Freedom School with the Marian Cheek Jackson Center

After last summer's successful partnership, Prism again joined the Marian Cheek Jackson Center’s Freedom School to co-create visions for a public art piece that will honor the Black educators of Chapel Hill and Carrboro. In a program designed for high school students, we began with conversations about how public art can shape belonging, challenge injustice, and celebrate history. We explored public artworks from around the world and considered what makes them powerful — from the stories they tell to the emotions they evoke.

From there, we turned our attention to the Educators’ Gateway, an upcoming public art installation that will honor generations of Black teachers who made a lasting impact on the community. Students reflected on their own favorite educators, then worked in teams to develop design concepts.

By the final session, students had transformed their ideas into site plans and 3D models, complete with thoughtful details about materials, location, and community use. These designs reflect not only technical skill and imagination, but also a deep understanding of how art and space can carry memory forward. We are grateful to the Jackson Center for creating a space where youth can lead the design process — and for showing us, once again, that the next generation holds the vision to shape a more just and beautiful world.

A special thanks to the Strowd Roses Foundation for helping make the workshops possible.