Summer Job applications open April 4.
To see a full list of Recreation and Parks Department job opportunities, visit: https://cityofprovidence.applytojob.com/apply
AS220 Youth’s Freedom Summer Arts and Justice jobs program is a six week paid youth employment program where young people explore how art, culture, and creativity can be used to understand the world and transform it.
Rooted in the spirit of historic Freedom Summer organizing, the program invites youth to study the relationship between culture and social movements while developing their own voices as artists, storytellers, and community leaders.
Using the Arts and Engagement curriculum, participants examine how music, visual art, storytelling, film, and performance have shaped movements for justice across generations. Youth explore examples from civil rights struggles, global liberation movements, hip hop culture, and contemporary artists who use creativity to challenge injustice and imagine new futures.
Youth work together in creative crews where collaboration, experimentation, and shared leadership are central to the experience. Each crew focuses on a creative discipline such as music production, visual art, design, media, or performance while exploring issues that matter to them and their communities.
Throughout the six weeks, youth research community issues, reflect on their own lived experiences, and design original creative projects that advocate for change. Projects might include murals, short films, music, storytelling pieces, installations, public art, or performances that communicate ideas and spark conversation.
Freedom Summer encourages young people to see creativity as a form of civic participation and cultural leadership. Participants build artistic skills, learn how movements use culture to communicate and mobilize, and gain experience working collectively toward a shared goal.
The program culminates in a public presentation where youth share their work with the community, highlighting the ideas, stories, and visions they have developed together.
Freedom Summer supports young people in recognizing their creative power and their role in shaping more just and imaginative futures for their communities.
How To Apply
Youth who are interested in joining Freedom Summer can apply by sending a short email expressing their interest to youthjobs@as220.org. In the email, applicants should introduce themselves and briefly share why they are interested in the program and what kinds of art or community issues they care about.
After submitting an email, selected applicants will be invited to participate in a short interview with AS220 Youth staff. The interview helps us get to know you, learn about your interests, and talk more about the program.
Qualifications
Applicants should meet the following criteria:
· Age 14 to 21
· Interested in the arts, culture, or creative expression
· Cares about making Providence a better place to live
· Willing to work collaboratively with other young people
· Open to learning about social justice, community issues, and creative activism
Freedom Summer welcomes youth from all artistic backgrounds and experience levels. No prior art training is required. What matters most is curiosity, creativity, and a desire to learn and contribute to the community.
Supported by the One Providence for Youth Grant, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Providence offers a six-week Summer Workforce Development program for teens ages 14–18 designed to introduce young people to real-world work experiences while building practical skills for the future. The program begins with workforce readiness onboarding that prepares participants with essential knowledge around workplace expectations, communication, safety, and professional conduct. Throughout the summer, teens gain hands-on experience working alongside peers and mentors while exploring career pathways through program areas such as entrepreneurship, civil discourse, lifeguarding, and officiating and coaching organized sports. Participants follow structured weekly schedules that combine workforce education, mentorship, and experiential learning to strengthen leadership, financial literacy, and job readiness skills. Teens interested in participating can learn more here: https://forms.gle/aRFhqdsKg8puqHNNA
College Visions (CV) Summer Prep is a five-week college and career exploration program for rising 9th–12th grade students who live in Providence. Through hands-on activities, projects, field trips, and special events, students explore college and career pathways, prepare for the college application process, set academic and personal goals, and build essential skills in a fun, engaging, and supportive environment. CV Summer Prep runs in-person Monday–Thursday, July 6, 2026, through August 6, 2026, from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Eligible students must live in Providence, RI, be entering 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade in September 2026, and demonstrate a commitment to their personal, educational, and professional growth in their application. Interested students should apply at bit.ly/cvsummer26
The Central High School Firefighter CTE Summer Training Program is a six-week, hands-on career exploration opportunity for students ages 16–18, serving 12 participants from July 6 through August 14, Monday–Friday from 8:30 AM–12:30 PM (120 total hours). Students train using the State Firefighter Academy curriculum at approved fire training facilities, learning firefighter fundamentals, physical conditioning, fire science basics, and hands-on rescue skills such as ladder operations, vehicle extraction, and Jaws of Life training. Participants receive mentorship from certified fire instructors and complete weekly skill assessments while exploring pathways to Firefighter I/II certification, EMT careers, and other public safety professions. Interested students can apply through Central High School’s CTE office or their school counselor, with limited spots available.
For more information about this program, please contact Zachary Sylvia at Zachary.Sylvia@ppsd.org.