Bloomington, Indiana – On Saturday, January 25, 2026, the Downtown Monroe County Public Library will host Beyond Brown, a community gathering aimed at reigniting the vision of Freedom Schools and addressing the unfinished promise of Brown v. Board of Education. The event, running from 2:00 PM to 4:00 PM, invites residents to come together to reflect, learn, and act in support of equitable education.
“January 25 is a call to revive Freedom Schools as action—not memory. To rebuild education that tells the truth, prepares young people to lead, and returns power to community. Join us as we teach freedom again—together,” organizers said, framing the gathering as both a celebration and a rally for meaningful change.
This convening builds on years of local truth-telling and community organizing. Previous discussions, including the November 2023 Founders Day conversation with Vivian Bridgewaters-Gray, highlighted the urgent need to eliminate discrimination and expand belonging in schools. The October 2024 forum, 70 Years Post-Brown: Looking to the Past, Transforming the Future, challenged participants to move beyond remembrance and embrace responsibility in addressing ongoing inequities in education.
Organizers emphasize that the issues that gave rise to Freedom Schools decades ago remain pressing today. Across Indiana, educators, students, and families face renewed challenges in ensuring accurate history, critical thinking, civics education, and safe, well-resourced schools. These struggles extend beyond K–12 classrooms into higher education, where significant changes at Indiana University have raised concerns. Diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives have been dismantled, some academic areas eliminated, and governance consolidated under a Board of Trustees overseen by the Governor of Indiana, creating new barriers for students and faculty alike.
The Beyond Brown event seeks to respond to these challenges by turning awareness into action. Rather than merely remembering the lessons of the past, the gathering encourages attendees to actively participate in shaping the future of education. Freedom Schools, historically a program designed to empower students through culturally relevant teaching and community-centered learning, are at the center of this effort. Participants will explore how the model can be revived today to equip young people with knowledge, skills, and confidence to lead in their communities.
Community members, educators, and students are all encouraged to attend and engage in conversations about educational equity, civic responsibility, and inclusive learning. By bringing together voices from across Monroe County, the gathering aims to create a shared vision for schools that are safe, truthful, and empowering for every learner.
Beyond Brown represents both a reflection on past struggles and a roadmap for future action. It underscores the idea that education is not simply about instruction but about justice, opportunity, and community power. For those seeking to contribute to meaningful change in local schools and beyond, January 25 offers a space to learn, connect, and act together.
For more information, attendees can visit the Downtown Monroe County Public Library at 303 E Kirkwood Ave in Bloomington. The event is free and open to all members of the community, inviting everyone to participate in teaching freedom once again.
