Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice (LDSJ) is an institute of the Colin Powell School for Civic and Global Leadership at City College of New York and the CUNY School of Labor and Urban Studies. LDSJ was created and is led by movement leaders with experience and investment in grassroots organizing. Aiming to support diverse cohorts of leaders from the communities at the forefront of social justice movements, helping to foster understanding of how to build lasting power and use it for our collective liberation.
LDSJ Fellowships
Leadership for Democracy and Social Justice offers dedicated training, mentorship and development to movement leaders. It draws from nationally recognized universities, an advisory board of established leaders and thinkers across movements, a dedicated staff with a wealth of experience in social justice, and a growing cadre of fellows themselves.
Emerging Leaders Fellowship
The Emerging Leaders Fellowship is a semester-long program designed for people with 3-5 years of social justice work experience and who are based anywhere in the United States. This could be in labor unions, policy, organizing, and advocacy work. The program will provide special training, support, mentoring, and career services. Fellows will gain theoretical grounding and practical experience to help deepen their understanding of their work and become more effective social change agents. Apply Now
Social Change Fellowship
The Institute’s Social Change Fellowship, which launched as a pilot in fall 2021, brings together an emerging generation of highly passionate, mission-driven, college students and career changers seeking impactful leadership development and deeper knowledge of the social sector to propel their careers. During the program, fellows participate in four intensive weekends of programming in New York city with organizers and leaders from different fields and receive mentoring and career support. Apply Now
Movement Leader Fellowship
The Movement Leader Fellowship is for leaders in labor, advocacy, and community organizing with approximately 10-15 years of experience in social justice work. We are especially seeking applicants from historically marginalized backgrounds such as Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), women and nonbinary people, LGBTQ+ people, and people from low-income, working class, and immigrant backgrounds. Apply Now
Regional Organizers for Community Change (ROCC) Fellowship
The ROCC Fellowship was created to invest in the leadership of organizers in the South, and provide them with an opportunity to hone their leadership skills, immerse themselves in theory and practice, and expand their community in movement work. This 6-month program provides a cohort-based experience, granting fellows the chance to connect and build relationships across issues, take space for reflection, and prepare themselves for the next level of leadership. Apply Now