2024 Movement Leader Fellowship

Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice at the Colin Powell School and CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies invites applications for the 2024 cohort of the Movement Leader Fellowship, a program designed to give established professionals in the social justice sector an opportunity to hone their leadership skills, immerse themselves in theory and practice, and expand their community in movement work. This year-long program provides an intensive cohort experience, granting people the chance to connect and build relationships across issues, take space for reflection, and prepare themselves for the next level of leadership. The program offers a unique combination of academic coursework to expose practitioners to relevant fields in political economy, policy, and organizing with practical skills such as management, communications, and strategy development to support participants’ growth.

The Movement Leader Fellowship is for leaders in labor, advocacy, and community organizing with approximately 10-15 years of experience in social justice work. We are especially seeking applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds such as Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), women and nonbinary people, LGBTQ+ people, and people from low-income, working class, and immigrant backgrounds.

The program includes three week-long in-person gatherings at the beginning, middle, and end of the year, focusing on cohort and community building, practical skills building, discussions about career pathways, and navigating personal and inner dimensions of leadership. It also encompasses two 3-credit graduate level classes, a required course on Power and Strategy in the Spring semester and a choice of courses in the Fall semester taught by nationally renowned movement leaders and academics. Participants will be paired with seasoned mentors, peer coaches and receive other forms of support. The academic courses and fellowship retreat count toward a graduate-level “Advanced Certificate in Organizing and Social Change.” Participants who wish to do so may complete 2 additional courses to complete this certificate program.

We welcome applicants from across the country. Travel costs for in-person gatherings will be covered, and the academic courses will take place on Zoom. Tuition costs for the academic courses will be shared between the Leadership Center and the sponsoring organization on a sliding scale dependent on budget.

The deadline to apply for the Movement Leader Fellowship is November 9, 2023 at 11:59pm. APPLY HERE.

Ideal candidates for the Movement Leader Fellowship are:

• Social justice leaders with 10-15 years of experience

• Currently occupying roles at power-building organizations with a focus on historically oppressed communities

• Engaged in full-time work with direct oversight of a team, budget, campaign, etc.

• Committed to building power

• Able to fully commit to ALL components of the fellowship

• Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), women and nonbinary people, LGBTQ+ people, and people from low-income, working class, and immigrant backgrounds

• Interested in deep study and learning in a community of their peers

Program Dates and Details:

The MLF includes two virtual academic classes (1 per semester) over the course of the year:

• A virtual, 3-credit, graduate-level academic class on Power & Strategy through the CUNY School of Labor & Urban Studies. The semester begins on January 25, 2024 and ends May 22, 2024. This class meets once per week from 6:15-8:45pm ET. Exact day TBA.

• The Fall 2024 semester (August 2024-December 2024) course is TBA, and will also meet once/week from 6:15-8:45pm ET.

• The academic class requires about 2 hours of work time each week in addition to class time. It’s crucial that Fellows work with their organization to make sufficient time to commit to the class.

The MLF also includes 3 week-long retreats across the country. Participants are given a $3,000 stipend to cover their flight and transportation for all 3 retreats. Meals and lodging are covered by LDSJ. Exact locations will be provided to participants after their acceptance. Retreat Dates:

• Week 1: March 25-29, 2024

• Week 2: July 22-26, 2024

• Week 3: November 18-22, 2024

Program Cost

Organizations are expected to contribute to the costs for the Movement Leader Fellowship on a sliding scale, dependent on the organization’s budget:

• Organizations with an annual budget of $5M or more = $10,000 per participant

• Organizations with an annual budget between $2-5M = $5,000 per participant

• Organizations with an annual budget less than a $2M = $2,500 per participant

We have full scholarships available for applicants whose organizations are unable to pay. An applicant’s ability to pay is not a factor in our decision-making.

The deadline to apply for the Movement Leader Fellowship is November 9, 2023 at 11:59pm.

What happens after I apply?

Applicants selected for interviews will be notified via email. Interviews will be held via Zoom between November 27-December 13. Any applicant selected for an interview must submit a form indicating their organization’s support for their participation in the program by December 13th.

The final cohort will have up to 24 fellows. Invitations to join the cohort will be sent via email by December 18th, and applicants are expected to respond by December 20th.

Please note that these dates are subject to change, and we will communicate with applicants in the event that any of the above dates change.

APPLY BY THURSDAY NOVEMBER 9, 2023 BY 11:59 PM EASTERN TIME