NOW OPEN: 2026 Freedom Fellowship Application

The FREEDOM FELLOWSHIP is a 6-month social justice leadership program that brings Black and Brown Chicago area youth ages 14-17 together to envision and share skills to build the world we want to live in. The FELLOWSHIP explores social movement history, systems of oppression and liberation, community organizing, and youth-led action.

The Fellowship begins with the 4-week SUMMER LEADERSHIP INSTITUTE (SLI) which runs July 6 - August 1, 2026.

ELIGIBILITY

Youth applicants are encouraged to be ages 13–17 and identify as a person of color. (i.e. Asian, Black, Latinx, Indigenous, mixed-race, etc.) Youth must be able to commit to all program components. Youth are not required to be enrolled in high school. (e.g. 8th grade graduates are permitted to apply and young people not in school.) Due to the overlap of program hours, students in summer school are unable to participate in the Fellowship.

STIPEND

Youth participating in the 2026 Freedom Fellowship will receive a $1,000 stipend for their participation. They will receive the first payment of $600 upon completion of the four-week Summer Leadership Institute in August 2026 and the second payment of $400 upon completion of the group action plan during the Fall-Winter Cohort in December 2026. Public transportation, breakfast, lunch and field-trip costs are provided by CFS. 

CFS welcomes ALL young people of color to apply and HIGHLY encourages undocumented, queer/trans/non-binary, and youth with disabilities to apply.