She Leads! Community Activist Fellowship
Learn all about the fellowship by watching the She Leads Informational Webinar.
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We believe that investing in women and women led activism is one of the most powerful levers we have to change the trajectory of low-income communities. The Coalition supports community-based activism and grassroots leadership development through a number of avenues, all of which support citizens in addressing classism, racism, and marginalization in their own lives and communities. Too often, their voices are ignored in the traditional, top-down structures of power. Ultimately, we seek to build a statewide network of women activists who are disrupting the current power structures and realizing change in their communities.

Launched in 2019, She Leads: Community Activist Fellowship seeks to build a statewide network of women activists who are disrupting the current power structures and realizing change in their communities. Our grantmaking philosophy is simple: Invest in women of color who are working to build their communities through activism, and we change the course of life for under-resourced communities, families, children, and cities, and ultimately the state of Louisana. Learn more about the impact of our She Leads: Community Activist Fellowship in our 2021 Report. 

2023 She Leads Cohort

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Felicia Dickerson

Orleans Parish
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Angelica Rideaux

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Amelia Herrera

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Ashley Hill Hamilton

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Ashaki Haroon

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Brittany Fraction

Bossier
Bossier Parish
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Chanel Calvin

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Bianca Hugle

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Chantel Nicholas

Gramercy
St. James Parish
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Courtney Holden

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Dellanee Wade

Shreveport
Caddo Parish
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D’Anna Smith

Jefferson
Jefferson Parish
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Dymonesha Brown

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Falynn Bell

Alexandria
Rapides Parish
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Devin Bailey-Nicholas

St. Landry
St. Landry Parish
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Iriane McCray

Jefferson
Jefferson Parish
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Jordan Braithwaite

Grambling
Lincoln Parish
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Janitza Vasquez

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Kayonca Riggs

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Keamber Andry

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Keondrea Martin

Lake Charles
Calcasieu Parish
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Kenyatta Collins

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Kiersten Gillette-Pierce

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Kimberly Gallow

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Lakeisha Green

Alexandria
Rapides Parish
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Latasha Williams

Jefferson
Jefferson Parish
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Latonya Darensbourg

LaPlace
St. John the Baptist Parish
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Lindsey Boxie

Lafayette
Lafayette Parish
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Marie Johnson-Watts

Shreveport
Caddo Parish
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Marissa Pittman

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Melody Jackson

Avondale
Jefferson Parish
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Nikole Haroon

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Portia Witt

Livingston
Livingston Parish
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Raven Veal

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish
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Shan-Coa Burke

New Orleans
Orleans Parish
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Timeless Tate

Baton Rouge
East Baton Rouge Parish

Letters of Inquiry (LOI) Submissions Are Now Closed.

“As women, we must stand up for ourselves...for each other...for justice...for all.”
Michelle obama
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Our Goals

We Invest in People Who Make a Difference

The Power Coalition for Equity and Justice is looking to build a cadre of women community leaders that demonstrate a passion for addressing the social justice issues impacting their community. Our goal is to invest in those leaders we work with every day to build community. We are looking for those leaders who often do not get the credit they deserve, those who often shape direct actions but rarely get compensated for their work.

We Provide Technical Support and Infrastructure

Our fellowship program provides host support/fiscal agency, training, and many other supports to leaders as they work to achieve their goals. We provide the support needed to develop additional capacity, including communication, activism, and community organizing.
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We Launch, Amplify, and Connect Community Leaders

The Power Coalition seeks to build a statewide network of community leaders who will fight for equity and justice. We will connect and network fellows, our community partners, and other leaders to build a support network that can sustain and grow each fellow’s leadership. It is also our hope that our Fellows will be the face for social change in Louisiana.

General Criteria

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She Leads- seeks community leaders, activists, and/or organizers interested in growing their leadership and are tackling issues that directly impact them and their communities.

Fellowship awards are up to $3,000 for a 7 month period. Fellows must engage in a set of activities and/or projects that will positively impact their community (most virtual due to COVID restrictions). It is important to note that the Fellowship award is not limited to support of a particular project but can also be used to support leadership development, education and training, grassroots organizing and advocacy, social media and other communication efforts, coalition building, community mobilization, as well as other efforts intended to have a positive impact in the community.

The Power Coalition is interested in investing in the leadership development of unsung heroes themselves. While we expect that our fellows may be engaged in project-based work, the fellowship’s purpose is to provide support to the activists/fellow themselves to grow as community leaders. In addition to the fellowship award, fellows will have access to various training, networking, and professional development opportunities.

Eligibility

She Leads: Community Activist Fellowship Program seeks applications from women activists addressing a wide range of issues in their communities. Fellows must be willing to participate in communications, coaching, training, and networking activities that are a part of the fellowship each month.

She Leads is for you if  YOU:

  • Are a woman of color, 18 and older, who is directly impacted by the issues they seek to resolve.  
  • Applicants should reside in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, New Orleans, Shreveport, Lake Charles, or the River Parishes–Other areas will be considered
  • Are directly affected by, and/or have significant direct experience with the issues, policies, practices, and/or systems that is the focus of your activism efforts.
  • Include real and meaningful participation in your work’s decision-making process from community members where your efforts/projects are based.
  • Have the drive, passion, commitment, and tenacity to improve your community through activism.
  • Want to utilize the power of communications through storytelling, blogging, and community-led campaigns to move your agenda.
  • Have a lack of access to traditional funding opportunities, or lack easy access to existing opportunities for leadership development.

She Leads: Community Activist Fellowship Program will not support:

  • General operating support for an organization
  • Capital Campaigns
  • Direct service organizations, i.e., food pantries, soup kitchens
  • Activities to elect specific candidates for public office

Host Organizations

She Leads: Community Activist Fellowship Program awards are made to the individual activist themselves. The Power Coalition will serve as the host organization for those fellows who do not wish to select their own host organization. As a host organization, the Power Coalition will provide access to networking, supervision, and guidance.

Applications & Selection Process

There are three stages to the application process.

First, all applicants must submit a Letter of Interest (LOI). The LOI Application Process will open again in 2025. For the LOI, the applicant must answer 5 questions seeking insight into the applicant’s goals and plan for the fellowship term.

Second, the Power Coalition staff will review all LOIs and select a group of finalists who will be invited to submit a full proposal. All full proposals will be reviewed by a Community Review Committee comprised of members from the cities where the applicant resides.

Third, applicants may be invited to interview with the Community Review Committee.  After interviews and a review of applications have been completed, applicants will be notified of their status.

For questions or more information, please email  pcsheleads@powercoalition.org.

Submit a Letter of Intent

For further assistance, please contact the She Leads team at pcsheleads@powercoalition.org

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