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Black Student Summer Leadership Program

The Black Student Summer Leadership Program (BSSLP)聽is a paid, seven-week internship聽for Black high school students in Grades 10鈥�12. Rooted in Afrocentric and community-based approaches, the program combines Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), experiential learning placements, and mentorship to support students as researchers, leaders, and changemakers.

Led by the Graduation Coaches for Black Students聽and supported by a multidisciplinary team of educators, social workers, and researchers, BSSLP centres Black student voice while building pathways to postsecondary education, careers, and community leadership.

Applications open each year from December to January.

Program Components

1. Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)

Students form research pods to investigate issues that matter most to Black youth and their communities.

  • Topics include racial equity, digital justice, health, and climate change.
  • Methods draw from Afrocentric and creative approaches such as storytelling, photovoice, podcasting, video essays, and policy-focused action research.
  • Findings are presented at the Summer Research Symposium and the annual YPAR Conference.

2. Experiential Learning Placements

Each student completes a paid, 35-hour placement aligned with their interests and career goals.

  • Placements are hosted by community organizations, postsecondary institutions, cultural hubs, and industry partners.
  • Students gain workplace experience, mentorship, and professional networks, while host organizations benefit from student contributions to equity-driven initiatives.
  • Career fields include STEM, healthcare, media, finance, education, and public policy.

3. Leadership Development

Developing confident and well-supported leaders is central to BSSLP. Students benefit from a layered mentorship model that connects them with alumni peer mentors, staff mentors, and community professionals.

  • Workshops build skills in public speaking, advocacy, research design, and networking.
  • Students embody Ubuntu (“I am because you are”), creating lasting networks of care and leadership.

Background & Growth

The Black Student Summer Leadership Program was launched in 2019 through a partnership with the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community and Diaspora at York University. It was created to strengthen Black students’ agency, activism, leadership, and active citizenship.

What began with a small first cohort has grown into one of the most sought-after summer opportunities in the 吃瓜黑料网. Each year, the program engages over 100 Black high school students, with interest and applications continuing to increase across the system.

It is facilitated by the Centre of Excellence for Black Student Achievement, in partnership with the 吃瓜黑料网’s Research & Development Department and Continuing Education’s Focus on Youth Initiative.

Our Commitment

Each year, BSSLP aims to:

  • Create learning experiences that embrace community, encourage discovery, and inspire excellence.
  • Strengthen Black students’ citizenship, agency, and leadership through research and real-world learning.
  • Honour and affirm the aspirations, intersectional identities, and strengths of Black students.
  • Respond directly to the priorities identified by students and families.

 

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