John Lewis Young Leaders (JLYL) fellows will complete a year-long capstone project focused on learning practical organizing skills through collaboration and action. Fellows receive first hand experience as grass-roots organizers and learn what it takes to mobilize people in their community to take action on issues that are important to them. To support the work, RFK Human Rights provides each fellow with up to $1000 in funding for activities related to the completion of their capstone project. Additionally, staff at RFK Human Rights will offer in-person event support, 1-on-1 mentoring, access to digital toolkits, and opportunities to connect with change-makers that inspire and motivate.

The capstone project must be done in collaboration with a campus or community organization and should be a sustainable project that the organization can carry out after the completion of the fellows program.

Capstone projects fall into the following areas:

• Social Justice Policy and Advocacy
• Environment, Climate Change, and Food Insecurity
• Immigration
• Judicial / Incarceration
• Mental, Sexual, or Physical Health and Safety
• Housing, Homelessness, and Gentrification
• Education and Mentorship
• Science, Technology, and Digital Literacy

If your capstone idea doesn’t fit into one of the above categories, you will be prompted in the application to explain your project area.

Examples of What a Capstone Project is:

• Creating Zines on a piece of policy that affects your campus community
• Hosting multiple workshops and trainings and providing incentives for participants who completed all necessary training
• Creating a curriculum for an ongoing mentoring program and finding a volunteer base to implement it

Examples of What a Capstone Project is Not:

• A one-off voter registration event that allows students to come to a table to register and leave with food and snacks
• Hosting a pizza party to watch a social justice themed documentary
• Visiting a school and passing out books to students

Explore the 2023-2024 cohort of John Lewis Young Leaders fellows for examples of past capstone projects. Click on a fellow’s profile to learn more about their work and listen to their capstone presentation.