Freedom Rising
TheMiddleProject_background3.jpg

preparing ethical leaders for a just society

Freedom Rising

December 2023

Announcing The Bold Transformation from
Middle Project to Freedom Rising
Preparing Ethical Leaders for a Just Society

We are delighted to announce the transition we are making from Middle Project to Freedom Rising.
Our charter remains the same, but we have a new board, and an even more robust mission to help freedom rise in a more just society.


Welcome to Freedom Rising, the movement for love and justice that's in motion
with fierce, revolutionary lovers across the nation and around the globe.

Earlier this year, we co-sponsored the three-day
Freedom Rising Conference 2023 with Middle Church.

We came together to learn, dream, and build towards a better future.


 

Highlights from the Freedom Rising Conference

On Day One, we explored the fundamental lies of Christo-fascism that are undermining our democracy, forcing its values on a pluralistic society. We confronted the racist and sexist legacies of our founding, and the ongoing harm they cause.

Day Two was about liberating our stories and expanding our moral imaginations. We examined the ways current stories about race, class, gender, ableness and sexuality need re-writing, owning our grief, rest and joy.

On Day Three, inspired by the politics of Ubuntu—the ancient African philosophy that stresses how our destinies are intertwined in a network of mutuality—we imagined a future in which and politics enable the flourishing of all of us.

Sunday worship featured a fierce sermonic conversation between Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis, Rabbi Joshua Stanton, activist Linda Sarsour, and the Jerriese Johnson Gospel Choir put us on our feet.

 

We are delighted to announce our next justice gathering:

Freedom Rising: You. Move. The World.

April 26-28, 2024

A THREE-DAY GATHERING TO NURTURE LOVE FOR OURSELVES,
MOVEMENT-BUILDING ACROSS OUR DIFFERENCES, AND WILD
DREAMING OF THE WORLD WE CAN CREATE—TOGETHER—IN
THIS NEXT ELECTION SEASON AND BEYOND.

We curated *incredible* speakers but what adds to the conference magic is THOSE WHO COME. Late night debriefs, dinners, drinks, dancing, laughter, organizing, old comrades, new friends—all the abundant life we can’t put on a schedule.
— Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis
WE DESERVE POLITICAL SYSTEMS THAT NURTURE ABUNDANCE AND THRIVING. IF WE JOIN TOGETHER, WE WILL CREATE THEM.
— Rev. Dr. Jacqui Lewis

NYC | April 28, 2023

Day 1

UPROOTING CHRISTIAN FASCISM’S LIE.

The undemocratic takeover of our judicial system is just the tip of a movement that seeks to force a pluralistic country to conform to fundamentalist Christianity. It’s also based on fundamental lies:

We live in abundance, not scarcity. People deserve autonomy over whether they create new life. The Earth is not a limitless resource for us to plunder. And we do not have to live by the vision of founders who named Indigenous siblings “savages,” treated women as property and legislated Black folks as ⅗ of a person.


 

NYC | April 29, 2023

Day 2

LIBERATING YOUR STORY

Living within these damaging systems confines our moral imaginations. On the second day, we’ll hear from folks who help us dream more expansively about what we deserve. We’ll examine the ways that stories about race, class, gender and sexuality have conditioned us, and help each other write different stories—ones grounded in the love and freedom we’re meant to enjoy. We'll explore the centrality of rest and joy in activism, and how to


 

NYC | April 30, 2023

Day 3

THE POLITICS OF UBUNTU

The ancient wisdom of Ubuntu teaches us an essential truth: We become a person through other people. Or, as Dr. King would express it, all of us are “caught in an inescapable network of mutuality,” our destinies intertwined. What would a politics look like that honors these truths? How would it change the way we think about borders? The existence of policing? Our voting laws? On this day, we’ll host subject experts across a wide array of topics to help you dream about policy solutions that help all people flourish.


 
We are bound together in one inextricable garment of community.
— MLK.Jr.Source

Sponsors


A democracy cannot thrive where power remains unchecked and justice is reserved for a select few. Ignoring these cries and failing to respond to this movement is simply not an option — for peace cannot exist where justice is not served.
— John Lewis, on the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act
 
Let’s defeat fascism with love…together!
#FreedomRisingConference #FreedomRising #FierceLove
— Freedom Rising

Reparations Task Force Listening Circles

Middle Project is partnering and participating in the Middle Church Reparations Task Force. Board members participated in the Reparations Task Force Listening Circles in September and October, 2021. Kim Irwin was a presenter on the history of Middle Collegiate Church. Darrell Hamilton led the Black and Indigenous breakout circle.

Click here to contact the Reparations Task Force for more information.

Voter Reform Project

Right now, and always, fighting for voting rights and ensuring fair and equal elections is necessary work. Our Voter Reform Group focuses on voter registration and ending voter suppression, and mobilizing voters for elections. We collaborate with Middle Church and other nonpartisan organizations to strengthen civic engagement and our democracy. Together, we engaged more than 50,000 potential voters — registering, texting, calling and sending postcards and letters during the 2020 election!

Click here to contact the Voter Reform Project and receive more information.

 

Rooted in Ethics. 
Committed to Serve. 
Inspired to Lead.

So you want to change the world, and you’ve discovered it’s more difficult than you thought. At Freedom Rising, we first start with ourselves. We begin with tools for greater self-awareness. We utilize experiential learning to help participants:

  • Engage in Spiritual Practices

  • Lead with Vision for a Just Society

  • Negotiate Difference and Conflict

  • Understand the Dynamics of Change

  • Understand Leadership Styles and Building a Team

  • Exert Ethical Leadership in the Public Square

  • Understand Race, Culture, and the Dynamics of Power and Privilege

Freedom Rising prepares ethical leaders for a more just society. It is an institute that brings together youth, young adults and adults from many fields and faith traditions.

Freedom Rising unites progressive leaders who are ready for a revolutionary and prophetic way of using power and resources to act locally and think globally to heal the human family. Freedom Rising takes its strength and approach from the progressive faith traditions that have played a major role in America’s greatest democratic achievements: the abolition of slavery, civil rights, universal suffrage, and the anti-war movement.

 

Contact

➤ LOCATION

PO Box 1400
New York, NY 10276

☎ CONTACT

Middleprojectfinance@gmail.com

middleinfo@middlechurch.org
(212) 477-0666

 

ConferenceS & Freedom rising

Join us for more Freedom Rising tools, tactics, and truth-telling to dismantle racism.

Find out more


Young Adult Leadership Lab

The Freedom Rising Leadership Lab provides experiential education on strategic ways to create a more just society.

Find out more


middle-on-the-road

Middle-on-the-Road is a new program initiative aiming to facilitate broader outreach, engagement and organizing to recruit and mobilize new voters based on ethical values and citizen leadership.

Find out more


Consulting

Freedom Rising is committed to supporting and resourcing progressive congregations as they strive for excellence in ministry.

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Resources

Looking practical and meaningful resources for your work to heal the soul and heal the world?

Find out more


Support

Consider making a financial gift to support the work of the Freedom Rising.

Donate Today


Project Incubation

We provide fiscal sponsorship and other program support to special initiatives that are mission aligned.

Find out more



 
Never forget that justice is what love looks like in public.
— Cornel West