The Fellowship, fully launched at MIT in 2024, matches graduate students and recent graduates with cities and frontline community organizations to implement strategies and build capacity in areas related to U.S. infrastructure including the clean energy transition and reindustrialization. Fellows work on projects that will benefit economically disadvantaged communities where resources are limited. The program brings technical capacity and some of the nation’s sharpest minds together in service of helping under-resourced cities. Key information includes:
What: Fellows will provide on-the-ground capacity building and technical assistance to cities/states
When: 10-week fellowship (June - August 2026)
Where: Last year’s participating cities included Los Angeles, CA; Cleveland, OH; Newark, NJ; Asheville, NC; others TBD
Stipend: $10,000 stipends for graduate students
Applications: Available on February 23, 2026 and accepted through March 31, 2026
The fellowship responds to on-the-ground requests by trusted partners, provides near-term support, and adds additional capacity to help equity, sustainability and community engagement become driving forces in local and regional economic development efforts. Fellows will also gather the critical on-the-ground experience and insight that can inform broader policy making, best practices, and their career trajectories. Our approach is grounded in the ability to uplift existing efforts for the greatest potential impact.
Additional Fellowship Details
During the 10-week fellowship students will provide technical assistance services such as the following:
Update planning studies, research grant opportunities, support grant writing, collecting demographic and market conditions, supporting community engagement, providing additional capacity to cities and frontline community groups, and focusing on implementation where funding has been awarded, particularly in areas related to infrastructure and clean energy.
The faculty and fellowship staff will provide additional support and technical assistance to bridge learnings across geographies, navigate the funding opportunities, and source potential partners and philanthropic support.
Fellows meet weekly for discussions with guest speakers and engage in peer learning and problem solving with one another.
The Fellowship provides opportunities for longer-term capacity building as well as research and educational opportunities with MIT faculty and students with the goal of creating a “learning lab” that can disseminate learning across localities.
In many cases, fellows continue their work during the following school year through thesis work, independent studies, or full-time employment.
The fellowship requires being based at the host location.
General Skills and Requirements
The ideal candidate has the following qualifications:
Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work as a self-starter
Experience or some exposure to environmental/climate justice and economic inclusion strategies
Committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the United States
Interest in working alongside or on behalf of low-income communities
Strong writing, verbal communication, and analytical skills
Ability to engage a variety of government, private sector and community stakeholders in an effective manner
Ability to live at host location during the fellowship
Interest in economic development activities (finance, strategy development, partnership development, etc.)
Strong technical skills (data collection, analysis and management, program management, Microsoft office, etc.)
Before beginning your application, please carefully review the program overview for the Freedom Summer Fellowship.
Questions: email lewis546@mit.edu
Before beginning your application, please carefully review the program overview for the Freedom Summer Fellowship.
Questions: email lewis546@mit.edu
Freedom Summer Fellowship 2026
The Fellowship, fully launched at MIT in 2024, matches graduate students and recent graduates with cities and frontline community organizations to implement strategies and build capacity in areas related to U.S. infrastructure including the clean energy transition and reindustrialization. Fellows work on projects that will benefit economically disadvantaged communities where resources are limited. The program brings technical capacity and some of the nation’s sharpest minds together in service of helping under-resourced cities. Key information includes:
What: Fellows will provide on-the-ground capacity building and technical assistance to cities/states
When: 10-week fellowship (June - August 2026)
Where: Last year’s participating cities included Los Angeles, CA; Cleveland, OH; Newark, NJ; Asheville, NC; others TBD
Stipend: $10,000 stipends for graduate students
Applications: Available on February 23, 2026 and accepted through March 31, 2026
The fellowship responds to on-the-ground requests by trusted partners, provides near-term support, and adds additional capacity to help equity, sustainability and community engagement become driving forces in local and regional economic development efforts. Fellows will also gather the critical on-the-ground experience and insight that can inform broader policy making, best practices, and their career trajectories. Our approach is grounded in the ability to uplift existing efforts for the greatest potential impact.
Additional Fellowship Details
During the 10-week fellowship students will provide technical assistance services such as the following:
Update planning studies, research grant opportunities, support grant writing, collecting demographic and market conditions, supporting community engagement, providing additional capacity to cities and frontline community groups, and focusing on implementation where funding has been awarded, particularly in areas related to infrastructure and clean energy.
The faculty and fellowship staff will provide additional support and technical assistance to bridge learnings across geographies, navigate the funding opportunities, and source potential partners and philanthropic support.
Fellows meet weekly for discussions with guest speakers and engage in peer learning and problem solving with one another.
The Fellowship provides opportunities for longer-term capacity building as well as research and educational opportunities with MIT faculty and students with the goal of creating a “learning lab” that can disseminate learning across localities.
In many cases, fellows continue their work during the following school year through thesis work, independent studies, or full-time employment.
The fellowship requires being based at the host location.
General Skills and Requirements
The ideal candidate has the following qualifications:
Demonstrated leadership skills and ability to work as a self-starter
Experience or some exposure to environmental/climate justice and economic inclusion strategies
Committed to advancing equity and inclusion in the United States
Interest in working alongside or on behalf of low-income communities
Strong writing, verbal communication, and analytical skills
Ability to engage a variety of government, private sector and community stakeholders in an effective manner
Ability to live at host location during the fellowship
Interest in economic development activities (finance, strategy development, partnership development, etc.)
Strong technical skills (data collection, analysis and management, program management, Microsoft office, etc.)
Before beginning your application, please carefully review the program overview for the Freedom Summer Fellowship.
Questions: email lewis546@mit.edu
Before beginning your application, please carefully review the program overview for the Freedom Summer Fellowship.
Questions: email lewis546@mit.edu