Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship
Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship Cohort 3 Application Opens Late July
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) |
December 2, 2025
|
Welcome Dinner |
January 14, 2026 |
Opening Session 1 (in-person) |
January 15-16, 2026 |
Session 2 (in-person) |
February 12-13, 2026 |
Session 3 (virtual) |
March 12, 2026 |
Session 4 (in-person) |
April 9-10, 2026 |
Session 5 (in-person) |
May 14-15, 2026 |
Closing Session 6 (in-person) |
June 22-23, 2026 |
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 $750 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.
Other topics covered include:
- Adaptive Leadership
- Coaching and Peer Consultancy
- Communication and Navigating Crucial Conversations
- Community Building
- Counter-Dominant, Authentic Leadership
- Liberatory Design and Systems-Thinking
- Management vs. Leadership
- Mindfulness for Leadership
- Nonprofit Governance Structure and Decision Making
- Performance Management Frameworks and Supervision
- Power, Privilege, and Oppression
- Resource Development
- Self-Reflection
- Stereotype Threat
- Strength-Based and Self Leadership
- Sustainability and Strategic Direction Setting
- Trauma-Informed Leadership and Systems
Group process and reflection time will be included to discuss the specific challenges participants face as leaders of color. Participants will engage with community and state leaders of all backgrounds to help build their networks and social capital.
In our pursuit of fostering an inclusive environment, we’ve intentionally assembled a team of highly qualified BIPOC and white facilitators and speakers to contribute to the fellowship. This decision is rooted in our belief that differing perspectives enrich our discussions and learning experiences when assembled with safety and intentionality. By including a range of voices, we aim to create a space where meaningful conversations can flourish, different viewpoints are respected, and everyone can learn and grow together.
Read the latest from the Emerging Leaders of Color Fellowship
