July 2023 Newsletter

In the News

Freedom House awarded over $375,000 in grants to support 2023 Summer Learning Institute

Freedom House is grateful for the investments of the 5th Quarter of Summer Learning, the Charles Hayden Foundation, The Summer Fund, the City of Boston, John Hancock MLK Scholars, Whole Foods Market, and Eversource to support the 2023 Summer Learning Institute. The Institute is an annual 7-week post-secondary preparation program that offers youth employment,?leadership building; summer school and free college classes; skills workshops, civic engagement projects; mental health services; and professional networking.

Freedom House awarded $50,000 grant from women’s organization The Hestia Fund

Freedom House was awarded a $50,000 grant?from The Hestia Fund as part of its mission to support programs that create opportunities for children from underserved families to thrive in school and realize lasting change in their lives. The grant will support our efforts to expand our coaching capacity and enhance our programming.

Save the Date! Join us at the 21st Annual Champions of Freedom Gala

Champions of Freedom is a night of celebration to showcase our impact with students and an opportunity to honor our Champions of Freedom, who use their personal endeavors and professional work to advance social equity for Black and Brown communities. This year's gala will feature renowned musicians?Angelena and The Unit, performing jazz and rhythm & blues, and will honor?Constanza Cabello?of State Street Corporation, Dr. Makeeba McCreary of the New Commonwealth Racial Equity and Social Justice Fund,?and the?Cummings Foundation. For more information, tickets, and sponsorship opportunities, visit our event website.

Scholar Soundbite

Farrell Cox (Bunker Hill Community College)

"Freedom House played a big role in helping me get into college and find out what I wanted to do with my life. I am proud that I graduated high school and enrolled in college. I also do not get angry as much anymore because I learned how to control it, and I like to talk to people now. Freedom House’s mental health and wellness sessions impacted me because I dealt with mental health at home with my family and with people I know passing away. It is important because you never know what someone is going through."

What's Happening at the House?

Freedom House Leadership Academy Scholars graduate!

The 13 high school graduates plan to attend college in the Fall or enroll in Freedom House's Gap Year program.?

Freedom House hosts End-of-School-Year Celebration

Boston Arts Academy students and Freedom House staff performed music for the End of Year Celebration event. Ebenezer House of Worship Awarded 4 high school graduates $2,000 in scholarships.

Freedom House and Northeastern Reckonings Project celebrate partnership

On June 15th, Freedom House student leaders, in partnership with Northeastern's Reckonings Project. Scholars celebrated their partnership with an end-of-the-year event with over 75 attendees. Students interviewed Freedom House Goldenaires and community members from city-wide organizations on the history of Boston's Roxbury and Dorchester areas as part of their ongoing oral history archiving project.

Freedom House academic year wraps up with outstanding achievements

As the school year ends, Freedom House is thrilled to celebrate the achievements of our students in transition. Four community college transfer students got accepted to 4-year schools and will begin this Fall. Gap Year students completed their first year of this pilot program, which included civic engagement, leadership development, and career exploration opportunities.

CEO Corner

“I have come to believe over and over again that what is most important must be spoken, made verbal and shared, even at the risk of having it bruised or misunderstood.”

- Audre Lorde

We are in a season of change again. As we prepare to launch our 2023 Summer Learning Institutes, serving over 100 scholars in the City of Boston, we receive news that will impact the post-secondary opportunities for the many Black, Brown, and Immigrant scholars we serve. I would be dishonest if I did not say that I am furious. The impact of the Supreme Court's ruling striking down affirmative action in college admissions, deeming admissions in higher education based on race unconstitutional, will set back decades of progress towards creating racial equity, not only in our higher education systems but all across our workforce.?This decision is extremely irresponsible by our Supreme Court.?It sets a dangerous precedence and is a continuous attack on the most vulnerable in this nation, and we will not allow this to go away silently without lifting our voices LOUDLY.?State Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated, “Justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same thing as being quiet. In fact, oftentimes, the most righteous thing you can do is shake the table.”?We must not be polite in this hour but work together to shake every table for the many communities this decision will impact.

Like never before, NOW is the time to be visible, vigilant, strategic, mobilize, and invest.?

In 2020, I remember an outpouring of support and commitment from many local, state, and federal entities and corporations. Institutions committed to investing and raising their voice to support BIPOC communities.?We encourage these institutions to re-commit to these pledges.

For 74 years Freedom House has remained steadfast and unmoveable, ever abounding in our commitment to equality, equity, diversity, inclusion, transformation, and liberation. I urge you to stand with us to be a voice for the voiceless!?

Join our Giving Societies

Your support is critical to our work providing holistic and youth development-centered programming and services that enable underrepresented students to overcome barriers to post-secondary success.?Give Today.

Calling All Freedom House Alumni!

To all our Freedom House Alumni, you’re invited to connect with us! We would love to share your story with the wider Freedom House community. Whether you want to join our long list of engaged alumni, be a part of volunteering to support young Freedom House scholars through their journeys, or just connect with Freedom House,?sign up here!