We empower undocumented youth and fulfill their human right to education
The Four Pillars of Our Work
Based in Atlanta, Freedom University is an award-winning human rights organization that provides rigorous college preparation classes, college and scholarship application assistance, and social movement leadership training for undocumented students banned from equal access to public higher education in Georgia.
Inspired by the legacy of the Southern Freedom School tradition and the critical pedagogy of Paolo Freire, our mission is to educate and empower undocumented students and fulfill their human right to education. We do this by grounding our work in our freedom school program, which directly serves approximately 20-25 undocumented students each semester and provides comprehensive support in a beloved community. This includes tuition-free college preparation courses, college and scholarship application assistance, full legal representation and mental health resources, and social movement leadership training.
Beyond our classroom, Freedom University’s Educator Training program also works locally and nationally with K-12 and college counselors to deepen their knowledge of immigration history and education policy, and improve their cultural competency in working with immigrant youth populations in order to better welcome, support, and protect undocumented students in their care. We also lead policy change initiatives at local, state, national, and transnational levels, and organize vibrant direct actions to hold decision makers accountable, empower our community, and build the world we know is possible. Our hope is that our students not only gain the knowledge and skills they need to earn full scholarships to college and realize their full human potential, but the consciousness and commitment necessary to lead their own freedom struggle for decades to come.
1. Freedom School
We provide tuition-free college preparation courses taught by university professors and experts in their fields. The purpose of education is to empower students to participate in the positive transformation of their world.
Students complete two core areas: Human Rights and College Preparation. Students also specialize in one or more of the following areas: STEM, Arts, and Mental Health.
We also provide holistic support including free legal representation, mental health support, and emergency financial assistance to ensure students can stay focused on their dream of higher education.
2. Educator Training
We share best practices for welcoming, supporting, and protecting undocumented students with high school counselors and college admissions professionals nationwide through online trainings and consultations.
3. Policy Change
We publish policy reports, testify before lawmaking bodies at state and federal levels, file human rights complaints at the international level, and advocate for fair admissions and financial aid policies at public and private institutions of higher education.
4. Direct Action
In the freedom school tradition of “education for social change,” we organize directly impacted undocumented youth and allies to challenge power structures that uphold modern educational segregation of undocumented youth and systematically violate their fundamental human rights.
Through creative and strategic direct actions of nonviolent civil disobedience, we educate the public, hold decision makers accountable, and demonstrate the better world we know is possible.
Georgia has the most discriminatory bans against undocumented students in the country.
Watch: “We Can Be More” short video
Freedom University is an award-winning, modern-day freedom school for undocumented students banned from equal access to higher education in Georgia.
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Fall 2024 Courses
STEM: Biology
Professor A. Ramos
Human Rights: The Human Right to Education
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
College Preparation: The College Essay
Professor Whitney Lewis; Emory University and Agnes Scott College Writing Tutors
Mental Health and Well-Being
Dr. Charmaine Mora-Ozuna
Arts: American Sign Language
Professor Sunny Brown
Encuentros: Political Education, Leadership Development, and Beloved Community Building
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
Spring 2024 Courses
STEM: College Mathematics
Professor Benito Thompson
Human Rights: Introduction to Indigenous Studies
Dr. Emil’ Keme
College Preparation: Academic Writing
Dr. Melissa Yang, Professor Whitney Lewis, and Emory/Agnes Scott Writing Tutors
Mental Health and Well-Being: Meditation and Mindfulness
Dr. Alejandra Arce
Arts: Introduction to Media Production
Professor David Barba
Encuentro: Political Education and Community Building
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
Fall 2023 Courses
STEM: Introduction to Biology
Dr. Pedro Márquez-Zacarías
The Human Right to Education: History, Theory, and Practice
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
Academic Writing: The College Admissions Essay and Tutoring Workshop
Professor Whitney Lewis and Emory/Agnes Scott Writing Tutors
Mental Health and Well-Being
Dr. Alejandra Arce
Arts: Introduction to Latinx Art History
Professor Xochitl Munguía-Cuen
Spring 2023 Courses
The Human Right to Education in U.S. and Global Perspectives
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
College Preparation: Creative Writing and the Academic Essay
Professor Aline Mello and Professor Whitney Lewis
and Emory/Agnes Scott Writing Tutors
STEM II: Introduction to Psychology
Dr. Arlene Edwards
Mental Health and Well-Being: Yoga*
Professor Diestene Williams
Arts: Son Jarocho Music Ensemble*
Professor Eduardo García and Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
*In-person courses
Fall 2022 Courses
The Human Right to Education: History, Theory, and Practice
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
College Preparation: The College Entrance Essay
Dr. Stephanie Jed and Professor Whitney Lewis
and Emory/Agnes Scott Writing Tutors
STEM: Introduction to Psychology
Dr. Arlene Edwards
Mental Health: Mindfulness and Meditation
Professor Hector Luis Rivera Ortíz
Arts: Son Jarocho Music Ensemble*
Professor Eduardo García and Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
*In-person courses
Spring 2022 Courses
Indigenous Studies
Dr. Craig Womack and Dr. Mandy Suhr-Sytsma
Academic Writing
Dr. Stephanie Jed and Emory/Agnes Scott Writing Tutors
Natural Sciences
Professor Pedro Márquez-Zacarías
Mindfulness and Meditation
Professor Hector Luis Rivera Ortíz
Son Jarocho Music Ensemble*
Professor Eduardo García and Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
Studio Art*
Professors Yehimi Cambrón and Charmaine Minniefield
*In-person courses
Fall 2021 Courses
The Human Right to Education: History, Theory, and Practice
Dr. Laura Emiko Soltis
Nutrition and Food Science
Dr. Imelda Reyes and Dr. Francisco Loayza
Foundations of STEM
Dr. Robert Geiger and Professor Pedro Márquez-Zacarías
Son de Sueños: Son Jarocho music ensemble
Professor Eduardo Garcia
SAT Math Preparation
Professor Jasmine Ko Aqua, Professor Parth Viswanathan, Professor Hannah Moriarty
Freedom University + Emory Writing Center Tutoring
Kalyani Allums and Writing Center Tutors from Emory University and Agnes Scott College
Mental Health: Art Therapy
Dr. Kelvin Ramirez
