The Community Food Systems Fellowship is an 18-month leadership program designed to enhance the skills, networks, and capacities of emerging leaders committed to building resilient and equitable local food systems. The fellowship provides participants with a structured learning experience, including community design labs focused on participatory engagement and human-centered design, monthly sessions with other food system leaders, and individualized technical assistance. The program aims to foster collaborative leadership, uplift strengths-based narratives, and support community-driven solutions and partnerships across different sectors.

Fellows will receive a stipend for their participation, with the opportunity to apply for additional project innovation grants of up to $5,000 to support their work. The program is ideal for individuals who are dedicated to food justice, nutrition justice, racial equity, and social transformation, as well as those who wish to develop their skills in community engagement, impact measurement, and leadership development. The fellowship emphasizes the leadership of caregivers and families, aiming to scale solutions identified by communities themselves.

Applications for the 2025 fellowship are currently open, with a deadline of November 8, 2024, at 11:59 PM ET. Applicants must submit at least one letter of recommendation, with the option to submit up to three. The program also accommodates alternative submission formats for those who find written applications inaccessible, allowing video, audio, or oral intake application sessions, which are available until November 3, 2024. An optional informational session will be held on October 10 and another on November 5 for prospective applicants who want to learn more about the fellowship.

Up to 10 fellows will be selected by December 2024 and will begin participating in the fellowship in 2025. Finalist interviews will occur from December 9-13, 2024. The program seeks individuals who are passionate about developing leadership skills to drive food system change and who are committed to advancing food justice and equity in their communities.

To support the fellowship, nominations of potential candidates are encouraged, although not required. The fellowship also offers resources such as the "Stories of Food Resiliency and Liberation" zine, which highlights the experiences of past fellows and shares stories of ancestral food traditions and advocacy for food sovereignty within BIPOC communities.