HATTIESBURG, MS–June 26, 2024– This week, JULIAN Civil Rights & Human Rights kicked off its inaugural Freedom Summer Program which pays homage to Freedom Summer 1964 through educating and uplifting the next generation of social and environmental justice freedom fighters. In the program undergraduate, graduate, and law students will join together both in Mississippi and nationally to spearhead change through advocacy, policy making, and community enrichment. 

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To commemorate the 60th year anniversary of Freedom Summer, JULIAN is hosting two cohorts of students (in June and July), which will unite on-ground and virtually to continue the essences of youth advocacy and change. Freedom Summer’s June Cohort hit the ground running to produce a climate justice-driven plan for better policy, law, and organizing related to the climate crisis in Gloster, Mississippi. Chuck Meire, a Freedom Summer Program Coordinator shared: “I am so excited about the work that these students did over the past three weeks. They came in with great backgrounds but no knowledge about the work they were going to be accomplishing and they produced a comprehensive strategic plan to solve a real-world community need”.

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The two cohorts include students ranging from disciplines in political science, law, and business. Kourtney Johnson, a Freedom Summer Fellow and undergraduate business student at Fisk University shared: “The Freedom Summer experience was very rewarding to me. I learned skills from so many accomplished people and I was able to apply those skills helping those who need JULIAN's assistance.”

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JULIAN will continue programming, which includes speakers and presentations from community and national activists/organizations, throughout June and July. Each cohort features 7-12 students from universities nationally and includes three weeks of tailored curriculum and organizing. June’s Freedom Summer cohort created strategies for organizing to help with the environmental crisis in Gloster, Mississippi. Members of the Gloster activism community joined the presentation and provided the students with positive feedback and applause. Our program coordinators and students are willing and happy to share more about JULIAN’s Freedom Summer 2024.

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About JULIAN

JULIAN is a national civil and human rights organization providing legal, policy, advocacy, crisis management and movement-building services to victims and survivors of discrimination. JULIAN’s mission is to attack discrimination in all forms in order to exact justice, foster equality, and advance the doctrines of civil and human rights law. The organization’s intention is to revive the spirit, effectiveness, strategies, and impact of the civil rights movement.

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