Emerging Leaders of Color - Indiana Youth Institute

Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship

When youth workers see themselves reflected in leadership, they establish a stronger sense of belonging within their organization.

Investing in emerging leaders of color is key to ensuring youth organizations increase and sustain progress toward improving workplaces to better serve Indiana’s youth.

The Indiana Youth Worker Well-Being Project recognizes clear disparities between white nonprofit leaders and nonprofit leaders of color and has identified closing leadership gaps as a priority.

The Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship will identify emerging leaders of color and help them build on their existing leadership skills and community networks required to lead and grow effective youth-serving organizations.

Applications for the next Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship cohort are open through March 7.

Download the Emerging Leaders of Color Overview here.

Applications are being accepted through March 7 and must be submitted through the online form. Click here to apply.

Upon completing the application, you will be directed to a webpage verifying that your application was received. No further action is necessary.

Required Items for Submission:

Before beginning the online application, please ensure each document required for upload is accurate and complete. We strongly recommend preparing responses to the narrative questions in a separate document before beginning the online application.

Applicants will be required to submit the following items during the online application process:

Basic contact information about the applicant and the organization the applicant works for.
Responses to narrative questions. Download the Narrative Prep Template
Contact information for two (2) references who can attest to the applicant being a good candidate for the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship.
Confirmation that the applicant’s immediate supervisor has been made aware of the opportunity and supports the applicant’s participation in the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship. Download the Statement of Commitment Template

Indiana youth development professionals of color who are employed with youth-serving organizations that support the educational, social, emotional, and physical development of Indiana youth (ages five to 18) may be eligible. This includes out-of-school time professionals, mental health counselors, child welfare professionals, Youth Services Bureau staff, family support clinicians, and clinical treatment staff.

Additional eligibility:

Is committed to a career in youth services.
Currently or aspires to lead a youth-serving organization.
Includes government or school-based youth workers.

Has at least 1 year of experience working with a youth-serving organization.

If accepted, participants will be required to: 

Fully participate in 100% of the fellowship sessions on the dates listed in the Timeline below (All in-person sessions will be held in Indianapolis). NOTE: If selected, attendance at the Opening Session is required. Participants unable to attend the Opening Session are not eligible for the fellowship.

Complete periodic assignments to ground the learnings from the sessions. 

Invest the time and effort in a peer learning community by actively contributing knowledge, skills, and insights.

Actively work to set and achieve learning goals and periodically report updates to the Youth Worker Well-Being Project.

Contribute to a safe and trusting learning environment for self and peers.

Provide baseline, mid-point, and post-fellowship data and participate in session and program evaluation.

Permit IYI to use photographs on the website. This includes a headshot and candid photos from events, and quotes regarding program experiences and participation.

Orientation Session (virtual)	May 20, 2025 from 12-1 p.m.
Welcome Dinner	July 9, 2025
Opening Session 1 (in-person)	July 10-11, 2025
Session 2 (in-person)	August 14-15, 2025
Session 3 (virtual)	September 11, 2025
Session 4 (in-person)	October 9-10, 2025
Session 5 (in-person)	November 13-14, 2025
Closing Session 6 (in-person)	December 9-10, 2025

We believe in fostering opportunities that recognize and value the contributions of all individuals. Compensation acknowledges the additional time and effort that the fellows are committing to outside of their work time and the systemic barriers that often hinder access to leadership roles and opportunities.

Fellows will receive a $500 participation stipend, along with travel stipends for each in-person gathering that will be issued to the employing youth-serving organization. Organizations should ensure that these stipends are issued to the fellows. Additionally, fellows will have the opportunity to apply for an additional $500 scholarship for further professional development opportunities. All meals and hotel accommodations will be covered by the project.

Participants engage in a six-month fellowship cohort that focuses on advancing their leadership and management skills. Monthly sessions cover topics like equity-driven leadership, navigating crucial conversations, community building, and sustainability and strategic direction from a diverse team of highly-qualified facilitators and speakers, equipping the cohort to lead and grow thriving youth-serving organizations.