Welcome Home
Children’s Defense Fund’s Alex Haley Farm is home to the children’s movement—a place where we come together across generations and geography, ethnicity and experience, religion and race to forge a stronger, more united, and more effective force for change.
Since first opening our gates in 1994, CDF Haley Farm has welcomed tens of thousands of young people for CDF Freedom Schools® program trainings, deepened and inspired faith-based child advocacy, convened children’s authors and librarians, hosted the Council of Elders for strategizing among young activists and civil rights veterans, gathered working groups for the Black Community Crusade for Children®, and much more.
Notable luminaries who have walked our gravel paths, graced the Riggio-Lynch Interfaith Chapel podium, and rocked on the porches at CDF Haley Farm include Michele Alexander, Maya Angelou, Dr. James H. Cone, Dr. Fred Craddock, Dr. John Hope Franklin, Dr. Vincent Harding, Dr. Dorothy Height, Rev. Jim Lawson, Wynton Marsalis, Toni Morrison, Bryan Stevenson, Ambassador Andrew Young, Rev. C.T. Vivian, among others.
The Storied History of Haley Farm
Explore the CDF Haley Farm using a guided history tour. Learn about the civil rights legends who have walked our grounds and hallowed our halls over the decades. Discover what drew Alex Haley to the Farm—and continues to draw new generations of educators, students, scholars, and activists for the children’s movement.
Host Your Next Event at the Farm
CDF Haley Farm is a smoke-, drug-, alcohol-, violence-, and hate-free environment, indoors and outdoors. We welcome large and small groups to book our facilities for private events year-round.
The Farm Lodge seats up to 85 for meals or 100 for theater-style lecture seating, and our outdoor lawn can be tented to accommodate larger groups for meals and activities. The Riggio-Lynch Interfaith Chapel seats up to 250, with additional opportunity for overflow seating outdoors in good weather. We also offer space for smaller groups to use with three separate buildings conveniently located on site. In addition to on-campus lodging, which accommodates up to 40 overnight guests, CDF Haley Farm is located near multiple hotels for overflow group lodging.
To inquire about hosting your next event at CDF Haley Farm, please complete our Event Inquiry Form.
If you have questions about availability, accommodation, or accessibility, please contact CDF Haley Farm at (865) 457-6466 or cdfhaley@childrensdefense.org.