John Lewis Young Leaders

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. Since its creation in 2017, the Young Leaders program has focused on building the power of young people and supporting them as the next generation of human rights defenders. In 2022 we restructured and rebranded the program to pay homage to the beautiful and inspiring friendship between John Lewis and Robert Kennedy. Both Lewis and Kennedy shared a joint dream of building a more just and equitable future and worked towards one where all young people can see this come to fruition.

The JLYL program is a year-long fellowship that prepares college students for a future in community organizing and civic engagement. Over 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.

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