Environmental Justice Freedom School Community Fair
The Environmental Justice Freedom School Community Fair is a celebration of learning, collaboration, and community action through the past four years. Hosted by the Chicago Teachers Union Foundation, this special event brings together Environmental Justice (EJ) Freedom School students, educators, families, and community partners to reflect on the program’s impact, celebrate accomplishments, and envision the future of environmental justice education in Chicago.
Environmental Justice Freedom School Celebrates Four Years of Youth Leadership at Community Fair
The Environmental Justice Freedom School (EJ Freedom School) celebrated four years with a Community Fair at the CTU Center, bringing together students, alumni, educators, families, and community partners.
Held in conjunction with the Chicago Teachers Union’s Back to School Summer Jam celebration, the event highlighted the growing impact of the EJ Freedom School and the young people at the center of its work.
The Community Fair was hosted by two EJ Freedom School alumni, Derion Melton and Karla Cedillo, demonstrating the program’s lasting impact and its commitment to developing young leaders who continue to carry environmental justice work into their communities.
The presentation honored the founders of the EJ Freedom School, Jackson Potter, Ayesha Qazi-Lampert and Dr. Jayon Maurice-Porter who developed the vision and network of community partners. We presented the official subawardees with certificates of appreciation to Friends of Big Marsh, People for Community Recovery, Chicago Ornithological Society, Southeast Environmental Task Force, Urban Rivers, and the Black Oaks Center for Renewable Living and Sustainability.
To learn more about how each partner contributed to the success of the EJ Freedom School. Please look no further than the EJ Freedom School Zine!
A highlight of the celebration was a keynote address from Fred Carter of Black Oaks Center, who spoke about the importance of environmental sustainability, community power, and preparing the next generation to become leaders in the environmental justice movement.
Fred spoke clearly to the children in the audience about the importance of listening to others to learn to hear what others need for a sustainable community.
The event also celebrated the students’ work and the culmination of another year of the EJ Freedom School. Over the past four years, students have investigated environmental issues affecting their neighborhoods in Chicago, explored environmental justice through hands-on experiences and site visits, learned with community organizations, and developed school climate action plans focused on creating healthier and more sustainable schools.
The EJ Community Fair provided an opportunity to recognize that work while looking toward the future. The program’s approach centers youth voices and recognizes students not simply as learners, but as leaders with valuable ideas about how their schools and communities can respond to environmental challenges.
As the EJ Freedom School enters its next chapter, the Community Fair reinforced the importance of partnerships among students, educators, community organizations, and advocates. Together, they are building a growing network committed to environmental justice education, youth leadership, and meaningful action across Chicago.
The celebration was more than a look back at four years of the EJ Freedom School—it was a reminder that environmental justice is also about investing in young people, empowering communities, and creating opportunities for students to shape the future they want to see.