Become A Fellow

What We Are Looking For

The John Lewis Young Leaders (JLYL) program looks for highly motivated students who are interested in making a career out of organizing work. These students should be self-starters and not afraid to go against the grain. Students should be able to see themselves as human rights defenders and be impact-minded. Most importantly, we look for students who come from marginalized backgrounds and are most often targeted by systemic issues that do not afford them the opportunities and resources needed to become human rights advocates.

Eligibility Criteria:

• 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 2027

Priority is Given To:

• Students attending an HBCU, HSI, or HMSI
• Students from marginalized communities

Responsibilities:

• Attend the 4-day John Lewis Young Leaders retreat, where you’ll participate in organizing workshops
• Meet with RFK Human Rights staff monthly for 1-on-1 coaching
• Attend all monthly cohort meetings held on the 2nd Monday of each month
• Complete a capstone presentation with an overview of your capstone project at the conclusion of the fellowship

Fellowship Benefits:

• $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 2026
• Agency to focus on elevating social issues that motivate and inspire YOU
• Access to content-rich resources from expert community organizers and activists

2026-2027 Cohort Timeline

• Weekend Fellowship retreat: June 11 – June 14, 2026 (location to be decided)
• Fellowship Start Date: August 10, 2026
• Capstone Proposal Due: September 13, 2026
• Monthly Meetings: Second Monday of each month
• Fellowship Ends: May 30, 2027

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights expressly prohibits any form of discrimination in the provision of employment opportunities, benefits or privileges; to create discriminatory work conditions; or to use discriminatory evaluative standards in employment if the basis of that discriminatory treatment is, in whole or in part, the person’s actual or perceived race, religion, national origin, ancestry, color, age, sex, physical or mental disability, medical condition, military/veteran status, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital/domestic partner status, caregiver status, genetic information, personal appearance, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, domestic violence victims, source of income, place of residence, pregnancy (including childbirth lactation and related medical conditions), past or present service in the uniformed services or application or obligation to serve in the uniformed services (status as a veteran or active military service member), sexual and reproductive health decisions, arrest or conviction record, unemployment status, status as a survivor of domestic violence, sex offenses, or stalking, or any other basis prohibited by applicable federal, state or local law (“Protected Characteristic”). or any other legally protected characteristic. Improper interference with the ability of other employees to perform their expected job duties is absolutely not tolerated.

Discrimination of this kind may also be strictly prohibited by a variety of federal, state and local laws, including Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967 and the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. This policy is intended to comply with the prohibitions stated in these anti-discrimination laws.

Process

1. Register

Click on the "Register" link and complete and submit the registration form.

2. Login

Login to the award with your email and password.

3. Create

Create your online application.

4. Save

During the Call for Applications period, your application can be saved as DRAFT until all the required information is completed and attachments uploaded. As each section is complete, you will see a appear in the category tab when the application is saved. At any time, you can download and print your application by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section.

5. Submit

On completion, save your Application as FINAL. Download and print a copy of your application for your records by clicking on the icon in the Application Summary section in the right column. Note: If an update is required prior to the Call for Applications period, you can make the update and resave as FINAL.

If you require assistance or additional information, please contact the Program Administrator.