Summer Institute
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June 14-20, 2027
Summer Institute at Howard University- Washington, DC
❋ Comprehensive CurriculumIn addition to transformative pedagogies and curricula, institute fellows will also receive extensive mentorship in designing and developing collaborative social-justice based projects that speak to Black liberation and ways of engendering thriving communities.
❋ Facilitator Expertise The successful applicant will participate in a week-long summer retreat where they will join an intellectual community that consists of renowned Black queer professors, community activists, and fellow cohort members.
❋ Eligibility RequirementsWe welcome applications from those who identify as Black and Queer or Trans, age 18-24. We are particularly interested in candidates whose experience demonstrates an active engagement in community-enriching work, whether they are scholars, activists, writers, artists, thinkers, creators, etc.
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Institute fellows are expected to be in residence at Howard University during the length of the Institute. Additionally, the summer institute will provide fellows with the following: a stipend, airfare, and full coverage of housing and meals.
❋ ApplicationApplicants will be notified of the outcome of the search by March 15, 2026. Questions? Email: blackqueereverything@gmail.com
Community Partners
Be Steadwell
They/Them, Be
Be is a filmmaker, musician, storyteller from Washington DC. Be’s work imagines a world that prioritizes Black queer joy.
Be earned a BA in Black Studies from Oberlin College and an MFA in film from Howard University. Be's short films Vow of Silence and Black Tea (2025) screened in film festivals around the world, including Black Star, HBO OutFest, The Schomburg Center, Inside Out Toronto and The Bush Films.
In 2019, Be wrote and directed Dear Ex, the musical. Dear Ex imagines a queer black woman's experience of healing after a breakup. In 2021 Be released their pop and R&B album- Succulent. In 2023, Be joined the cast of Parable of the Sower the Opera by Toshi Reagon and Dr Bernice Johnson Reagon.
Be released their debut romance novel Chocolate Chip City in 2025. Be currently lives in Baltimore. They tour their music and work as an adjunct lecturer at Howard University and Towson University.
Asha “BOOM” Santee
He/Him
Asha “BOOM” Santee is a percussion kahuna with a propensity for infectious beats and the inevitable body roll. Born on September 3rd, this San Francisco native has been drumming since the tender age of 6, taking after her father who drummed for their local church In addition to drums, Santee is also a producer, vocalist, educator, and audio engineer. BOOM’s signature sticks and keys are an asset to several bands across the DMV such as The Peace & Body Roll Duo BOOMscat, The CooLots, and Grammy Award Winning, Mya. Asha currently has three solo projects on all streaming platforms including her latest release, GINKGO. Offstage BOOM can be found running her company, MEcision, a “take care of yourself” brand where she designs and creates innovative tools for wellness. In addition, she teaches kids and adults how to play the drums and is an elementary music teacher.
Lee Levingston Perine
He/Him
Lee Levingston Perine (he/him) is a St. Louis–born, Washington, DC–based curator, creative producer, and community historian. He is the founder of Black in Space (formerly Makers Lab), an LGBTQ+ arts collective dedicated to Black joy, creativity, and liberation through storytelling, archival work, and public programming. His work centers Black LGBTQ+ elders and ancestors while creating spaces for connection and visibility. In 2015, Lee was named a White House Champion of Change – LGBT Artist and has also been recognized by the National Trans Visibility March and BONDS for his community work.
Dr. Kendal Brown
He/Him
Dr. Kendal Brown is a Baltimore-based multidisciplinary artist, minister, musician, and educator whose work explores the intersections of Black, queer, and religious identity. Through family research, material exploration, storytelling, and contemplative practice, his work invites deep reflection on the role of creativity and authenticity in fostering individual and communal healing.
