Orita’s Cross Freedom School – a project of Fusion Partnerships – is a multi-site youth development program designed to inspire the next generation of society’s change makers.
We believe youth – and Black youth in particular – aren’t “problems” in need of fixing. Rather they are the solution-bearers poised to challenge racism, poverty, gentrification, gender inequality, the prison industrial complex and other injustices that plague society.
But they’re also regular youth who are interested in learning how to make jewelry, curious about how to tie a tie, eager to prove their athletic prowess, excited to cook together and anxious to share what they know.
Through cultural awareness, civic engagement demonstrations, mentoring, and the arts, Orita’s Cross Freedom School equips youth to embrace their full humanity and be agents of transformation in their community.​