The Illinois Freedom Project – ASALH – The Founders of Black History Month

Lincoln Home National Historic Site and the State Historic Sites at Springfield are pleased to announce the launch of the “Illinois Freedom Project” youth history initiative on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site in Springfield, Illinois. The event will feature comments from project organizers as well as an opportunity to view the newly completed Illinois Freedom Project exhibit.

Lincoln Home National Historic Site; the State Historic Sites at Springfield; and, Springfield area youth mentoring organizations have undertaken a project to investigate the journey from slavery to freedom in Illinois. The project teamed historians and youth mentors to teach history and inspire youth through the places that are touchstones of the stories of victory through
adversity.

The result is the Illinois Freedom Project, a youth focused multimedia effort that includes a web site, videos, printed materials, curriculum and a traveling exhibit. Together, these resources present the stories of freedom through the lens of the people, places, and events covering over 200 years of Illinois history. The Illinois Freedom Project web site is at www.lookingforlincoln.com/freedom

The Illinois Freedom Project also presents suggested field trips, called “Illinois Freedom Journeys” to historic sites and museums throughout Illinois. The journeys encourage
conversation about how those places, and people, of the past can inspire today’s youth. It is the hope of the project partners that youth organizations and others throughout Illinois and beyond will look to the Illinois Freedom Project and undertake their own Freedom Journeys. To that end, the project partners will be hosting a series of training workshops for youth mentors in Illinois. The workshops will offer youth mentors insight into the Illinois Freedom Project stories and places so that they are able to impart that information to their youth. Information will be presented not only on the inspiring fight for freedom but also the places that can still inspire youth today.

Contact Tim Townsend at [email protected] to join the mailing list to receive more information about the dates and locations of the workshops.

Learn more at the official launch of the Illinois Freedom Project initiative, on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 10:00 a.m. at the Old State Capitol State Historic Site.

The Illinois Freedom Project web site is at www.lookingforlincoln.com/freedom.