National Liberation Leader Fellowship

The Liberation Leader Fellowship is a 12-month intensive fellowship aimed at providing youth with the platform and skills to spark transformative conversations with adults from across the nation. In 2022, Diversity Talks selected up to 60 high school youth enrolled at one of our school partner sites.

 

Youth possess the wisdom and lived experience to understand the impact of systemic oppression; however, adults have historically left them out of the conversation.

 Our Approach

The Liberation Leader Fellowship offers high school students and college freshmen the opportunity to lead adult participants through workshops and discussions that uncover the real human impact of racism and other forms of systemic oppression. Through our youth-led approach, we foster a healing space for reflection, community, and action. Combined, these educational opportunities are integral in creating an anti-racist society of shared responsibility, with everyone collectively working to create systemic change.

  • REFLECTION

    Diversity Talks cultivates a healing space where individuals from all walks of life can come together and reflect on who they are and what that means in our society. As a Liberation Leader, you will have the opportunity to explore and share many aspects of your identity and experiences, while also taking the time to listen to and reflect on the experiences of others. Our goal is to foster a space where showing up authentically is valued and respected

  • COMMUNITY

    Diversity Talks will select up to 60 high school youth enrolled at one of our school partner sites to join the 2022-2023 Liberation Leader Fellowship. As a Liberation Leader, you will gain access to a national network of youth leaders, organizations, higher education institutions, and adult co-conspirators (allies).

  • ACTION

    Diversity Talks leads with action. Our goal is for you to have the skills to confidently advocate for yourself and others; think critically about systemic problems; develop authentic and mutually beneficial relationships; and collaborate with others for equitable solutions- in and out of the Diversity Talks space.

 Our Methodology

Liberation Leaders gain self-awareness around racial and cultural identities, develop language and skills needed to confront systems of oppression, and further their facilitation skills. Liberation Leaders receive ongoing coaching and support that is aligned with the Common Core English Language Arts State Standards.

Hear directly from youth who have experienced our Liberation Leader Fellowship (formerly known as the Student Facilitator Fellowship).

Your Role

Liberation Leader will experience three core components of the fellowship: Community, Culture, and Connection. As compensation for your dedication to this work, Liberation Leaders will receive a stipend of up to $1200, access to new leadership and mentoring opportunities, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion certification, a Youth Facilitator certification, as well as internship credit and community service hours.

  • COMMUNITY

    Liberation Leaders gain the skills needed to build community and engage in uncomfortable conversations with new people. Through ongoing opportunities, Liberation Leaders are able to work with a new group each time they facilitate.

  • CULTURE

    Liberation Leaders gain the skills needed to shift culture and climate within their schools. Through our school-based partnerships, Liberation Leaders are able to work specifically with one group of adult participants for the entirety of the fellowship.

  • CONNECTION

    Liberation Leaders gain the skills needed to creatively express their experiences through group performance. Through our youth keynote opportunities, Liberation Leaders are able to speak in front of large & small audiences.

Your Commitment

All Liberation Leaders will be expected to attend each fellowship event. Dates and times for your delivery of workshop content will be provided on an ongoing basis. Here’s what our schedule looks like:

  • Sorry, no events right now. But really cool stuff is coming up soon.

  • Sorry, no events right now. But really cool stuff is coming up soon.

These dates are subject to change due to COVID-19.

Are you Ready to Lead Systemic Change?

Join our 5th cohort of Liberation Leaders. To become a Liberation Leader you must meet the following criteria:

  • Be a high school student (rising 9th-12th grade) or college freshman enrolled at one of our school partner sites;

  • Be open to new, challenging, and vulnerable experiences (including speaking publicly);

  • Passionate about disrupting systems of oppression;

  • Interested in exploring the ways in which oppressive systems (racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, etc.) impact your experiences;

  • Want to help others explore the ways in which oppressive systems (racism, sexism, ageism, ableism, etc.) impact their experiences; and

  • Be available for all fellowship dates.