Mission Statement
Fannie Lou Hamer, a prominent civil rights figure, community organizer, and the founder of the Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party (MFDP) sought to challenge the state’s white controlled Democratic Party to gain representation for black voters. Lou Hamer school is named after Fannie Lou Hamer as her resilience, grit, and unwavering faith in the civil rights movement models the ethos of why Lou Hamer school was started: To create a space that resists oppressive state policies through the investment of underrepresented youth. When we invest in the nation’s forgotten youth through our education model, we can create the generations next changemakers.
At Lou Hamer School, we are committed to fostering an inclusive, empowering and equitable learning environment where immigrant, undocumented and underrepresented students can thrive. In partnership with Vanderbilt University, and the University’s subsidiaries, we provide rigorous learning opportunities, community support services, and pathways to higher education and success.
We believe that every student, regardless of background or legal status deserves access to opportunity, dignity and support that shapes a student’s full potential. Through community engagement, a commitment to our values, and collaboration with the Vanderbilt population, we equip students with the tools and support they will need to succeed in an ever-changing world.
