Be the Voice. Build the Future.
Apply to become an Equity Unleashed Fellow — a paid leadership and research opportunity for young changemakers across LA County.
WHAT IS EQUITY UNLEASHED?
Equity Unleashed is a bold, youth-powered fellowship for LA County residents ages 16–30. Fellows co-lead a regional Economic Empowerment Agenda rooted in research, storytelling, and community power—then partner with stakeholders to shape the future.
This is more than a leadership opportunity. It’s your platform to co-author a new economy that reflects our truth—and builds a future where everyone belongs.
WHY YOUR VOICE MATTERS
This isn’t about checking a box—it’s about shifting power. You bring the lived experience, the insight, and the solutions. As a Fellow, you’ll lead from the ground up. You’ll co-create an agenda for equity that starts with your story and echoes across policy, workplaces, and communities.
You don’t need a resume full of titles. You need a vision—and the courage to build something better.
WHAT YOU'LL GAIN
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Paid inclusive leadership and research training
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Skills to organize, advocate, and influence policy
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A cross-sector network that sees your power
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Visibility as a movement-builder for your generation
THE 6 DIMENSIONS OF ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT
As a Fellow, you’ll help define what equity looks like across these six dimensions—and turn those insights into a powerful Economic Empowerment Agenda.
LEARNER
Education that leads somewhere
WORKER
Dignified jobs that pay and protect
SAVER
Tools to build and protect wealth
CONSUMER
Power to participate fairly in the economy
ENTREPRENUER
Ownership, creativity, and independence
COMMUNITY MEMBER
Voice in what happens where you live
WHO SHOULD APPLY?
We welcome young people ages 16–30 in LA County with diverse lived experiences—whether you’re working, parenting, justice-impacted, undocumented, in school, in-between, or organizing in your community. You don’t need traditional credentials to lead. If you’ve felt excluded from decisions that affect your life—you belong here.
Our inaugural 2025 fellows have been selected for Los Angeles.
Stay tuned for updates on their projects and updates!
Stipend Note: Fellows will receive a $5,000 stipend for their full participation in the program.
Questions? Contact Shane Nelson at shane@leadersup.org
YOUNG VOICES. REAL IMPACT.
See how young people across LA are already amplifying their voices to build a future that reflects their truth. These short films spotlight courage, imagination, and community in action:
These are the voices of a generation building a future that works for all.
“Only 1 in 4 youth feel heard in economic decisions.” —Brookings, 2022
