Bars Fellowship, organized by Columbia University’s Center for Justice, announces the opening of applications for its 2025–2026 cohort—a life-changing, fully funded opportunity for young social justice leaders.
Such a program is interdisciplinary and connects academic study with the real situation in the community, thus empowering people to act effectively in the movement for criminal legal reform and transformative justice.
Beyond the Bars Fellowship 2025–2026 | Columbia’s Fully Funded Leadership Program for Justice Advocates
🌟 About the Bars Fellowship
In a weekly period from October 2025 to May 2026, the Beyond the Bars Fellowship is an integrative approach combining theory with practice. Specifically, the program is a continuous series of seminars, workshops, and guest lectures where participants dive into the following important issues:
- Community organizing
- Legislative advocacy
- Transformative and restorative justice
- Strategic communications
- Healing-centered frameworks
The members of the fellowship get involved in solidarity projects with community organizations and create the final public impact presentations that best represent their work. At the same time, the annual Beyond the Bars Conference is a place for you to meet other activists, scholars, and policymakers and discuss the most urgent issues related to justice.
As such, it is more of a fellowship than a mere program; it is a place of healing, learning, and collective action.
💡 What the Fellowship Offers
- 🗓️ Weekly face-to-face or hybrid events in New York City
- 💰 A $1,000 honorarium for those that meet the eligibility requirements
- 🤝 Collaborations with leading advocacy groups such as:Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP)Bronx County Reentry Task ForceEducation Inside Out Coalition
- Release Aging People in Prison (RAPP)
- Bronx County Reentry Task Force
- Education Inside Out Coalition
- 🎤 Being at the Beyond the Bars Conference
- 🌐 Connecting to a growing network of justice leaders across Columbia University and NYC-based organizations
Free of charge—the initiative is fully funded so that it can be accessible to everyone.
🙋 Who Should Apply?
Applications are welcome from individuals who:
- Students at any level (undergraduate, graduate, or non-degree seekers)
- Community members based in the greater New York City area
- People who have been affected by incarceration either directly or indirectly
- Allies with a deep commitment to dismantling systemic injustice
- You can apply without any prior experience.
- The following qualities are most important to us: Strong personal connection, Commitment to attend weekly sessions and Enthusiasm for co-creating peer-led projects
🔍 Why Apply?
By signing up with Beyond the Bars, you’ll:
- Improve leadership abilities based on transformative justice
- Plan and manage solidarity projects driven by communities
- Establish networks with activists, scholars, and advocates that will last forever
- Obtain more knowledge on policy, organizing, and healing practices
- Become a member of a potent alumni network working in law, policy, nonprofits, and grassroots movements
Numerous previously appointed fellows have become the driving force for the impactful initiatives in the criminal justice reform, education, and community organizing fields.
📅 How to Apply
- 📣 Applications Open: July 15, 2025
- 🤝 Group Interviews: August 25 – September 5, 2025
- ✅ Final Selections Announced: Early September 2025
- 🚀 Fellowship Begins: October 7, 2025
