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Non-profit

Education for Liberation Network

Website:

www.edliberation.org/
Location:

Madison, NJ
Tax ID:

82-3558357
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Formation:

1999
Executive Directors:

Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price and Thomas Nikundiwe

Contact InfluenceWatch with suggested edits or tips for additional profiles.

Education for Liberation Network (EdLib) is a national network of left-of-center and radical-left teachers, organizers, and supporters who aim to place education in a context of the “struggle for social justice and connect it to action that leads to social change.” 1

EdLib supports the inclusion of far-left Black Lives Matter movement programming in schools 2 and has asked its supporters to endorse a statement claiming that “educating for democracy means educating against white supremacy.” 3 EdLib has published a textbook that includes chapters on the necessity of teaching “reparations,” “woke wonderings,” dismantling the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agency, 4 and an annual critical race theory-inspired social justice planner. Left-wing political activist and author Howard Zinn has endorsed the planner, hoping “it will be widely adopted.” 5

EdLib hosts a “Free Minds, Free People” conference as a forum to develop and promote teachers, young people, researchers, and community organizers as left-progressive and critical race theory-influenced “social justice” activists. 6 7 Its Minnesota chapter claims, “Minnesota exists on sacred and stolen Dakota land where communities fight for survival.” 8

In 2020, EdLib received a $500,000 grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. 9 The Network also received $100,000 from the left-of-center New Venture Fund in 2019. 10

History and Leadership

Education for Liberation Network was co-founded by Jerome E. Morris in 1999 following an American Educational Research Association conference. 11 12 Originally an informal listserv, EdLib hosted the first “Free Minds, Free People” conference in 2007. As of February 2022, the network has 1300 members including public school teachers and organizers from groups including Chicago Freedom School, the Young People’s Project, Philadelphia Student Union, Baltimore Algebra Project, Make the Road by Walking, New York Collective of Radical Educators (NYCoRE), Teachers for Social Justice, the New York Civil Liberties Union, professors from Harvard University, and others. 13

EdLib received IRS tax-exempt status in 2018, only to have it automatically revoked for failure to file tax returns in 2020. 14

Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price and Thomas Nikundiwe are Ed Lib’s executive directors. 15 Prior to joining EdLib, Aryee-Price was critical race theory-inspired “anti-racist” organizer and trainer for the left-wing People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond and an organizer for the left-of-center Institute for Democratic Education in America. 16

Former Education for Liberation Network board member Joel-Lehi Organista pleaded guilty to two felony charges for production and distribution of child pornography in January 2022. He was removed from the board following his arrest. 17 18

Activities and Funding

Education for Liberation Network is a national network of left-of-center and left-wing teachers, organizers, and supporters who aim to place education in a context of the “struggle for social justice and connect it to action that leads to social change.” 19

EdLib supports the inclusion of far-left Black Lives Matter movement programming in schools, 20 has been “instrumental” in installing ethnic studies courses in schools across the United States, 21 asked its supporters to endorse a statement claiming that “educating for democracy means educating against white supremacy,” 22 and has partnered with left-of-center Critical Resistance to unite prison abolitionists and critical activists to end the prison industrial complex through “restorative and transformative justice.” 23

EdLib has shared Twitter posts from the left-wing Ida B. Wells Education Project which calls for “the right” to teach far-left critical race theory in schools 24 and is a member of left-wing Teachers 4 Social Justice (T4SJ)’s Teacher Activist Group (TAG), which supports the critical race theory-influenced concept of “educational justice.” 25

Publishing

Education for Liberation Network publishes books, toolkits, and notebooks to support left-progressive political objectives and raise funds for the organization. Its publications feature authors from the far-left Abolitionist Teaching Network; 26 are rooted in black and minority women “feminisms, disability justice” and other movements; call for an end to imprisonment, policing, and surveillance; oppose Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE); and include contributions from the left-of-center Black Organizing Project, Chicago Women’s Health Center, Project NIA, the MILPA Collective (which is a part of Action Council of Monterey County), 27 Justseeds Collective, and others. 28

In 2021, EdLib’s Donor Campaign publications included Things That Make White People Uncomfortable; Schooling for Critical Consciousness; Reading Writing, and Racism; The Kaepernick Effect; Lies My Teacher Told Me; and others. 29

Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators is a textbook EdLib published with left-wing Critical Resistance Editorial Collective as a “political vision for a future ripe with alternatives to imprisonment and punishment. 30  

Book Chapters include: “Dismantling ICE Means Defunding the Police”; “We Tryna Get Free On Our Own Terms: A Conversation”; “Artifacts from the End of the Prison Industrial Complex”; “Black Organizing Project Sanctuary Pledge”; “Demilitarizing Our Schools”; “Reparations Can Be Won—and Must Be Taught”; “Woke Wonderings”; “ICE Out of Schools: Teacher and Community Action”; “Fighting Back Against Policing in the Arab and Muslim Community”; “The Struggle to Ensure that Restorative Justice is Transformative”; and others. 31  

Education for Liberation Network also publishes Planning to Change the World, an annual social justice plan book for educators, with the support of Rethinking Schools. 32 33 The book includes tips from critical race theory-influenced social justice educators and reproducible social justice awards. Left-wing political activist and author Howard Zinn has endorsed the concept, expressing hope that “it will be widely adopted.” 34

Free Minds, Free People Conference

Since 2017, Education for Liberation Network has organized the Free Minds, Free People Conference as a forum to develop and promote teachers, young people, researchers, and community organizers as left-progressive and critical race theory-influenced “social justice” activists. 35 36

The conference incorporates the critical race theory-inspired concepts of solidarity, diversity, and justice into its worldview of education. This “assault” includes poverty, incarceration, theft of resources, exploitation of workers, displacement, violence, and genocide. 37 Workshop content has included teaching social justice in schools, strategy development of decolonization and radical healing, transgendered justice, and the far-left Black Lives Matter movement. Free People, Free Minds, also has a podcast. 38 39

EdLib Minnesota

In 2020, Education for Liberation Network founded its first state-level chapter in Minnesota. 40 The chapter has said it aims to contend with the “status quo of colonial education that prioritized Eurocentric curricula, predominately white educators and white administrators, and a persistent attack on the power of communities to be self-determined. 41

EdLib Minnesota supports the teaching of “ethnic studies” in public schools in Minnesota, 42 endorsed the Increasing Teachers of Color Act in 2020, 43 and has hosted an event that included an appearance from a socialist candidate running for a seat on the city council of Minneapolis. 44

In 2021, EdLib Minnesota hosted a webinar on teachers unions, the critical race theory-inspired concept of social justice, and ethnic studies, whose panelists included members of Racial Justice Organizing Committee, Black Lives Matter Philly, Melanated Educators Collective, People’s Education Movement in Los Angeles. 45 46

EdLib Minnesota’s website includes a message that says, “Minnesota exists on sacred and stolen Dakota land where communities fight for survival,” and claims “Indigenous justice and land rights are a core component of the education struggle that confronts us.” 47

Funding

Education for Liberation Network is funded by individual donations, merchandise purchases, and grants. 48

In 2020, EdLib received a $500,000 grant from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. 49 In 2019 the Network received $100,000 from the left-of-center New Venture Fund, 50 $10,000 from the Bush Foundation, 51 and $7,500 from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation. 52 EdLib  has also received grants from the left-of-center Crossroads Fund to operate the Free Minds, Free People conference. 53

References

  1. “About Us.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/about-us/our-vision/.
  2. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 27, 2021. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://twitter.com/edlibmn1/status/1354489733007728645?s=21.
  3. “Twitter.” Tweet. Posted September 21, 2020. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://twitter.com/edlibmn1/status/1308024277707390977?s=21.
  4. “Contents.” Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators. AK Press 2018. Table of Contents. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://revolutionbythebook.akpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/lessons-in-liberation-TOC.pdf.
  5. “Teaching Guides.” Zinn Education Project. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/planning-to-change-the-world/.
  6. “Free Minds Free People 2019.” YouTube. Posted November 19, 2019. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWTO2p87a7E.
  7. Klope, Lisa. “USF Urban Education and Social Justice Professor Chairs First West Coast Free Minds Free People Conference.” University of San Francisco. September 18, 2015. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.usfca.edu/news/education-liberation.
  8. “Education for Liberation Minnesota Chapter.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/chapters/edlibmn/.
  9. “Tag: Grantee.” Nellie Mae Education Foundation. December 1, 2020. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.nmefoundation.org/tag/grantee/.
  10. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NVF-2019-Form-990-Public-Disclosure.pdf.
  11. “UMSL Black Faculty and Staff Association names public lecture series after Jerome E. Morris.” UMSL Daily. January 31, 2022. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://blogs.umsl.edu/news/2022/01/31/jerome-morris-public-lecture-series/.
  12. “About Us.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/about-us/our-vision/.
  13. “About Us.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/about-us/our-vision/.
  14. “Education for Liberation Network.” Internal Revenue Service. Accessed February 4, 2022. https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/detailsPage?ein=823558357&name=EDUCATION%20FOR%20LIBERATION%20NETWORK%20&city=DETROIT&state=MI&countryAbbr=US&dba=&type=DETERMINATIONLETTERS,%20REVOCATION&orgTags=DETERMINATIONLETTERS&orgTags=REVOCATION.
  15. “Our Team.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/about-us/our-team/.
  16. “Awo Okaikor Aryee-Price.” LinkedIn. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/in/awo-okaikor-aryee-price-ed-d-5946b85/details/experience/.
  17. Tanner, Courtney. “Ex-Salt Lake City school board member pleads guilty to producing child porn.” The Salt Lake Tribune. January 18, 2022. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.sltrib.com/news/education/2022/01/18/ex-salt-lake-city-school/.
  18. “A Statement On the Removal of Board Member Joél-Léhi Organista.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/about-us/announcements/.
  19. “About Us.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/about-us/our-vision/.
  20. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 27, 2021. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://twitter.com/edlibmn1/status/1354489733007728645?s=21.
  21.  “Supporting the Movement for Ethnic Studies.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/our-work/ethnic-studies/.
  22. “Twitter.” Tweet. Posted September 21, 2020. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://twitter.com/edlibmn1/status/1308024277707390977?s=21.
  23. “Anti-Prison Industrial Complex Work.” Education Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/our-work/anti-pic/.
  24. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted August 27, 2021. Accessed February 2022. https://twitter.com/IdaBWellsEdProj/status/1431358221638266880?cxt=HHwWgMCrsYGumt0nAAAA.
  25. “Teacher Activist Groups.” Teachers 4 Social Justice. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://t4sj.org/teacher-activist-groups/.
  26. “Lessons in Liberation.” AK Press. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.akpress.org/lessonsinliberation.html.
  27. “The California Endowment.” Return of Private Foundation. (Form 990-PF). 2018. Part XV. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954523232/201720409349100702/IRS990PF.
  28. “Lessons in Liberation.” AK Press. Published September 28, 2021. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.akpress.org/lessonsinliberation.html.
  29. “2021 Education for liberation Donor Campaign.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTM3MzAy.
  30. “Contents.” Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators. AK Press 2018. Table of Contents. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://revolutionbythebook.akpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/lessons-in-liberation-TOC.pdf.
  31. “Contents.” Lessons in Liberation: An Abolitionist Toolkit for Educators. AK Press 2018. Table of Contents. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://revolutionbythebook.akpress.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/lessons-in-liberation-TOC.pdf.
  32. “Planning to Change the World 2021-2022.” ReThinking Schools. Published August 2021.  Accessed February 5, 2022. https://rethinkingschools.org/books/planning-to-change-the-world-2021-2022/.
  33. “PlanToChangeTheWorld.” Twitter. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://twitter.com/EdLibPlanBook.
  34. “Teaching Guides.” Zinn Education Project. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.zinnedproject.org/materials/planning-to-change-the-world/.
  35. “Free Minds Free People 2019.” YouTube. Posted November 19, 2019. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWTO2p87a7E.
  36. Klope, Lisa. “USF Urban Education and Social Justice Professor Chairs First West Coast Free Minds Free People Conference.” University of San Francisco. September 18, 2015. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.usfca.edu/news/education-liberation.
  37. “About FMFP.” Free Minds Free People Conference. Accessed February 3, 2022. http://proposals.fmfp.org/about-fmfp/.
  38. “Free Minds Free People.” Apple Podcasts. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/free-minds-free-people/id1451860985.
  39. Klope, Lisa. “USF Urban Education and Social Justice Professor Chairs First West Coast Free Minds Free People Conference.” University of San Francisco. September 18, 2015. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.usfca.edu/news/education-liberation.
  40. “EdLibMN.” Twitter. Accessed February 5, 0222. https://twitter.com/EdLibMN1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Eembeddedtimeline%7Ctwterm%5Eprofile%3AEdLibMN1%7Ctwgr%5EeyJ0ZndfZXhwZXJpbWVudHNfY29va2llX2V4cGlyYXRpb24iOnsiYnVja2V0IjoxMjA5NjAwLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X2hvcml6b25fdHdlZXRfZW1iZWRfOTU1NSI6eyJidWNrZXQiOiJodGUiLCJ2ZXJzaW9uIjpudWxsfSwidGZ3X3NwYWNlX2NhcmQiOnsiYnVja2V0Ijoib2ZmIiwidmVyc2lvbiI6bnVsbH19&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.edliberation.org%2Fchapters%2Fedlibmn%2F.
  41. [1] “Education for Liberation Minnesota Chapter.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/chapters/edlibmn/.
  42. “Tweet.” Twitter. Posted January 13, 2022. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://twitter.com/EdLibMN1/status/1481781528283987971?cxt=HHwWhoDSwd-crJApAAAA.
  43. Letter to Chair Youakim and Members of the House Education Policy Committee.” The Coalition to Increase Teachers of Color and American Indian Teachers in Minnesota. June 14, 2020. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.house.leg.state.mn.us/comm/docs/fe4c46e8-7acd-47c5-9d2a-b83296f61ada.pdf.
  44.   “Education for Liberation Minnesota Chapter.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/chapters/edlibmn/.
  45. “Education for Liberation Minnesota Chapter.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/chapters/edlibmn/.
  46. “Education for Liberation Minnesota Chapter.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/chapters/edlibmn/.
  47. “Education for Liberation Minnesota Chapter.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.edliberation.org/chapters/edlibmn/.
  48.  “Donate.” Education for Liberation Network. Accessed February 5, 2022. https://www.flipcause.com/secure/cause_pdetails/MTM3MzAy.
  49. [1] “Tag: Grantee.” Nellie Mae Education Foundation. December 1, 2020. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.nmefoundation.org/tag/grantee/.
  50. “New Venture Fund.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://newventurefund.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/NVF-2019-Form-990-Public-Disclosure.pdf.
  51. “Grant for The Education Liberation Network.” Bush Foundation. 2019. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://www.bushfoundation.org/grantees/2019-education-liberation-network.
  52. [1] “Nellie Mae Education Foundation, Inc.” Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (Form 990). 2019. Schedule I. https://www.nmefoundation.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/NMEF-Form-990-2019.pdf. “e
  53. “Past Grantees.” Crossroads Fund. Accessed February 3, 2022. https://crossroadsfund.org/content/past-grantees.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: July 1, 2018

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    Education for Liberation Network

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