Open Applications:
Regional Organizers for Community Change Fellowship in North Carolina
What is the Regional Organizers for Community Change Fellowship?
Regional Organizers for Community Change (ROCC) is a state-specific, and sometimes regional fellowship, that brings together movement leaders across sectors to develop long-term strategy. The fellowship, which is offered by Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ), is designed to give activists an opportunity to hone their leadership skills, deepen their understanding of power and strategy, and expand their networks. This semester-long program provides an intensive cohort experience, granting Fellows the chance to connect and build relationships, and collectively to develop a shared analysis, a long-term vision, and a winning strategy for their state or region. The program offers a unique combination of academic coursework, immersive retreats, and individual coaching and mentorship as part of a holistic approach to leadership development.
ROCC was born from the understanding that while the challenges we face are not limited to a particular state or region, organizing and campaigns at this level remain the lifeblood of the progressive movement. It is where people most frequently come together and organize. It is also where great power lies — in state legislatures, elected officials, and local governments, but also in the grassroots leaders, movements, and coalitions found in every locality and state. And it is where a real opportunity exists to push back against an authoritarian agenda that seeks to limit rights and freedoms, and puts profits before people and the environment. Struggles at the state level can also resonate and have an impact nationally. Nowhere is this more true than in North Carolina, a swing state, and the focus of the 2025 ROCC fellowship.
Priority Application Deadline: May 12, 2025
Final Application Deadline: May 27, 2025
The Regional Organizer for Community Change (ROCC) Fellowship offers:
Academic coursework: All fellows take the course “Power and Strategy,” taught by faculty at the School of Labor and Urban Studies (SLU) at CUNY. The course is focused on strategy fundamentals and is based on the book Practical Radicals by Deepak Bhargava and Stephanie Luce.
Immersive retreats: Fellows are expected to attend two week-long residential retreats for in-person learning, relationship building, and leadership training, including on personal sustainability practices. The retreats will be held in North Carolina (locations TBD), on the following dates:
September 14-19, 2025
December 7-12, 2025
Executive coaching and mentorship: Each fellow will be provided with a 360° Leadership assessment at the beginning of the fellowship, as well as a dedicated coach and mentor with whom they will meet regularly on a 1:1 basis for the duration of the fellowship.
LDSJ, which is based at the City University of New York (CUNY), is working closely with movement leaders in North Carolina to develop a ROCC cohort that is tailored to the context, needs, and priorities of the state, and that serves to strengthen existing leadership and power-building initiatives.
To be eligible for the Regional Organizers for Community Change (ROCC) Fellowship for 2025, applicants should:
Be based in North Carolina and working in labor, base-building, or community organizing, with at least 5 years of experience doing social justice work.
Have a deep understanding of the socio-political and economic context in North Carolina, and be committed to working towards long-term progressive change in the state.
Have a demonstrated track record of leading others, working on campaigns, and building coalitions.
Be actively engaged in developing strategy within their organizations and coalition spaces, with a desire to develop this capacity further.
We strongly encourage 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.
Cost
We ask employers or host organizations to make a contribution on a sliding scale. Contributions are suggested – not mandatory – and do not carry weight in the application or interview process. We have robust scholarships available to all applicants.
Organizations with an annual budget of $5+ million = suggested amount of $2,500 per participant
Organizations with an annual budget between $2-5 million = suggested amount of $1,000 per participant
Organizations with an annual budget less than a $2 million = suggested amount of $500 per participant
Join an Info Session to learn more about the Regional Organizers for Community Change Fellowship
Interested in applying for the ROCC Fellowship and want to know more? Attend one of our info sessions:
Wednesday, April 16 at 5:30pm – 6:30pm ET - (Register Here)
Wednesday, May 7 at 1:30pm-2:30pm ET - (Register Here)
Thursday, May 22 at 4:30pm – 5:30pm ET - (Register Here)
“This fellowship offered me the opportunity to be in space with those who are already in positions that I am trying to obtain. Learning from the wisdom and experiences of everyone in the room has been life changing to say the least.”
“The ROCC leadership fellowship was terrific! I learned so much about myself and my style of leadership. The leadership
cohort allowed me to understand how the work of organizing is evolving. All of the readings, discussions, and the in-person gatherings helped me learn how to make the necessary adjustments. Overall I would recommend this program to all of my friends in the work.”