We dream of cultivating a national support network and are looking for folks in alignment with that vision. We are so excited that you are considering applying for this fellowship. The Fellowship is designed to be a space where we come together not just as individuals, but as a collective with a shared vision. 

Here, we believe that real transformation happens when we show up for one another, when we commit ourselves to a community that is rooted in trust, respect, and a common purpose. Our work- reimagining and transforming food and land systems will be made stronger by more than just our passive participation. It will take our collective commitment to the process and space of the Fellowship. We will work with leaders, elders, and wisdom-holders throughout this Fellowship, and we want to honor everyone’s time and experience with our collective presence. 

We request you to commit to showing up fully, to engage deeply, and to contribute in meaningful ways. The strength of our collective efforts lies in the relationships we nurture, and the change we seek begins with each of us being present, accountable, and working side-by-side.

This is a space for growth, for learning, and for co-building new ways of being in relationship to the land and our planet. We look forward to building this community together, one step at a time, as we move toward transformation. 

Below are some of the expectations and invitations we would like the Fellows to commit to once selected. Please review them and let us know if you are able to commit to the invitations of the Fellowship, if selected.

Fellows are expected to:

• Model and uphold the values, mission, and vision of CoFED and the Just Leader Fellowship
• Be committed to the transformation of our food and land systems through the visionary leadership of QTBIPOC community leaders
• Have the space and desire to relationship-build with a small national  organization
• Participate in 4 virtual sessions per month
  • Two 60-min monthly individualized project check-ins and coaching sessions
  • Two 2-hour monthly all-fellows’ co-learning, political education, and community sessions
• Demonstrate accountability to the cohort by treating preparation as a practice of care – completing assigned readings, reflections, and pre-work in advance of sessions
• Attend and participate (facilitate) in our 5 day in-person gathering Build, Unlearn, Decolonize.
• Develop and share an impactful fellowship project by December 2026
• Complete:
  • Monthly fellowship reflections and progress reports
  • Monthly program and session evaluations/surveys
  • Final report and creative presentation detailing your fellowship experience and project outcomes
• Serve as a thought partner and spokesperson for CoFED if given the opportunity
• Be in open and consistent communication with the CoFED JLF Team

Post-fellowship, fellows will likely be invited to participate on the selection committee for the next JLF cohort.

Overall Hopes, Expectations & Agreements

• Professionalism: respectful communication, punctuality, preparedness.
• Accountability: timely completion of deliverables and check-ins.
• Community Care: commitment to collective well-being and CoFED values.
• Presence: active participation in monthly cohort and coaching sessions as well as BUD.
• Communication: proactive outreach when support is needed.
• Leadership Development: openness to coaching, feedback, and growth.
• Project Stewardship: willingness to engage in ongoing implementation and refinement.