Social Change Fellows

2026 

In times of uncertainty, we need strategic, values-driven leaders ready to shape the future of our movements. The 2026 Social Change Fellows are a dynamic cohort of CUNY undergraduate students exploring what it means to lead with purpose, accountability, and vision. Through the Social Change Fellowship, fellows gain a deep understanding of how social change happens — studying historical and contemporary movements while building strong relationships within a supportive cohort.

Blending classroom learning with hands-on experience, the fellowship provides paid summer internships with movement organizations, career empowerment resources, and structured mentorship to help fellows clarify their values, build confidence, and chart pathways into social justice work. Together, these emerging leaders are developing the skills, connections, and political grounding needed to enter movement spaces prepared to shift power and leave our movements stronger than they found them.

Meet the 2026 Social Change Fellows below.

Meet the Fellows

  • Sanjeeda Jessica is passionate about helping children grow through education and healthcare. She hopes to create opportunities that support every child’s well-being and future.

  • Salehmat is a sophomore at City College, an International Relations major, and a member of the soccer team. She looks forward to collaborating with passionate, like-minded people committed to social justice and positive change.

  • Aboubacar develops their leadership through voice and action, learning from persuasion and helping to introduce a compelling common purpose.

  • Loaiza is a Puerto Rican-born activist and pre-law student passionate about economic equity and community development. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor's in Economics and Political Science with a minor in Legal Studies at CCNY. Loaiza plans to work in international law and global affairs to abolish colonialism worldwide.

  • Prisha Rao is a junior at Macaulay Honors at Hunter College, studying Political Science and Chinese. They organize within immigrant communities to address intersectional issues such as wage theft and environmental injustice. Besides mutual aid, policy advocacy, and campus engagement, they believe organizers can also empower communities by building solidarity through shared language and lived experience.

  • Ashil is a 22-year-old International Relations student at the City College of New York, continuing a family connection to the school—where their father teaches and their mother earned her master’s degree. Born to parents who emigrated from Iran, Ashil is passionate about exploring global issues and hopes to attend law school or gain international experience after graduation.

  • Daniel is a published CUNY B.A. Data Visualization student from Bushwick, committed to designing both for and with communities.

  • Mariam is a Psychology student at CCNY passionate about mental health advocacy within communities of color.

  • Yuhlani is a junior studying Political Science and International Studies at City College of New York. She developed a passion for public service, activism, and equality in high school and continued her path into college, where she applied for the Moynihan Fellowship and was accepted. This continued to open doors for her in the public service sector, where she worked to assist and promote disadvantaged and disinvested communities that have historically received little investment. In her spare time, Yuhlani enjoys reading, writing, and discussing complex political and cultural problems. Yuhlani enjoys traveling and learning about various cultures, and she hopes to publish her own book someday.

  • Salehmat is a sophomore at City College, where they major in International Relations and compete as a member of the soccer team. Driven by a commitment to social justice, Salehmat is eager to collaborate with others who are passionate about making positive change in their communities and beyond.

  • Theresa M. Clayton is a senior at the Colin Powell School, studying with a focus in Psychology and Black Studies. Rooted in servant leadership, she seeks to equip Black and Brown communities with holistic tools for mental, spiritual, and collective well-being. She aspires to bridge the gap between mental health and faith-based community care, leading with empathy to advance equity, healing, and shared liberation..

  • Raymond is a junior majoring in sociology and is excited to join this leadership program focused on democracy and social justice. He is eager to deepen his understanding of social justice and leadership and to apply what he learns in real-world contexts.

  • Dana is a City College of New York student studying political science and psychology. She is a community organizer and advocate for Palestinian liberation, dedicated to advancing social and economic justice through political education, mutual care, and collective action. Her interests center on anti-colonial and anti-imperialist liberation movements, driven by a commitment to ending racism and dismantling interconnected systems of oppression.

  • Maximiliano Ibarra is a sophomore at The City College of New York, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science. As a fellow, he seeks to expand his knowledge on organizing for social change, which will prepare him for a career in organizational leadership, advocating for the rights of all individuals.

  • Gianni is a City College of New York student passionate about immigrant rights and social change. He transforms personal experience into purpose-driven leadership and community action. He aspires to become an immigration attorney to continue building justice and belonging for all.

  • Tara is a CCNY student majoring in International Studies and Psychology and will be graduating this May. She is eager to work alongside her peers and looks forward to learning and collaborating together.

  • Jada is an adventurous and curious individual driven by a passion for sustainability and community care. She is creating a community organization called Gaea’s Coop to support a more sustainable future.

  • Nathalie is a Colombian-Peruvian American student at Hunter College, where she studies Sociology and Public Policy. An abolitionist at heart, she organizes for institutional accountability and divestment from systems of oppression, grounding her activism in collective liberation.

  • Clawdeen is a writer and researcher whose work bridges the fields of psychology, cultural advocacy, and literary analysis. She explores the emotional and social dimensions of storytelling, with a focus on equity in mental health care for marginalized communities. Her academic and creative projects reflect a commitment to nuance, resilience, and transformative dialogue.

  • Lorie Lamont is a passionate Afro-Latina undergraduate in the CUNY Baccalaureate for Unique and Interdisciplinary Studies program pursuing a specialized degree in Digital Community Building. Born and raised in Canarsie, Brooklyn, she's involved in various creative areas, including game development, art, and communications. She's committed to exploring ways to uplift BIPOC voices through community organizing, creativity, play, and now.. including the practice of leadership.