Gala 2020

We are thrilled to announce our 12th Annual Gala! This year’s theme is "20 / 20 | A Vision Made Clear.” As we begin a new decade, BFS has an amazing vision for the future, which we can achieve with the support of our community and beyond.

20/20 | A Vision Made Clear
Thursday, March 26th
The Loft at Pier A Harbor House

Previous Galas have welcomed the participation of over 100 local businesses and community leaders, raising critical funds in a single evening that sustain our diverse community and help support various school initiatives throughout the year.

Proceeds from the Gala support our unique sliding-scale tuition program, allowing over 90% of our students to receive subsidized access to our day school program.

2020 Honorees:

This year, we are proud to be honoring three incredible individuals, each of whom serve as inspirations to the Brooklyn Free School community and as role models for our young people.

Louis Johnson is one of the first African American artists to perform on Broadway. Raised in Washington, D.C., he moved to New York to attend the highly esteemed New York City School of American Ballet, where he learned from Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine. He performed on Broadway in Four Saints in Three Acts, House of Flowers (choreographed by George Balanchine), Damn Yankees (by Bob Fosse) and Hallelujah Baby. Johnson’s accomplishments as a choreographer include operas performed by the New York Metropolitan Opera, including La Giaconda, starring Martina La Rowa and Aida, which starred Leontyne Price. In movies, he choreographed Cotton Comes to Harlem and The Wiz, starring Michael Jackson and Diana Ross.

April Walker is an urban fashion pioneer and trailblazer in the Hip Hop fashion category. She started her clothing store Fashion in Effect out of her home and then a year later, opened her first shop on Greene Avenue in Brooklyn, NY, her hometown. She originally started her clothing line Walker Wear in the 1990s. Those she worked with include Biggie, the late Aaliyah, Tupac, Run-DMC and Snoop Dogg. Walker Wear has recently relaunched, as it celebrates its 25th anniversary.

Rashid Shabazz is the Chief Marketing and Storytelling Officer or Color of Change,a leading online radical social justice organization. He has led the organization in developing strategies to win justice for victims of the criminal justice system and to accelerate reform, to increase electoral participation and change how Black people are represented in the news and entertainment media.

2019 Honorees:

Last year, Brooklyn Free School was excited to present adrienne maree brown, Anastasia Higginbotham & Anaelechi Owunwanne as Gala honorees.

View photos from our Grow Love 2018 Gala.

Gala 2017