About

Natick Freedom Team (NFT) is a grassroots, volunteer and nonpartisan action team established in 2016. The NFT Team is committed to fostering a healthy community by addressing bias, racism and bigotry wherever it occurs. Founded by former Natick resident Jamele Adams, the NFT Team is made up of community members who provide support, recourse and opportunity for reconciliation to people who experience threats, harassment or violence related to race, color, sex, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, national origin, religion, disability, or class.

The NFT Team serves to assist others to have difficult conversations, heal wounds, overcome differences, and develop actionable next steps. NFT works in collaboration with local organizations, such as Natick is United, to empower Natick community members to know that the end of racism, bigotry, and discrimination begins with each person individually doing their own work to combat acts of hate.

The Natick Freedom Team is part of a network of Freedom Teams, which includes the Waltham Freedom Team, Hopkinton Freedom Team, Franklin Freedom Team, and the Wellesley Freedom Team.

** NFT encourages all community members to be upstanders, not bystanders **

NFT approaches complex matters as a "multi-partial" organization, meaning that NFT seeks to understand the perspectives and lived experiences of all parties (both the victim and aggressor). NFT plays a mediator role that aims to listen, help, & make all people feel heard. A complete resolution might not always be possible, but NFT remains focused on serving as a "web of support" that assists victims directly, as well as sometimes connecting community members with other community-based organizations.

What We Do:

On a confidential and highly personalized basis, NFT does the following:

Support individuals who have experienced harm, bias, bullying, or who feel disconnected or excluded from the community.
Facilitate dialogue between parties to help resolve conflict and promote healing at the earliest possible stage.
Assist organizations in responding to incidents or working to create a more welcoming and inclusive climate.

NFT does this through:

Providing safe and compassionate space to share and discuss incidents, with a focus on confidentiality, empathy, and support.
Facilitating respectful conversations between impacted parties, including individuals on all sides of an incident.
Helping individuals and groups develop response plans for specific incidents while building tools and skills to address future challenges.
Connecting individuals to specialized resources, organizations, and support systems tailored to their needs.
Following up to check on well-being and offer continued support as needed.

NFT Team Members: