Sunflower County Freedom Project

SCFP Newsletter: Thanksgiving Edition

        Craziness and Traditions. That's what the SCFP is all about!  Right?   To the left is a picture of what's become an annual tradition for the Freedom Project, our "Hot Springs, Arkansas hot water on- the-hair-wash!  Don't worry the water's not that hot and the students love it! Won't you join us next time?
        We took this trip right before Thanksgiving and by the time we got back we were ready for I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving break! How was the stuffing? What was the best dish? Just as much as Thanksgiving is a tradition for so many families, we've built a series of strong traditions over the years here at the SCFP. For many students and our staff, the SCFP is like a second family and our traditions are often what keep us together.  Along with our overarching plan of commitment, Freedom Fellows engage in and look forward to a host of annual events.  As part of the SCFP family, you have an open invitation to participate in any of these traditions including:

•    On December 8th at  7:00pm, we'll have our Fourth Annual, SCFP Multimedia Festival. This year's theme is "The Choice Is Yours."  In addition to some amazing youth media projects from our students and youth around the country, SCF-Productions will unveil an original film, shot in scenic Hot Springs, Arkansas. Can't wait to see you there!
•     On December 15th at 7:00pm, we'll have our Second Annual, SCFP SLAM. Last year's event was a huge success featuring poetry, dance, and even comedy. This year will be even better, so if you want to perform, know someone who does, or just want to see some amazing young talent,  contact our Program Coordinator, Autumn Hayes.

      So maybe, you're a little unsure as to what an SCFP experience is like. For those who aren't famil iar, we invite you to check out our blog and read some of our feature's this month including "Class of 2008 Senior Profiles" and our first ever, Writer's Retreat to Charleston, Mississippi (see picture to the right).  What an amazing event! As crazy as it may sound to some, our students had a blast developing different writing styles and learning from some amazing authors, playwrights, and visual artists. Take five minutes out and check out this story along with the YouTube video of a highlights from our trip: http://scfp.typepad.com. 
     The funny thing about all of this is that when all of our students look back, they always comment on how they never thought they'd be on some the adventures the SCFP has led them to. In January, two of our graduates, Chris Perkins and Jasmine Harvey ( Class of 2006,) will embark on a excellent adventure to the country of Ghana in West Africa as part of a mini-term course they were selected to be a part of.  Jasmine wrote " The trip to Ghana is not only a trip, it is a course where we actually experience the journey. We will be taking classes at Universities, going on field trips, discussing and debating just like in any other class, except we'll be in Ghana, West Africa and part of a life changing trip!"  (Contact Jasmine at jasmine_harvey@berea.edu ) Chris Perkins added, "This trip creates the perfect opportunity to continue my teaching, especially on the issue of manhood." You can read more about Chris Perkins' take on the trip on the successful brother blog: http://successfulbrothers.blogspot.com  
    
This idea of teaching, mentoring, and passing on life lessons from student to student is a huge part of the Freedom Project. It's one of the reasons we're able to have the success we do. Recently, we posed the question to our graduates, "How can a current SCFP student prepare now to be successful in college?"

        Here are some of their responses:
"I think all current SCFP students are capable of succeeding in college or what ever they choose to do it's just having motivation and dedication. By that I mean you can't come half stepping and you've  got to give it your all. College requires some of the same characteristics of the Freedom Project but the big difference is you're on your own. The biggest thing is not being side tracked by all the freedom and decisions you are in total control of making."  - Rokeisha Ross, Class of 2006

"My answer to this is to never give up. Although things may get hard and you may feel like nothing is working out, never give up on yourself. I think that getting used to studying and reading to comprehend can help prepare current SCFP students for success in college. You can speed read, but not understanding what you read will not be any help.
My only words of encouragement are, " believe in yourself when nobody else does." - Candace Durn, Class of 2006
   
   Such motivation and encouragement are key to the future success of our students. Candace's words are so vital because as we challenge our students to step outside of their comfort zone and face new obstacles, many of their friends might think they're crazy, but the belief that what they're doing will pay off is the fuel that keeps them going.  What keeps the Freedom Project going is the dedicated support of our donors over the years and organizations such as the Rock River and Phil Hardin Foundations, who have renewed their pledges to support the SCFP.  So to all of our donors, foundations, and supporters, thank you for believing in all of our craziness and becoming part of our family and traditions, thank you, thank you, thank you.  To help support the Freedom Project, all tax-deductible contributions can be made either online through DonateNow or
through mail at P.O. Box 701, 120 Delta Avenue, Sunflower, MS 38778

Rest assure that you're investing in not just the future, but some amazing changes that are happening right now.  Until next time, stay positive and keep on pushing. 

Let's make it happen!

-Greg

Greg McCoy
Executive Director
Sunflower County Freedom Project
mccoy@sunflowerfreedom.org
662-736-0213

    

                                                
         

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Our postal address is
120 Delta Ave.
P.O. Box 701
Sunflower, Mississippi 38778
United States

SCFP November 2005 Newsletter

Hello, SCFP friends! Have you read the SCFP blog yet? If not, stop what you're doing and go to: http://scfp.typepad.com and read about the Freedom Project in our students' own words. Thanks to Blogmaster Shaquille Leflore, Blog apprentice Shamira Weeks, Senior Diarist Chris Perkins, and other Media Production team members, the blog is a fantastic addition to our program. Go ahead and check it out -- the kids are far more interesting than I am! This past month has been full of trips. Our sixth-year students are high school seniors now, and a few weeks ago we sponsored a visit to Ole Miss for an official tour (and, of course, the obligatory football game and tailgating party). We are encouraging our kids to keep their options open and look far beyond Sunflower County for schools -- Ole Miss is one important (and affordable) option. This past weekend we took a camping trip to Hot Springs, Arkansas, where our kids bravely stuck their hands, arms, and heads into the boiling mountain water -- I'm attaching a picture of this unique form of self-torture. We also visited the Heifer International Ranch in nearby Perryville. The ranch is amazing! We got a crash course in the impact of global poverty, and we spent a good bit of time talking about how we Americans, even the poorest among us, consume far more than our share of the earth's resources.
       Throughout the trip, our camping veterans led the way, often literally. From hiking to pitching tents to cooking, our older students are wonderful role models. Seeing how they share their knowledge with our younger students is perhaps the most inspiring aspect of working with the Freedom Project. You can get to know some of our inspiring older kids too. We're now in the process of planning for next summer, and we need your help. As you may know, we encourage our older students to spread their wings beyond Sunflower County during their high school summers. We help them find jobs or internships, along with host families, in various places. Last summer, for example, fifth-year Lukendric Washington split time between Nebraska and North Carolina working in a coffee bar and as a caretaker for a seven year-old boy. If you know of a job that would fit one of our kids, or if you are interested in hosting a student for the summer (or part of a summer), let me know. It's a great experience for all involved! Thanks as always for your support, Chris

October 2005 Sunflower County Freedom Project Newsletter

Hello, SCFP friends!

Things have settled down in Mississippi, post-Katrina, and our state is
slowly rebuilding. Though there have only been a handful of evacuees in
Sunflower County, our kids have chipped in to help through a food and
clothing drive, as well as an afternoon spent in Jackson with the welcoming
(and efficient!) folks at Christ United Methodist Church. Our kids helped
sort boxes, pack backpacks full of school supplies, and clean the
distribution center. I'm attaching a picture of some of the kids who led us
in the effort.

Inspired and encouraged by our former Community Coordinator, Ashley Slate
Quigley, the Freedom Project now has a blog! Some of us old folks may not
understand the whole world of web logs, but the younger generation is full
of "bloggers" who use online journals to keep the world informed of their
doings. Our Media Production Team will be responsible for updating the blog
every week, so feel free to check it out every now and again to find out the
latest SCFP news, in the kids own words. Just click on:
http://scfp.typepad.com/

We also are excited about our new LEAD Scholarship, which we will be
offering for our graduating seniors in spring 2006. As many of you know,
this will be the first time we have had sixth years, and they are hard at
work on their college applications and scholarship essays. We want to reward
them for their diligence, so we have begun raising money for two to four
$5,000 scholarships to be awarded each year. The way I figure, with all the
money we Americans give hand over fist to kids who can shoot a basketball or
run a football, surely we should be able to find money for young people who
actually want to go to college to work. What do you think?

Thank you to all of you who have donated your time or money to help keep the
SCFP going. This past month, we received a generous grant from the
Mississippi Arts Commission to support our drama program, and folks have
continued to donate books to supplement our library. If you are interested
giving books, we always can use copies of the following books (we love used
copies too!!):

• Native Son by Richard Wright (5 copies)   Click here to purchase

• Cry, the Beloved Country by Alan Paton (12 copies)   Click here to purchase

• 1984 by George Orwell (10 copies)   Click here to purchase

Thanks,
Chris
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Chris Myers Asch
Sunflower County Freedom Project

September 2005 Freedom Project Newsletter

Hello, SCFP friends and family!

As you all know, Mississippi is going through some trying times right now. Many of you have expressed concern about us here at the SCFP, and I'm pleased to tell you that we're okay.  Aside from losing power for a couple of days, everything is pretty much back to normal here in Sunflower. Our hearts go out to all those who are suffering in southern Mississippi and elsewhere throughout the region. We will do our part to help ease a bit of that suffering by starting a canned food and necessities (toiletries, diapers, etc.) drive -- the Red Cross in Greenville has specifically asked for these items to help cope with the evacuees who have come north.  I know that there are many websites of other reputable organizations that are aiding in this crisis, and I hope each of you will find a way to pitch in.

Although Katrina has commanded our attention the past few days, we have been doing other, more upbeat, activities as well. Our summer ended with two fantastic weeks at Ole Miss - check out the picture of two of our first-year students walking confidently on campus. When I look at that picture, I envision those girls six years from now, walking on a college campus as freshmen. This year, for the first time, we have sixth-years in the SCFP, high school seniors who have been with us since they started middle school. We are so proud of them!  Now, of course, comes the task of helping them get into the college of their choice... We welcome any advice!

Our fall programming has started, and the kids are off and running with their study sessions, Saturday School, media production, and taekwondo. We always enjoy showing visitors what we do here, and  this past weekend we hosted a group of forty Chicago high school students and teachers who were in town to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Emmett Till lynching. Sponsored by the Mikva Challenge, the group had a fantastic visit, and ourkids had fun touring their Chicago buddies around the LEAD Center, demonstrating their taekwondo skills, and showing off their media production projects - I'm attaching a picture of third-year April Hannah making a presentation. "You are truly incredible," one of the Chicago teens wrote. "As big of a city as Chicago is, we don't have a group so tight and so dedicated as you guys...Visiting you was really the highlight of the trip." Thanks!

Thanks as well to all of you who have been so generous to us over the years. We appreciate your support.  Let me know if you have any questions or suggestions.

Take care,

Chris Myers Asch

SCFP Executive Director