JSA and the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), the nation's leading pro-free speech organization, joined forces to launch FIRE’s Free Speech Leadership Summit, a week-long summer program designed to help pre-college students explore free speech and how it leads to a free society.
Participants engage in classroom instruction, small group seminars and collaborative learning, specialty tracks, and hands-on projects. FIRE’s Free Speech Leadership Summit provides the opportunity for students to expand their knowledge, skills, and understanding of free speech and the First Amendment through a summer experience.
JSA's role is to:
Guide the development of the summer program curriculum
Hire, train and supervise resident advisors (RAs)
Manage logistics – such as venue coordination and activities
Lead admissions process
Oversee the operations of the program onsite
FIRE’s Free Speech Leadership Summit is a tuition-free summer program that will take place at Temple University in Philadelphia, from June 23 - 29, 2024. FIRE expects up to 300 pre-college students entering grades 9th through 12th to participate in the program.
“JSA is excited to partner with FIRE for the inaugural Free Speech Leadership Summit. It is a testament to our role in building a better, stronger, and freer democracy for all. Both JSA's and FIRE's commitment to teaching the foundation of a free people and a free society make this partnership a natural fit,” said Jodi Wiseley, CEO, JSA.
During the Spring of 2023, JSA student delegates hosted FIREside chats at their end-of-year school convention thanks to a sponsorship from FIRE. JSAers had open discussions on freedom of speech issues impacting America’s democracy.