SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WAND) - The Springfield Urban League is launching the Freedom Project, a collaboration with the National Parks Service (NPS) and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources (IDNR). 

The program focuses on historical education, literacy, leadership skills, and civic engagement. It also allows student participants to explore career opportunities with NPS and IDNR. 

"It is geared towards empowering young individuals and exposing them to their history by taking the past and connecting it to the future, educating them and empowering them so that they know for the future," said Zhavier Harris, the marketing and communications manager for Springfield Urban League. "Some of the areas you know, talk about the journey from slavery to freedom, and how that affects our kids as they look back on their history from where they were to where they are, and that is going to be really empowering." 

The Freedom Project will be a part of the Children's Defense Fund Freedom School, run by the Springfield Urban League. The program helps build students' reading levels and encourages strong leadership skills. 260 students will be involved this year. 

"Our goal is to not only empower communities, but change lives and build the leaders of tomorrow through our programs," said Harris. 

The Freedom Project will also help connect students with job articles with NPS and IDNR. For more information on the Freedom School Program and how to get your child involved in the Freedom Project, click this link. 

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