NYCCFB Launches Inaugural Civic Engagement Fellowship in Partnership with CUNY Students and Bronx-Based Community Organizations
08/27/2025
August 27, 2025 – CUNY Institute for State and Local Governance (ISLG) and the NYC Campaign Finance Board (CFB) announced this week the inaugural cohort of Civic Engagement Fellows, an innovative program designed to foster voter education and engagement in Bronx by embedding CUNY students in community-based organizations (CBOs) that serve the borough. The Fellowship, a partnership between ISLG and the CFB, represents an investment in both NYC’s future leaders and its local electoral spaces; it is designed to build the power of local communities and increase knowledge, transparency, and participation in the democratic process.
Fellows are rising seniors at CUNY schools, chosen through a competitive process that emphasized interest and experience in community building. For the next two years, they will learn best practices in program design, management, and measurement from NYC CFB and CUNY ISLG policy experts while they are embedded in Bronx CBOs. Fellows will learn about the communities they serve and co-design civic engagement strategies tailored to meaningfully bring community members’ voices to the political conversation. Initiatives led by Fellows will range from voter registration drives to policy education campaigns to hosting community meetings.
“CUNY students have always been the beating heart of New York City and at the vanguard of community-led change. Connecting these students with community-based nonprofit partners taps into this power to generate civic engagement and participation,” said Patrick Hart, CUNY ISLG Program Director. “We are grateful for the NYC Campaign Finance Board for their leadership and investment in this program, and to all the participating CUNY students and partner organizations for their commitment to civic engagement and community-based change. We’re thrilled to be a part of this work and to be building on the CUNY tradition of supporting economic mobility, civic engagement, and youth empowerment.”
“In a place as vibrant and dynamic as New York City, our government should reflect the expansive communities that live here—but we know that’s not always the case. In building a local democracy where all New Yorkers can build power and have a real say, we’re letting CUNY students and community-based organizations, who know the Bronx better than anyone, lead the way,” said Paul S. Ryan, Executive Director of the Campaign Finance Board. “We are thrilled to partner with CUNY’s Institute for State & Local Governance to bring to life a policy recommendation surfaced by our incredible research team, and to create sustained opportunity for passionate young people and trusted local leaders who are dedicated to the work of strengthening civic participation from the ground up.”
Community-based organizations hosting Fellows were chosen through a competitive Request-for-Proposal (RFP) process, with an emphasis on organizations seeking to build new and/or enhance existing civic engagement activities in their local communities. The CBOs range in services and focus – serving children and families, people impacted by the criminal legal system, specific religious and ethnic groups, and more – but all share a commitment to strengthening local communities and creating avenues for Bronx residents to thrive in their neighborhoods.
To see the full list of fellows and participating community-based organizations, see CUNY ISLG’s blog.
Fellows are rising seniors at CUNY schools, chosen through a competitive process that emphasized interest and experience in community building. For the next two years, they will learn best practices in program design, management, and measurement from NYC CFB and CUNY ISLG policy experts while they are embedded in Bronx CBOs. Fellows will learn about the communities they serve and co-design civic engagement strategies tailored to meaningfully bring community members’ voices to the political conversation. Initiatives led by Fellows will range from voter registration drives to policy education campaigns to hosting community meetings.
“CUNY students have always been the beating heart of New York City and at the vanguard of community-led change. Connecting these students with community-based nonprofit partners taps into this power to generate civic engagement and participation,” said Patrick Hart, CUNY ISLG Program Director. “We are grateful for the NYC Campaign Finance Board for their leadership and investment in this program, and to all the participating CUNY students and partner organizations for their commitment to civic engagement and community-based change. We’re thrilled to be a part of this work and to be building on the CUNY tradition of supporting economic mobility, civic engagement, and youth empowerment.”
“In a place as vibrant and dynamic as New York City, our government should reflect the expansive communities that live here—but we know that’s not always the case. In building a local democracy where all New Yorkers can build power and have a real say, we’re letting CUNY students and community-based organizations, who know the Bronx better than anyone, lead the way,” said Paul S. Ryan, Executive Director of the Campaign Finance Board. “We are thrilled to partner with CUNY’s Institute for State & Local Governance to bring to life a policy recommendation surfaced by our incredible research team, and to create sustained opportunity for passionate young people and trusted local leaders who are dedicated to the work of strengthening civic participation from the ground up.”
Community-based organizations hosting Fellows were chosen through a competitive Request-for-Proposal (RFP) process, with an emphasis on organizations seeking to build new and/or enhance existing civic engagement activities in their local communities. The CBOs range in services and focus – serving children and families, people impacted by the criminal legal system, specific religious and ethnic groups, and more – but all share a commitment to strengthening local communities and creating avenues for Bronx residents to thrive in their neighborhoods.
To see the full list of fellows and participating community-based organizations, see CUNY ISLG’s blog.
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