The Womanist Freedom School is the signature leadership formation program of the Womanist Freedom Project—a transformative two-week immersion designed for young women of color who are ready to step into their power, deepen their spiritual grounding, and engage with the global African Diaspora.
Each year, the program highlights the life of a Black woman in history who harnessed spirituality as a pathway to freedom, modeling courage, creativity, and liberation. For 2026, our guiding exemplar is:
The first week begins in the United States and centers on Sankofa, the Akan principle of remembering, reclaiming, and honoring history as a foundation for shaping one’s future.
Participants will:
- Engage in historical study, storytelling, and womanist theological reflection
- Explore personal narrative, identity formation, and spiritual grounding
- Participate in self-care and wellness practices rooted in Black women’s healing traditions
- Learn public speaking, advocacy, and leadership communication
- Visit cultural and historical sites to deepen their understanding of the African American freedom struggle
This week is intentionally quiet, reflective, and restorative—a gathering of strength before moving outward in community.
The second week expands the arc of learning across the Atlantic to South Africa, reconnecting participants with the broader African Diaspora and the global struggle for liberation.
Rooted in Ubuntu, the South African principle of shared humanity and mutual care, participants will:
- Engage with South African educators, activists, and community leaders
- Explore connections between U.S. and South African freedom movements
- Participate in cultural immersion and community-based service
- Reflect on global sisterhood, solidarity, and the responsibilities of leadership
- Discern their role in building communities of healing and justice
This week embodies outward movement—learning to lead with compassion, courage, and collective responsibility.
Participants conclude their two-week experience with a public presentation of their Beehive Project—an entrepreneurial, income-generating initiative inspired by the “fruits of the hive.”
These projects may include:
- Creating and selling honey-based products
- Developing community workshops
- Designing initiatives that uplift girls and young women
- Launching advocacy or social impact campaigns
Each Beehive Project is rooted in the values of sustainability, community uplift, and economic empowerment—hallmarks of Harriet Tubman's legacy of practical, Spirit-led liberation.