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 organizing theory, a paid full-time internship at a New York City power-building organization, and one-on-one mentorship from experienced organizers. 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.

Application & Program Details →

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 through two courses:

Leadership, Organizing & Action (LOA): Learn community organizing through campaign strategy, power analysis, relational organizing, leadership development, and hands-on campaign design
Social Change in U.S. History: Explore the strategies and lessons of historic social movements

PRACTICE

Put classroom learning into action through a paid summer internship:

Work full-time at a New York City social justice organization
Contribute to real campaigns and community organizing efforts
Gain hands-on experience building power alongside experienced organizers
Apply classroom learning to real-world movement work

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.
Successfully complete Leadership, Organizing & Action (LOA), the required prerequisite course. Students who complete LOA become eligible to apply for the full Social Change Fellowship.
Be able to commit to all required components of the fellowship, including two academic courses, a paid full-time summer internship, mentorship, and professional development activities.
Be enrolled at any CUNY campus. If selected, students outside of CCNY will complete the required coursework through the ePermit process.

Please note: Students are welcome to apply regardless of immigration status.

PATHWAYS

Move into the field with direction:

Receive one-on-one coaching and mentorship from experienced organizers
Explore careers across the social justice and civic sectors
Build lasting relationships with movement leaders and peers
Join a growing alumni network with ongoing professional development and community

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.