By Every child deserves a fair shot. Every adult is a potential steward for a child’s success. Every community can generate and nurture innovation for its children and families.
We are at a unique time in our history, with great uncertainty and great opportunity for community-driven innovation. Despite narratives of deep polarization, most parents, educators, business owners and local community leaders want the same things for their children: better access to early education and child care, good jobs, nutritious and affordable food and quality healthcare. We can meet this moment with collaborative leadership that unites people who care about children.
At the W.K. Kellogg Foundation (WKKF), we believe compassionate, community-rooted leaders are some of the people best positioned to make this vision a reality for all. This includes local leaders with deep community ties and national-level leaders rooted in the landscape of child- and family-serving fields. The wisdom gained by such experience can be further strengthened and galvanized by the ability to work collaboratively and leverage public and private resources to shape communities into places where the well-being of all children and families is prioritized.
That’s why we are excited to share that applications are now open for the next class of Community Leadership Network fellows. If you’re a leader working locally or nationally, hoping to connect with others who are working to ensure every child and family can thrive, looking to grow your skills and knowledge, and lead the charge for a better tomorrow, we want to hear from you.
Creating change from the ground up
The fellowship program offers hands-on leadership development, personalized coaching, peer networking and practical experience. Throughout the 18-month program, fellows gain critical knowledge and skills for navigating today’s challenges and tools to help communities heal and transform systems so they work for everyone.
Eighty diverse local and national leaders from across the U.S. — in WKKF’s priority places of Michigan, Mississippi, New Mexico and New Orleans, in Tribal nations and communities across the country — will be accepted into the program, which focuses on leadership self-mastery, racial equity and healing, community engagement and leading in place.
Join the movement
Applications are now open and will close on Aug. 28, 2025. We’re looking for leaders who are at a pivotal moment in their careers to benefit from this type of leadership development and network program.
People who are especially passionate about using their positions to advance children’s well-being — particularly through areas like early childhood education, health, food systems, workforce development, family economic security, racial equity or other related fields — will be closely considered for the program. Applicants can come at this from any angle. Past fellows have come from a variety of backgrounds and lived experiences, including lawyers and policymakers, medical professionals and community-based providers, educators, urban farmers and beyond.
The program is supported by the Center for Creative Leadership, which leverages more than 50 years of leadership development experience to positively transform the way leaders and organizations confront the challenges of our time. After completing the program, participants will also become part of WKKF’s Global Fellows Network of more than 1,200 individuals from over than 40 countries for ongoing connection, collaboration and collective action.
At its core, this fellowship is designed to equip participants with what they need to foster a future where every child and family has the greatest opportunities for success.
Apply today for a chance to be part of the movement.
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