Democratic Education.

Every community’s empowerment depends on the enrichment of its young people. Our non-profit partner, Riverside Collective Holdings, offers after-school programming provides democratic educational opportunities for young people aged 11 and up. We’re building a more equitable future rooted in care for self, care for others, and care for the environment.

Guided by the vision of the Mississippi Freedom Schools, students will choose and design their own education. Classes may include cooking, coding, literacy, art, sports, or more. Students will also participate directly in decision-making and receive hands-on experiences as members of Riverside’s coffeehouse. Together, we will disrupt apathetic relationships towards learning and present education as joyous, meaningful, and worthwhile.  

The after-school program is managed through participatory processes designed and stewarded by the program’s members. At the beginning of each new cohort, members will establish the cooperative processes they will use over the course of their program. These processes may include how often decision-making circles meet, whether members will use a talking stick or hand signs to regulate discussion, and what community rules will apply to each meeting.