Applications are now open for the Neighbors Lead Fellowship in Mecklenburg County, NC! Through the fellowship, you’ll be part of a network of Civic Captains working to make change in your community. This is a paid, part-time fellowship of 10-15 hours per week from October 2026 to the end of March 2027.

About the Fellowship

Neighbors Lead is a project of Protect Democracy designed to work with local organizations to rebuild community trust from the ground up. We are seeking interested community members to serve as Civic Captains. Whether you’re an established leader or just starting to think about how you can make positive local changes, we’re looking for applicants who are ready to grow their organizing and bridge-building skills, then use them to engage and better their community.

This six-month community leadership pathway is built on a "relational-first" approach, empowering you to leverage your existing, authentic relationships, as well as the connections and network of The Freedom Center for Social Justice and For the Struggle to drive collective action. As a Civic Captain, you are a Fellow of the Neighbors Lead Program; you will be part of a network of local leaders trained in organizing and bridge-building. Your mission is to facilitate initiatives that address local concerns and foster belonging and agency in your community. To do so, you collaborate with fellow Civic Captains to craft and develop your own projects, with financial and logistical support from Protect Democracy, The Freedom Center for Social Justice, and For the Struggle.

The Neighbors Lead Fellowship provides participants with an opportunity to contribute their existing skills, expertise, and community relationships in furtherance of civic participation objectives. As part of the Neighbors Lead Fellowship, the Civic Captains will engage in local projects of their own creation, while developing their community organizing and bridge-building skills along the way.

Participation Stipend

Mecklenburg Civic Captains are provided with a stipend of $1,594.80 per month for the duration of the program (six months).

Additional Support

Civic Captains will receive additional support from Neighbors Lead, including:

• Advanced Leadership Training: Specialized instruction in community organizing, bridge-building techniques, and civic engagement.

• Networking & Visibility: Gain access to a network of local leaders and national peers, with public recognition in newsletters and social media spotlights.

• Community Celebration: A final graduation event to honor your work alongside family, friends, and community members.

The deadline to apply for this fellowship is September 4, 2026. You must live in Mecklenburg County, NC to apply.

Fellowship Expectations and Commitment

To qualify for the stipend and support, Civic Captains must fulfill their programmatic obligations:

• Kickoff Training: Attendance at an onboarding session and two weekend-long sessions on organizing and bridge-building, all held in Mecklenburg County. Onboarding will take place on Friday, October 2, 2026. The first training weekend will be October 3-4, 2026, and the second training weekend will be October 17-18, 2026.

• Network Mapping and Outreach: Relational organizing is a key component of the Neighbors Lead program. Each Civic Captain will be responsible for mapping their network—identifying who in their lives they can move to civic action through 1:1 organizing conversations that bring them into the community initiatives Civic Captains plan. Civic Captains will be responsible for conducting outreach to accomplish this goal, using their independent judgment and discretion, throughout the six-month program. See application page for more detail on network mapping.

• Weekly Time Commitment: Availability for 10-15 hours each week throughout the six-month program, including status check-ins with your local Program Coordinator, collaborating with other participants to plan and carry out initiatives, and tracking your progress towards program objectives.

• Cohort & Support Meetings: Participation in monthly Civic Captain cohort meetings, regular team coaching sessions, and regular 1:1 sessions with the Program Coordinator.

• Program Evaluation: Completion of evaluation surveys at key points in the engagement, as well as a final focus group. Neighbors Lead, The Freedom Center for Social Justice, and For the Struggle may also request that you help administer informal, in-person surveys to community members that participate in the activities you plan and facilitate.

• Non-Partisan Compliance: Strict adherence to 501(c)(3) guidelines, which require that all activities contribute to a charitable and educational mission, benefit the public good, and must remain non-partisan (including not supporting any candidates for public office).

Participation in the Fellowship does not create an employment relationship with Protect Democracy or any partner organization. Civic Captains participate in the Fellowship as independent contractors and are not employees or agents of Protect Democracy or any partner organization. Civic Captains may receive a stipend and other forms of support to facilitate their participation in the Fellowship, as set forth above. Because they are not employees of Protect Democracy, Civic Captains are responsible for their own tax obligations and are not eligible for tax withholding, workers’ compensation coverage, unemployment insurance, employee health or welfare benefits, paid leave, retirement benefits, or any other benefits provided to employees.

How to Apply

Please complete the fellowship application linked below. As part of your application, you will be asked to answer a few short questions about your interest and fit for the fellowship. You will also be asked to complete a preliminary assessment of your community network. Applications missing any of the required answers will be considered incomplete and not reviewed. Applications must be submitted by September 4, 2026 to be considered.

Important Notes

• Contact hello@neighborslead.org if you require specific accommodations at any point in the fellowship selection process.

• Keep an eye on your promotions/spam folders to avoid missed communication.

• We are unable to provide status updates for each fellowship application we receive. If you reach out and do not hear back, please know it is not for lack of appreciation or interest, but simply for lack of capacity to respond to individual inquiries.