Tony Alvarado-Rivera

Executive Director, Chicago Freedom School

Tony Alvarado-Rivera creates a unique and radical educational space in Chicago dedicated to youth activism, leadership, and movement building.

Inspired by the Mississippi Freedom Schools of the Civil Rights Era, Chicago Freedom School nurtures leadership among young people, ages 14-21, across Chicago while simultaneously building the capacity of adult allies to understand and support youth-led social change. They have served the organization for nine years, originally hired as the youth programs coordinator in 2012 and most recently served as the director of youth programs, beginning in 2016 before transitioning into their new role in June 2020. Last summer, on the evening of the George Floyd protests in the Chicago Loop, Chicago Freedom School opened the doors of its office at State and Polk to young protestors so they could shelter and were subsequently cited by officers from the Chicago Police Department and investigators from the Department of Business and Consumer Protection (BACP) as illegally preparing and serving food without a retail food establishment license. During their transition to executive director, Tony led a 10-count lawsuit against the city citing the victims’ constitutional rights to free speech and freedom from “unreasonable illegal search” were violated. The City of Chicago agreed to settle the lawsuit a week later.

Tony is a multi-issue community organizer who prioritizes anti-oppression and harm reduction frameworks in their personal and professional life. In the nine years they have been with the Chicago Freedom School, they have been recognized as a critical voice in Chicago, bringing a deep political analysis and organizing framework to issues that affected youth. While shepherding an organization dedicated to youth capacity building, they prioritize intergenerational collaboration and teach a diverse group of activists and community members to utilize their unique experiences to engage city-wide infrastructure. They lead collectively, bringing youth into decision making and using every opportunity to build the capacity of those around them and have a commitment to racial justice and restorative practice.