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Black Student Summer Leadership Program

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

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

Key Dates:

  • Information Session (virtual): Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM | 
  • Employment Readiness Workshop (virtual): Tuesday, December 2, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:30 PM | 
  • Applications Open: Monday, December 8, 2025
  • Applications Close: Friday, January 9, 2026 (11:59 PM)
  • Interviews: February 2026
  • Job Offers: March 2026

Please note: To access the registration links above, students must be logged into their TDSB accounts.

BSSLP_FLYER

Program Components

1. Pathways Selection

For the first time, students can choose between two distinct pathways within the Black Student Summer Leadership Program. This new model was developed in direct response to ongoing student and family feedback, ensuring that young people can select a pathway aligned with their strengths, interests, and future goals. Both pathways honour Black student leadership, identity, community connection, mentorship, and experiential learning (job placement) — core commitments of BSSLP.
Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR)

The YPAR Pathway is grounded in Afrocentric principles that honour Black ways of knowing, community wisdom, and collective responsibility. Designed for students interested in research, storytelling, social justice, and community change, this pathway invites students to examine issues that matter to them and contribute their knowledge to broader conversations across the system.

Using an Afrocentric research approach, students learn how to develop inquiry questions, collect and analyze data, uplift community voices, and share findings through creative expression and public presentation. Students build skills in critical thinking, research design, communication, and leadership — all supported by mentors and educators who value their identities and lived experiences.

In addition to their research training, YPAR students complete a paid experiential learning (job placement) aligned with their interests and career goals. They also participate in real-world knowledge-sharing opportunities, including school-based presentations and the annual YPAR Symposium.

Weekly Work Schedule:

  • 3 days: Experiential learning (job placement)
  • 2 days (Monday & Friday): YPAR professional development and research training
ElevatEd Pathway

The ElevatEd Pathway is a new employment option within BSSLP, created to help students build leadership, communication, and advocacy skills outside of the research pathway. This pathway supports students who want to strengthen their voice, build confidence, and develop the practical skills needed to navigate school, community, and post-secondary spaces.

In addition to receiving paid employment through an experiential learning (job placement) opportunity, students in the ElevatEd Pathway participate in engaging professional development sessions grounded in a leadership framework. These sessions build leadership capacity, enhance public speaking and communication skills, foster community building, and strengthen students’ ability to advocate for themselves and others. The aim is to empower Black students to become thoughtful, skilled, and community-minded changemakers who are prepared for future academic and career pathways.

Weekly Work Schedule:

  • 4 days: Experiential learning (job placement)
  • 1 day (Wednesday): Leadership professional development workshops

2. Experiential Learning Placements

Each student completes a paid, 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 TDSB. 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 TDSB’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.

 

Learn more:

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