Summer Learning Institute (SLI)
"Freedom House allowed me to be and find different parts of myself that I didn’t even know I had in me"
Our programs aim to provide valuable experiences that enhance learning, promote personal growth, and prepare students for future success. We encourage all eligible students to take advantage of these enriching opportunities designed to support their development and aspirations.
Freedom House partners with local organizations to provide students with community-based job placements, offering a valuable work-based learning experience. Through dual enrollment courses with the Franklin Cummings Institute of Technology and Roxbury Community College, students also earn college credits, boosting their college readiness and accelerating their path to higher education.
Our approach connects academic learning with real-world applications, helping students understand how their education translates to success in post-secondary pathways and the workforce. Workshops and civic engagement projects further develop students’ leadership, advocacy, and life skills—preparing them to excel in their jobs, interact confidently with professors, and build positive relationships with their peers.
For more information, please contact: Samantha A. Williams at swilliams@freedomhouse.com.
Steps to Apply to SLI
Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) Application Process
1. Submit Your Application
Fill out the Freedom House SLI Application
- Deadline: May 29
- Application Link:
SLI 2026 Application Link
2. Complete the Next Step Based on Your Status
We will begin reaching out mid May
- New Scholars: You will be invited to complete an interview.
To schedule, you must upload your resume and Letter of Recommendation at the time you select your slot. - Returning Scholars: Please wait for your acceptance email.
3. If Accepted, You Must Complete the Following
- Youth Work Permit:
PERMIT DOWNLOAD - Freedom House SLI Consent Form:
CONSENT FORM DOWNLOAD - Attend Mandatory Orientation (Accepted students only)
- Family Info Session: A parent or guardian must attend
- BPS Students Only: A parent or guardian must also register you on Avela
Register on Avela
CONSENT FORM
SLI OVERVIEW
Program Information
- Program Dates: July 7 – August 21, Orientation Date: July 1
- Application Deadline: May 29 Freedom House will begin reaching out to scholars for interviews or acceptances starting mid-May.
- Interviews:
Interviews for new applicants will begin late May through early June. - College Course Opportunity:
Freedom House partners with community colleges in Boston to offer summer classes.
If interested, indicate this in your SLI application. Additional details will be provided. - Inquiries:
For questions, please send an email verses calling or coming onsite as staff schedules vary.