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Leadership, Education, Advocacy, and Democracy Student Fellowship

Applications for the 2026 Inaugural LEAD Student Fellowship are now Open!

Applications must be completed by June 30, 2026 11:59 p.m.

Apply here

About the LEAD Student Fellowship

The LEAD Student Fellowship equips Illinois undergraduate civic leaders with a deeper understanding of public policy in higher education, while strengthening their leadership and professional skills. It creates meaningful opportunities for students to engage with elected officials and participate in community advocacy and civic participation. Through collaboration with public two- and four-year institutions, policymakers, peer advocates, and community leaders, the fellowship empowers students to navigate the complexities of policy advocacy and amplify their voices.

LEAD’s Core Program Components Include:

Foundations of Community Organizing

Introduces students to the history of social movements, voices of action, and current events in Chicago and the U.S., offering a community-centered view of organizing and activism.

Policy Literacy

Builds students’ understanding of local, state, and federal policies affecting underserved communities and equips them to discuss and advocate for change.

Civic Engagement as a Verb

Guide students to turn civic knowledge into action, build leadership skills, and amplify student voice at the State level.

Building the Next Generation of Public Servants

Prepares students with leadership, advocacy, and professional skills while connecting them to civic engagement and public service careers.

What You’ll Gain

  • Receive training in leadership, public speaking, policy analysis, and advocacy strategy
  • Gain hands-on experience with witness slips, public testimony, bill analysis, and the legislative process
  • Connect with policymakers, community leaders, and peer advocates
  • Collaborate in a cohort-based learning environment
  • Access professional networks through panels, site visits, and convenings
  • Participate in advocacy days and public testimony
  • Increase representation of underserved student perspectives in policy advocacy 

Schedule

Applicants must commit to participating in all Saturday sessions, site visits, and completion of assignments. Locations to be determined. 

Saturday Workshop Dates
  • Saturday, September 12, 2026
  • Saturday, October 3, 2026  
  • Saturday, November 7, 2026
  • Saturday, January 9, 2027
  • Saturday, February 6, 2027
  • Saturday, March 6, 2027
  • Saturday, April 3, 2027 
Graduation
  • Saturday, April 3, 2027

LEAD Requirements

  • Must be 18 years or older to participate.
  • Must be a current undergraduate student at a public two or four-year Hispanic Serving Institution. 
  • Must have a strong desire for public policy in higher education.
  • Students should either have lived experience or a strong commitment to serving underserved communities. 
  • Must have a 2.7 GPA or higher.

To complete the application, you will need

  • Responses to three short-answer questions designed to better understand the applicant’s experiences, perspectives, and interest in policy and leadership
  • Most current unofficial transcript
  • One letter of recommendation on official letterhead by your academic advisor, professor, or someone who can speak to why you are a strong fit for the LEAD Student Fellowship
  • Resume

Application Timeline

As part of the process, selected applicants will be invited to interview. Interview invitations will be sent via email during the first week of August 2026.  Final decisions will be made by a selection committee based on the strength of each application. 

Applications must be submitted by June 30, 2026 11:59 PM CST.

Click here to apply

If you have any questions, please contact:
Jennifer Juarez, PhD, Director of Higher Education Policy 
[email protected]

Brian Herrera, Community Engagement Manager 
[email protected] 

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