Overview

The Movement Leader Fellowship is a year-long leadership development program for experienced organizers working at the intersection of labor, community, and social justice movements. Led by Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice at the Colin Powell School and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, the fellowship is designed to equip mid-career movement leaders with the tools, frameworks, and support they need to lead strategically and sustainably. Through a blend of academic coursework, one-on-one and peer coaching, and three immersive in-person retreats, fellows will deepen their leadership practice, sharpen their strategic thinking, and build community with a powerful cohort of peers.

Grounded in both theory and practice, the program supports leaders in navigating complexity, building effective teams and organizations, and sustaining themselves in long-haul movement work.

Who is this Fellowship for?

This fellowship is for mid-career social justice leaders—typically with 10–15 years of experience—who are ready to step into more strategic and sustained leadership. Candidates must be based in the United States.

Ideal candidates are:

Social justice leaders with 10-15 years of experience
Currently holding a role at a power building organization that deeply focuses on developing and actively moving strategic work they can bring to the fellowship for workshopping and refinement (for example a strategic campaign or an organizational infrastructural intervention they are directly moving)
In leadership position or in a leadership journey in which you are navigating managing up and managing managers or other staff
Engaged in full-time work with direct oversight of a team, budget, campaign, etc., at power-building organizations with a focus on historically oppressed communities
Rooted in power-building organizations accountable to a base of members (as opposed to consultants or folks working in advocacy or service-oriented organizations)
Committed to building power over the long haul
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

We encourage leaders from all communities and diverse social movements to apply.

See our 2025 MLF Cohort here.

Program Details

The Movement Leader Fellowship combines rigorous political education, practical skill-building, and deep personal and collective reflection. Fellows engage in a year-long leadership development experience that integrates three core components:

Three week-long, in-person retreats focused on strategy, skill-building, and cohort connection
Two graduate-level academic courses on Power & Strategy and Social Movement History
Individual and peer coaching to support reflection, application, and leadership growth

Together, these elements offer fellows the space to step back from day-to-day work, deepen their leadership, and reconnect with a long-haul vision for movement building. Upon successful completion of the fellowship, participants are eligible to receive an Advanced Certificate in Organizing and Social Change from the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. The Spring 2026 semester runs from January 26 to May 26.

Retreats are immersive, week-long gatherings held at the beginning, middle, and end of the fellowship year. They focus on:
- Building deep relationships and a strong peer cohort
- Practicing tools and frameworks for strategy, leadership, and organizational development
- Making space for reflection, alignment, and visionary thinking
Retreat Dates for the 2026 Fellowship:
- Retreat 1: March 9–13, 2026
- Retreat 2: July 20–24, 2026
- Retreat 3: November 9–13, 2026
Fellows receive a $3,000 stipend to support transportation to all three retreats. Meals and lodging are covered by LDSJ. Locations will be shared with accepted participants.
Fellows take two virtual, 3-credit graduate-level courses through the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies, which together count toward a graduate-level Advanced Certificate in Organizing and Social Change:
1. Power & Strategy (Spring Semester)
  - Meets once per week from 6:15–8:45pm ET (day TBA)
  - Begins Spring 2026 (dates TBA)
  - Requires ~2 hours of additional weekly work
  - Taught by nationally recognized movement leaders and scholars
2. Social Movement History (Fall Semester)
  - Meets once per week (day/time TBA)
  - Begins Fall 2026 (dates TBA)
  - Also includes ~2 hours of additional weekly work
Fellows are expected to coordinate with their organizations to create space for full participation in coursework.
Each fellow will be matched with a seasoned coach for regular one-on-one support throughout the year. Coaching focuses on:
- Applying leadership tools to real-time work
- Navigating organizational and movement dynamics
- Sustaining oneself as a long-haul leader
Additional supports—including peer coaching and access to a broader learning community—help ensure fellows are supported in both their individual growth and their contribution to collective movement strategy.

APPLY NOW

Final Application Deadline:

Oct. 13, 2025

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. We have a limited number of scholarships available for accepted participants whose organizations are unable to contribute.

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

What happens after I apply?

Applicants selected for interviews will be notified via email. Interviews will be held via Zoom in late October and early November. Any applicant selected for an interview must submit a form indicating their organization’s support for their participation in the program.

The final cohort will have up to 24 fellows. Invitations to join the cohort will be sent via email in mid-November.

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.