Share
John Lewis Young Leaders Fellowship Information Sessions
The John Lewis Young Leaders (JLYL) program is an undergraduate fellowship program that equips students with the necessary skills to become effective social justice and civic leaders.

Upcoming Sessions
Register for our upcoming virtual sessions to hear from Program Manager Allison Gilmore about the program, model capstone projects, tips on writing an application, benefits of the fellowship, and more.
Session 1
Tuesday, November 12, 2024 at 6:00 pm ET
Session 2
Wednesday, November 13, 2024 at 1:00 pm ET
Session 3
Wednesday, January 8, 2025 at 6:00 pm ET



Frequently Asked Questions
What is the John Lewis Young Leaders Fellowship?
The JLYL program is a year-long fellowship that prepares college students for a future in community organizing and civic engagement. Throughout the course of the year, fellows engage their campus and local communities in human rights work through a robust capstone project. Fellows receive resources and support to ensure their success in the program, including access to comprehensive grassroots organizing workshops, 1:1 mentorship from RFK Human Rights staff, financial support, and access to an extensive network of human rights professionals, peers, and program alumni. By providing fellows with these resources, we aim to build their capacity and confidence to pursue careers as human rights defenders and enact positive and perpetual change in their communities.
Who is eligible to apply?
To be eligible for a John Lewis Young Leaders fellowship, a student must be:
- An undergraduate student
- Enrolled in a 2 or 4 year accredited program
- Enrolled in a university located in the United States
- Graduating on or after May 2026
Furthermore, priority is given to:
- Students attending an HBCU, HSI, or HMSI
- Students from marginalized communities
What are the benefits that fellows receive through the program?
Fellows receive the following through the year-long program:
- A $2,000 professional stipend (paid in two $1,000 installments over the fall and spring semesters)
- $1,000 in funding for events and activities related to the completion of your capstone project
- Paid-for retreat in the summer of 2025
- Agency to focus on elevating social issues that motivate and inspire YOU
- Access to content-rich resources from expert community organizers and activists
What are fellows responsible for?
John Lewis Young Leaders fellows are responsible for the following:
- Attending the 4-day John Lewis Young Leaders retreat, where you’ll participate in organizing workshops
- Meeting with RFK Human Rights staff monthly for 1-on-1 coaching
- Attending all monthly cohort meetings held on the 2nd Monday of each month
- Completing a capstone presentation with an overview of your capstone project at the conclusion of the fellowship
When does the application open? When does the fellowship start?
The application and fellowship timeline is as follows:
- Application Opens: January 6, 2025
- Application Closes: February 28, 2025 11:59 pm EST
- Fellows Notified: March 28, 2025
- Weekend Fellowship Retreat: June 12 – June 15, 2025 (location to be decided)
- Fellowship Start Date: August 11, 2025
- Capstone Proposal Due: September 14, 2025
- Monthly Meetings: Second Monday of each month
- Fellowship Ends: May 30, 2026
Subscribe for the latest from John Lewis Young Leaders.
Sign up to our quarterly Good Trouble Brief for news about the program, updates from past and current fellows, upcoming events, and more—delivered straight to your inbox.
Help us protect human rights
Please give now. Your contribution will make a difference in the critical effort to achieve equal rights for all.