In early May 2026, the Harrisburg cohort of Freedom House 2.0 graduated its second class of students, marking a celebratory milestone in students’ achievements as they begin their careers in health care and continue a powerful legacy.
In the 1960s, the Freedom House Ambulance Service was founded in Pittsburgh, pioneering opportunities for young Black men to train in delivering emergency medical care in underserved communities. The program laid the foundation for what modern EMS looks like.
Now, more than 50 years later, that legacy continues in a new way. “Freedom House 2.0 is a revival and expansion of the original program. We’re training people in our communities and providing them with a way to take part in the health care system around them,” said Leah Franklin, MBA, manager of workforce development
The spring class of 2026 on their first day.
The 6-week program is designed to help remove barriers to accessing health care careers. Since its launch in 2021, across its three branches (Pittsburgh, Erie and Harrisburg), the program has celebrated 275 graduates who have gone on to have careers in health care. This year, Harrisburg celebrated its second graduating class of 13 students who were selected from more than 120 applicants. Participants learn entry-level clinical knowledge, develop professional skills and receive community resources that help address challenges students might face outside the classroom.
“It really is a whole community effort. We see ourselves as the link to help develop the support systems our students need,” said Leah.
In the classroom, the program blends instruction with hands-on learning, featuring a curriculum that includes basic anatomy and physiology, public health topics, social and behavioral sciences and basic emergency medical skills such as CPR, first aid and mental health first aid. The students are also given opportunities to shadow different health care professionals.
For many students, this is their first taste of clinical training. Through practice and mentorship from instructors like Brian Duchesne, project coordinator, Freedom House 2.0 in Harrisburg, who has a background of more than 20 years in EMS, students build confidence in their abilities to succeed in health care.
Brian said, “I’ve learned how to take complex medical concepts and make them understandable for all our students. I don’t want to just read off the slides but showcase my real-world experience so they can see what the concepts look like in practice.”
Seneh Greene
For Seneh Greene, a medical assistant in pediatrics, the program gave her a pathway into the clinical career she had been working towards.
“I’ve had roles that focused on patient interaction and customer service, but I knew I wanted to transition to a clinical role,” Seneh said.
Looking to build the skills needed for the transition, Seneh applied to Freedom House 2.0 to gain exposure to the clinical side of patient care. The program did just that.
“It gave me a strong foundation and helped build my confidence to enter a clinical setting. I was able to get my foot in the door with my experience from Freedom House 2.0,” said Seneh.
With the support of Leah and Brian and the experience Seneh gained, she earned her current position as a medical assistant at UPMC Children’s Specialty Services in Lemoyne.
The program’s impact extends far beyond skills training; it shapes students’ confidence, pride and their long-term career opportunities.
“I didn’t realize how much we were impacting the students until I saw the growth and how proud they were of what they accomplished,” said Brian. “It’s what makes me want to show up to work each day and continue to improve our program.”
As interest in Freedom House 2.0 continues to grow, so does its potential impact. The program remains focused on expanding the opportunity to hardworking and passionate individuals who are ready to start their path to a career in health care. The next Harrisburg cohort will start Monday, Oct. 5, with the application window opening from Monday, July 13 until Friday, Aug. 21.
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