THE
SOCIAL
CHANGE
FELLOWSHIP
From the Classroom to the Frontlines of Social Change
The Social Change Fellowship is LDSJ's flagship undergraduate leadership program, creating a pathway from CUNY classrooms to the frontlines of New York City's civic and social justice ecosystem.
Designed exclusively for CUNY students, the fellowship combines academic coursework grounded in the history and practice of organizing with the opportunity to be considered for a paid, full-time internship at a New York City social justice organization. Along the way, students build connections with organizers, peers, and LDSJ's growing alumni network. Together, these experiences equip students with the knowledge, practical experience, and relationships to become the next generation of organizers, advocates, and social justice leaders.
Whether discovering movement work for the first time or looking to deepen your impact, this fellowship provides pathways into mission-driven careers.
How the Fellowship Works
Students build real-world skills and pathways into the civic sector through three core experiences:
LEARNING
Build a foundation in organizing:
Take Social Change in U.S. History, a 3-credit course at The City College of New York.
Explore the history and strategies of U.S. social movements
Learn how movements organize people and build power
Connect lessons from movement history to issues today
PRACTICE
Put classroom learning into action:
Students who complete the spring course will be considered for a paid summer internship with a New York City social justice organization.
Work full-time for 10 weeks with a social justice organization
Contribute to real campaigns and community organizing
Gain hands-on experience and receive a $6,250 stipend
PATHWAYS
Move into the field with direction:
Connect with organizers, peers, and a growing LDSJ alumni network working across the social justice field.
Explore careers across the social justice and civic sectors
Build relationships with movement leaders and peers
Connect to a growing community of LDSJ alumni
Who It's For
The Social Change Fellowship is designed for CUNY undergraduate students who are curious about social justice and eager to make a difference in their communities.
This fellowship may be a good fit if you:
Care about issues affecting your community and want to make a meaningful impact.
Are curious about organizing, advocacy, or movement work—even if you're not sure where to start.
Want to learn alongside a cohort of students who share your commitment to social change.
Are exploring whether a career in the civic or social justice sector is right for you.
Have some experience volunteering, organizing, or advocating and want to deepen your understanding of the field.
To apply, students must meet the following criteria:
Be a current CUNY undergraduate student with a minimum 2.5 GPA.
Have an interest in social change and issues affecting people and communities, such as civil rights, environmental sustainability, workplace fairness, economic opportunity, public health, or reproductive freedom.
Be interested in learning alongside and building community with other CUNY students.
Be able to commit to Social Change in U.S. History at The City College of New York in Spring 2027 and, if selected for a summer internship, be available to participate full-time without competing employment commitments.
Be enrolled at any CUNY campus. Students outside of CCNY will complete the required coursework through the ePermit process.
Please note: Students are welcome to apply regardless of immigration status.
A Pathway into New York City's Civic Sector
Since its launch, the Social Change Fellowship has connected CUNY students with organizations tackling some of New York City's most pressing challenges. Along the way, it has built a growing community of fellows, alumni, mentors, and movement leaders—a lasting network of relationships that continues long after the fellowship year ends.
THE FELLOWSHIP BY THE NUMBERS
93
Social Change Alumni & Counting
32
NYC internship partners across all fellowship years
29K+
Internship Hours Delivered
8+
CUNY Campuses — recruiting across all 5 boroughs, with more to come
Our Fellows Have Worked Alongside
+22 additional partner organizations, 2021–present
Ready to Take the Next Step?
Explore eligibility requirements, important dates, and application information for the upcoming fellowship cohort. For additional questions, please reach out to Ricardo Anez Carrasquel at ranezcarrasquel@ccny.cuny.edu.