High School Fellowship

fellowship overview

High School Fellowship

fellowship overview

Storytelling & Media Focus, Campaign Strategy & Policy Focus, and Community Activism Focus.Storytelling & Media Focus, Campaign Strategy & Policy Focus, and Community Activism Focus.

Brookline for Racial Justice & Equity (BRJE) has launched a paid fellowship for four Brookline high school students, running from December 2025 through May 2026. The fellowship is designed to support youth leadership development and meaningful civic engagement by embedding students directly in community-driven racial justice work in Brookline.

Fellows will support BRJE’s work through a combination of research, storytelling, community outreach, and campaign support. Each fellow will be matched with one primary focus area based on their interests, while also gaining exposure to the broader scope of BRJE’s advocacy and organizing efforts.

Throughout the program, fellows will meet regularly with BRJE staff through a mix of in-person and remote meetings. Fellows will receive mentorship, structured guidance, and hands-on experience in local nonprofit and community-based work, building skills in research, communications, collaboration, and civic engagement while contributing to initiatives that advance racial equity in Brookline.

Timeline & Commitment

  • December 2025–May 2026, aligned with the Brookline High School academic calendar
  • 5–7 hours per week, compensated at $17/hour
  • Mix of independent work and regular check-ins with BRJE staff
  • Occasional evening or weekend participation in community events, as opportunities arise
  • Scheduling will be flexible and designed to accommodate students’ academic and extracurricular commitments

Fellowship Focus Areas

Storytelling & Media Focus

  • Develop visual and graphic content (using Canva) that advances public understanding of racial justice work in Brookline.

  • Research local Brookline history and historical figures , and translate that research into accessible, educational content for the broader community.
  • Support BRJE’s public communications by drafting and refining engaging copy for Instagram and other digital platforms.
  • Contribute to the design of accessible newsletter content by organizing text, visuals, and links to ensure information is clear and inclusive.

Campaign Strategy & Policy Focus

  • Research local policy issues in Brookline (housing, schools, policing, and immigrant protections) and help synthesize key developments

  • Participate in local webinars and trainings on immigration policy and ICE response to help BRJE stay informed and responsive to emerging issues affecting Brookline residents.
  • Learn how BRJE conducts strategic outreach using email and SMS, including how audiences are identified, messages are timed, and actions are mobilized.
  • Analyze outreach data to understand how to best reach different communities.

Community Activism Focus

  • Serve as a liaison between BRJE and Brookline High School students to strengthen communication, trust, and ongoing youth engagement.

  • Support youth-led initiatives by creating pathways for student perspectives to inform town-level conversations and community advocacy.
  • Help plan and support youth-led events that foster dialogue around racism, equity, and representation in Brookline.
  • Collect and synthesize student input on priority issues through tools such as short surveys, polls, and facilitated listening sessions, and share insights to inform BRJE’s work.

Shared Opportunities

Fellows will work closely with Executive Director Raul Fernandez and BRJE staff, participate in community events and member meetings, and may occasionally observe board discussions. Fellows will have the opportunity to build relationships with local organizers, activists, and Town Meeting Members; and gain experience to list on college, scholarship, and job applications.