Providence

July 7 to 10, 2011

Background
Free Minds, Free People is a national conference presented by the Education for Liberation Network, The Brotherhood/Sister Sol, the Chicago Freedom School and Youth in Action that brings together teachers, high school and college students, researchers, parents and community-based activists/educators from across the country to build a movement to develop and promote education as a tool for liberation. The conference is a space in which these groups can learn from and teach each other, sharing knowledge, experience and strategies.

Education for liberation prepares the most excluded, under-served members of our society, in particular low-income youth and youth of color, to fight for a more just world by:  

• Exploring with students the causes of inequalities and injustices in society and how communities have fought against them.
• Helping students to develop both the belief in themselves that they can challenge those injustices and the skills necessary to do that.
• Supporting students in taking action that leads to disenfranchised communities having more power.

Goals
The goal of Free Minds, Free People is to provide a forum for sharing knowledge, experiences and strategies that support the use of education as a tool for liberation by:

• Building and sustaining connections between people from different backgrounds with an interest in justice-oriented education work
• Supporting participants in developing and deepening their practice as learners and educators committed to social justice
• Nourishing justice-oriented education work in various communities, with an emphasis on the host city, by making strategic connections to collective action in other parts of the country
• Acting as a catalyst for the continued development of a social movement around education for liberation
• Supporting and promoting youth-led education and organizing efforts
• Utilizing a collaborative conference planning process that elevates the leadership of students, parents, teachers, researchers and community-based organizers/educators.

The first Free Minds, Free People took place in Chicago in 2007. The second took place in Houston in 2009.

Registration Fee

We are offering a fee range to all participants. You can decide how much to pay within that range. The Early Bird range starts at $15 for youth (21 and under) and $60 for everyone else. The top end of the range is $300, and there are several levels in between--$100, $140, $180, $220 and $260. (Early Bird registration deadline June 1. After June 1, fees go up to $20 (youth only), $75, $115, $155, $195, $235, $275 and $315.

We ask you to be as generous as you can in deciding which level is right for you. The actual cost of the conference is $140 per person. If you are able to pay at one of the higher levels, your contribution will help us ensure that the conference is accessible to all members of our community. If all of these levels are unaffordable to you, we still want you to be a part of this conference. Please email Tara (tara(at)edliberation.org) and we can discuss other options.

There is an additional $3.70 processing fee per registrant.

Hotel Information

Providence Biltmore
11 Dorrance St, Providence, RI  02903
401.455.3056
401.421.0700 (reservations)
http://www.providencebiltmore.com/

(1 mile bus or walk to FMFP conference site: Click here for a map.)
Booking: https://booking.ihotelier.com/istay/istay.jsp?groupID=525929&hotelID=17438

FMFP deal cut-off date: April 30, 2011

Details:
$89/night plus tax
Junior Suite: 2 Kings, 1 pullout sofa
Sleep up to 5 at no additional charge
Self-parking at independently run garage adjacent to hotel: $10/night

The Hilton Providence
21 Atwells Ave, Providence, RI  02903
401.709.0335
(0.6 mile walk to FMFP conference site: Click here for a map.)

Booking: Call 1.800.HILTONS (445.8667) to book, make sure to identify as part of the “Free Minds Free People” group or visit http://www.hilton.com/en/hi/groups/personalized/P/PVDPRHF-FREE-20110707/index.jhtml?WT.mc_id=POG

FMFP deal cut-off date: May 31, 2011

Details:
$119/night plus tax
Double Double: 2 double beds
Sleep up to 4 at no additional charge
Hotel parking included in rate