CAlifornia youth power-building fellowship

THE CALIFORNIA YOUTH POWER-BUILDING FELLOWSHIP IS A STATEWIDE LEADERSHIP PROGRAM DEDICATED TO CAPACITATING, EMPOWERING, AND MENTORING YOUTH-LED SOCIAL IMPACT.

EACH YEAR, THE FELLOWSHIP RIGOROUSLY SELECTS A COHORT OF PASSIONATE, DRIVEN, JUSTICE-FOCUSED STUDENT ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS THE YEAR’S SPOTLIGHTED GRASSROOTS COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN AN IMMERSIVE POWERBUILDING EXPERIENCE CENTERING LONG-TERM SOCIAL CHANGE, WHEREBY STUDENTS ENGAGE FIRSTHAND WITH PUBLIC LEADERS, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, PROFESSIONALS, YOUTH-SERVING PARTNERS AND ALLIES, ANS SOCIAL JUSTICE MOVEMENTS BOTH WITHIN THEIR LOCAL REGION AND ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA.

Each Fellow receives…

  • MOST IMPORTANT: A $1,000 dedicated grant to fund the creation (or acceleration) of their own youth-led social justice project, either independently, or on behalf of a school club or local non-profit organization tailored to youth and/or student advocacy, equity, and liberation.

  • One-on-one project review/feedback, goal-building, values-assessment, and planning guidance/advisory from experienced yet diverse mentors.

  • Twice-a-month mentorship/community-connection sessions deep-diving into imperative skills and curriculum on project-building, nonprofit administration, long-term fund development, networking, community social justice, youth advocacy, organizing and coalition-building, and gauging and fulfilling long-lasting impact.

  • Every ~2 months: Attending exclusive, in-person engagements, events, and collaborative appearances in partnership with numerous California public officials, institutions, organizations, activist-scholars, changemaking professionals, and social entrepreneurs.

  • The thorough opportunity to develop and lead a changemaking initiative from start to finish, with provided resources, guidance, network connections, presentation occasions, funding assistance, and so much more.

  • An official, embossed certificate upon the successful graduation from the year-round California Youth Power-Building Fellowship Program. 

Applications for the 2024-2025 Cohort are now closed. Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort open february 2025.

$20,000+

REINVESTED INTO POWERBUILDING GRANTS, MENTORSHIP RESOURCES, & YOUTH EDUCATION.

10+ youth of color

ONE-ON-ONE MENTORED IN YOUTH-LED SOCIAL CHANGE, YEAR-ROUND.

20+ mentors CA-wide

PUBLIC LEADERS, EXPERIENCED ADVOCATES, FOREMOST NON-PROFITS, AND PROFESSIONALS GUIDING OUR STUDENT FELLOWS.

WITH EACH YEAR’S PROGRAM…

Upon graduating from the Fellowship, youth change-makers will have successfully developed and delivered to their community an original, grassroots social justice initiative, focused on one or more of the following issue areas: Improving racial justice and racial/ethnic relations; Promoting cultural diversity, awareness, heritage, and empowerment; Improving gender equality and gender relations; Supporting socioeconomic development and/or equity; Benefiting under-served and marginalized youth and/or communities; Fostering and empowering youth leadership, service/volunteerism, or action; Improving community health and wellness, which can include mental/emotional health; Building safe, sustainable, and/or environmentally-vital communities; Expanding access to education and improving learning; Elevating youth voice and representation in local government.

For Social Justice & Liberation

6 focus-regions

IDENTIFIED FOR STATEWIDE COLLABORATION, CENTERING GRASSROOTS COMMUNITIES AND INVOLVING LOCAL PEOPLE IN THE GROWING MISSION FOR YOUTH-LED LIBERATION.