Welcome To Freedom House!
Since 1949, Freedom House has been a beacon of change, championing educational equity and economic opportunities for Black, Brown, and immigrant youth across our communities. This year, as we celebrate 75 years of impactful service, we honor the powerful legacy of our founders, Otto and Muriel Snowden, who established Freedom House in the historic Humboldt Theatre building. I am privileged to steward this legacy as we continue to expand our mission.
This year also marks the launch of the Otto and Muriel Snowden Scholarship Fund, founded by Gail Snowden and Leigh Merritt to support the academic pursuits of our youth. This scholarship fund further extends the Snowden family’s commitment to educational access and excellence, providing a transformative opportunity for students to achieve their dreams and make meaningful contributions to their communities.
This moment in history has shown that when a village of like-minded individuals comes together, they can influence lasting change. Our board and staff inspire me daily with their resilience, dedication, and shared vision. They have met the challenges of these unprecedented times with unwavering commitment, and I am deeply grateful for the support of our donors, who have listened to the needs of our youth and families most affected by racial and educational inequity.
As inequalities persist in Black and Brown communities, we remain steadfast in our mission to build economic, racial, and social equity through education, advocacy, and leadership development. Freedom House has emerged from these challenging times wiser, stronger, and more innovative, dedicated to expanding our impact and creating an equitable world where our youth can thrive and lead.
We are excited to share our 2023 Impact Report, which highlights our achievements over the past year and offers a preview of our soon-to-launch 2024 Impact Report. These reports showcase our ongoing commitment to systemic change and our strides toward a brighter future for our communities.
Thank you for inspiring us to keep going, even when faced with global uncertainty. Freedom House invites you to engage with our board and staff in implementing our strategic plans and to explore how we are advancing meaningful change.
In Service and Gratitude,
Charmaine L. E. Arthur, Chief Executive Officer
Our History
Founded in 1949 by social workers Muriel S. and Otto P. Snowden, Freedom House has served as a haven for communities of color by providing education, technological, and capacity-building programs and services in Dorchester, Roxbury, and Mattapan. From a tiny office in the Old Humboldt Theatre Building, the hard work began fighting for neighborhood improvement, better schools, and establishing harmony and cooperation among different racial, ethnic, and religious groups. Today, Freedom House continues its commitment to equity and civic leadership with a holistic approach to coaching High School and College students ensuring their academic success while providing a safe place for dialogue on social and community issues.
Freedom House Values
Legacy, Progress, and Persistence: We are inspired by a rich tradition of civil rights and social justice leadership. We honor the legacy of Freedom House through continuous reflection together with the relentless pursuit of progress.
Education: We believe in the transformative power of education and lifelong learning as the foundation for opportunity and choice. We approach our work with a teachable spirit as both students and instructors.
Diversity and Cultural Competency: We embrace and foster the equality of cultures.
Leadership: We imagine a better state and create pathways to get there. We believe in developing future leaders to better the community and civic engagement.
Integrity and Accountability: We believe that our programs and relationships are built and sustained through transparency, reliability, and candor. We hold ourselves accountable for setting high expectations and exceeding them.
Positive Intent: We believe that a person is innately doing their best, choosing to see the best of their ability given the resources and knowledge that they currently have
CELEBRATING 75 YEARS
Since 1949, Freedom House has been a leader in programs and services that champion educational equity and economic opportunities for Black and Brown, and immigrant youth throughout our communities. We see education as a pathway towards economic opportunities.
We focus on college access and post-secondary success with the goal of increasing college graduation rates and career readiness using a holistic youth development approach.
