Inspired by Paulo Freire’s belief that education is freedom, this TEDx-style event invited our community to reimagine public education not simply as a system, but as the heartbeat of our democracy and a source of our collective power.

ED Talks: Education Is Freedom centered the voices of educators and students through powerful talks alongside music, performance, and multimedia experiences created by Asheville City Schools students. The evening also featured student artwork from a district-wide art contest, showcasing how young people interpreted education, democracy, and freedom through creative expression.

This was not just a moment, but momentum  towards fully funded and free public schools.

Together, these stories, struggles, and bold ideas reminded us that our power lives in our public schools and that when we invest in our educators, uplift student voices, and show up for our schools, we are building a more free, more just future for all.