from all spaces they enter. We want them to learn at a young age that their emotions deserve validation; that they are worthy of being heard and deserving of kind interactions.

Because of this, 5280 Freedom School is hoping to locate farther away from police stations to create a sense of security. Locating in a residential neighborhood is preferred over an industrial area so that the young students have access to green spaces and other neighborhood-level amenities.

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SITE SCOUTING FINDING VIABLE POTENTIAL SITES Real estate cost and land value is at an all-time high in Denver, and is a barrier to many mission-driven developments. However, through partnerships with staunch supporters and those with a pulse on the market, several possible locations have been identified. Further feasibility studies will be done to ensure these locations are a good match and to determine whether they are suitable for full-capacity or interim occupancy.

Elyria Swansea

Cole Clayton North Park Hill

D West Colfax

A

City Park

C B Lowry Field

African American Communities 0 Percent of Black or African American Population 100 Percent of Black or African American Population

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A

B

French American School 2280 E 16th Ave, Denver, CO 80206

Hanger Building 7600 E. 1st Place | Denver, Colorado 80230

This location is located in a neighborhood that has a significant Black population while also being easy to access from the existing Chapter building.

However, this school would require Freedom School to be co-tenants with a private French preschool.

Freedom School would ultimately like to operate their own ECE in conjunction with the K-8 program.

This school also does not have outdoor play access, crucial to Freedom School as they seek to integrate access to the outdoors and play into their curriculum.

Ideally located along major roads in the Denver area, this building also has state-of-the-art facilities and is located near many park and greenway options.

However, this building quickly went under contract once it hit the market.

C

D

REACH School 940 Fillmore St, Denver, CO 80206

Former Employer’s Council Building

While this existing school building is outside of the target neighborhoods for Freedom School, it is still close to their existing Chapter building and easily accessible via transit and major roads. This location also has access to playground space and parks nearby. The school is up to code and would require minimal work by Freedom School in order to operate.

The office building is owned by the Colorado Health Foundation (CHF). CHF will be redeveloping the property into family-focused affordable housing and there is future potential to collaborate on the development to include ECE or the full Freedom School. However, they will be breaking ground on construction sooner than anticipated and therefore is not a good fit for an interim site for Freedom School.

1799 Pennsylvania St, Denver, CO 80203

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SPACE PROGRAM INTERIM + FULL CAPACITY

Freedom School Space Program for First 2 Years Space Name

# of occupants

SF/Pupil

Total SF

# of rooms

Parking requirement

Parking spaces

K

27

38

1,026 SF

1

2 spaces / classroom

2

1st

27

32

864 SF

1

2 spaces / classroom

2

1 Special Classroom

10

32

320 SF

1

2 spaces / classroom

2

Core Classroom Total

64

Core Classroom Parking

6

Kitchen area/ lunch room

25

75

1,875 SF

1

Bathrooms (1 per 50 students)

3

150

375 SF

3

2,210 SF

Support Space Total

2,250 SF

Offices

2

Room for small group teach

0

Instructor Rest Room

3

Instructor Space Total

64

120

50

Circulation 15% Grand total

16

240 SF

2

250 SF

1

150 SF

1

640 SF

Total

0 1 space / instructor

2

Instructor Space Total Parking

2

Total Parking Spaces

8

5,100 SF 15%

765 SF 5,865 SF

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FULL CAPACITY PROGRAM SCOUTED SITES FOR FULL CAPACITY PROGRAM

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FULL CAPACITY FREEDOM SCHOOL SPACE PROGRAM Space Name

# of occupants SF/Pupil

Total SF

# of Parking requirement rooms

ECE

16

50

1,600 SF

2

K

27

38

1,026 SF

1

2 spaces /classroom

2

Grade 1

27

32

864 SF

1

2 spaces /classroom

2

Grade 2

27

32

864 SF

1

2 spaces /classroom

2

Grade 3

27

32

864 SF

1

2 spaces /classroom

2

Grade 4

28

30

840 SF

1

2 spaces /classroom

2

Grade 5

28

30

840 SF

1

2 spaces/classroom

2

Specials

28

30

3,360 SF

4

2 spaces /classroom

Special Ed- 1 classroom

28

30

840 SF

1

Core Classroom Total

10,258 SF

Support Space 16

38

608 SF

1

Small group

16

20

320 SF

1

Kitchen area/ lunch room

12

1 space / 3 seats

233

Parking

233

1 space

7

Parking

7

Total Parking Spaces

252

2,400 SF 30

40

Small Indoor Gym Small Auditorium

Parking 1

Social Services

Library/tech space

Parking spaces

1,200 SF

1

3000* SF

1

360

10

2,400 SF

1

10

150

1,500 SF

1

+ Stage space Bathrooms Support Space Total

8,428

Instructor Space

1

Offices

4

120

480 SF

7

Faculty Lounge - 1

2

250

500 SF

1

Instructior Space Total

980 SF

Total

19,666 SF

Circulation 15% Grand total

15%

2,950 SF 22,616 SF

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EXPENSE + REVENUE PROJECTIONS SUSTAINABLE FINANCING Freedom School’s Finance Committee has developed the draft budget including revenues and expenses for the first five years after the school opens.

The budget projections include expenses that are both instructional and supporting services and was developed in close partnership with the Board of Directors. The budget depends on local, state, and federal support for revenue streams. The Development sub-committee for Freedom School builds these revenue streams through grant-writing, networking, and additional research.

Revenues

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Year 0

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Total

Local Support

$89,000

$377,776

$207,102

$314,976

$508,987

$601,986

$2,099,827

State Support

$0

$525,196

$802,790

$1,436,894

$2,629,322

$3,267,697 $8,661,898

Federal Support $209,400

$214,860

$217,590

$14,385

$25,830

$31,500

Total Revenues

$1,117,832

$1,227,482

$1,766,255

$3,164,138

$3,901,183 $11,475,290

$298,400

$713,565

Expenses Year 0

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

Year 4

Year 5

Total

Salaries & Benefits

$0

$265,986

$466,816

$733,957

$1,437,780

$1,733,055

$4,637,595

Other Purchased Services

$0

$2,363

$5,713

$9,600

$17,300

$20,750

$55,725

Supplies and Materials

$34,000

$39,200

$49,000

$31,400

$53,200

$64,000

$271,400

Property

$20,940

$90,000

$45,200

$12,850

$18,300

$21,000

$208,290

Other Objects

$0

$1,300

$1,950

$3,425

$6,150

$7,500

$20,325

Total Instructional

$54,940

$398,849

$569,279

$791,232

$1,532,730

$1,846,305 $5,193,335

Instructional

Supporting Services Salaries & Benefits

$136,003

$166,253

$196,070

$372,080

$469,663

$485,404

$1,825,474

Purchased/ Professional/ Technical Services

$44,000

$155,956

$226,185

$300,122

$465,662

$531,132

$1,723,057

Purchased Property Services

$0

$28,200

$29,620

$238,942

$515,905

$599,814

$1,412,482

Other Purchased Services

$31,600

$43,600

$51,900

$36,500

$40,500

$40,500

$244,600

Supplies and Materials

$11,500

$11,470

$14,700

$12,000

$12,000

$12,000

$73,670

Property

$37,500

$38,668

$37,500

$6,000

$3,000

$3,000

$125,668

Other Objects

$0

$754

$1,022

$1,632

$2,781

$3,398

$9,588

Total Supporting Services

$260,603

$444,901

$556,998

$967,276

$1,509,512

$1,675,248 $5,414,538

Total Expenses

$315,543

$843,750

$1,126,276

$1,758,508

$3,042,242

$3,521,553

$110,607,87

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VISUAL PRECEDENTS MOOD BOARD AND DESIGN

At 5280 Freedom School, Culturally Responsive and Sustaining pedagogy is the umbrella that connects specific curriculum and instruction practices and ensures all students are effectively and appropriately challenged.

5280 Freedom School promotes CR-S through:

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•

Universal culturally responsive social-emotional learning

•

Instructional materials and complex text selections that highlight Black history, art, and scientific contribution

•

Key instructional frameworks and strategies: (then these are sub bullets)

• •

Zaretta Hammond’s Ready for Rigor framework Universal Gifted & Talented Instruction

• •

Science of Reading: Systematic Phonics

•

Gholdy Muhammed’s (2020) Cultivating Genius framework

•

Cognitively Guided Instruction and ProblemBased Learning

Instruction and Close Reading for Making Meaning in English Language Arts

Following this pedagogy, 5280 Freedom School is excited to have flexible and playful space for their students. Radian led the leaders of 5280 Freedom School through several charettes related to school design and intent. Ideally, the ultimate school location will have natural light, Black artwork, and integrated, flexible play as illustrated here.

Reduce classroom hierarchy

Integrated play

Flexible seating Natural light

Black Artist’s artwork

Play and learn 23

A PATH FORWARD IDENTITY-AFFIRMING OPPORTUNITY

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When Freedom School opens in Fall 2023, there will be a school where Black people are loved, valued, safe, and free. A school where students are leaders for social change like how Black youth were encouraged to become change agents within their communities at the historical Freedom Schools during the Civil Rights movement. We believe that education is crucial to building Black power and thus, feel that having a permanent location for the Freedom School in historically Black Denver offers an opportunity to build power through educating the youth of our community while building on the historic legacy of Freedom Schools.

to anti-Black racism and state violence through a trans-feminist lens, and offer children an entry point into the #BlackLivesMatter movement.

The physical location of Freedom School will be the home where we can offer a year-round school centering Black and BIPOC students, provide brilliant Black instructors, and create a space where Black children know that they are safe, celebrated, and free so that they can engage in education that prepares them to be leaders for social change. Our year-round, full-day Freedom School will teach children about Black and Diaspora history, engage children in political resistance

Content taught at the BLM 5280 Freedom School will: assist students in exploring their identity; provide historically accurate Black history (predating American slavery); allow for discussion of elements of white supremacy and how it impacts learning; express resistance through the arts; help youth discover how to become an advocate in their schools and communities. All courses will intentionally integrate different disciplines. Our content will uplift and highlight Black, Indigenous,

Curriculum and lessons are focused on socialemotional learning, coping skills, community wellness, self-care, Black love, and Black liberation. The curricula will uplift and empower our studients while creating opportunities to demonstrate their inate brilliance. We believe that learning should be rigorous, engaging, joyful, and relevant.

People of Color. We will design content that integrates literacy, social studies, math, science, and enrichment programs.

The Freedom School will support children and families living and growing in a reality of witnessing police violence in our communities and support parent and youth voices. Our team of educators, the Education Squad, addresses pressing issues that result in disparities in the school system, including school discipline issues, school-to-prison pipeline factors, educational inequities, and inadequate cultural training. The Education Squad is presently composed of mostly K-12 educators who teach in Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools. BLM 5280 and its Education Squad are continually educating its members to provide better relationships with the community.

excited to offer this opportunity. Not only will the lessons and curricula be tailored towards the lived experiences of these youth and educators, but so will the building. By incorporating opportunities to play in a building that feels safe and light, we will uplift education as an opportunity for each individual to feel celebrated.

Freedom School offers an opportunity to Black and BIPOC youth that has been systemically denied in the traditional public school system. We are

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