Radical simply means
‘grasping things at the root’.
– Angela Y. Davis
CARE's Roots and Resistance Activator Fellowship is a leadership development program for young people ages 16–18 across Massachusetts who are ready to deepen their skills in equity, organizing, and building youth power. Rooted in the lineages of Indigenous, Black, and LGBTQ+ organizing movements, this 8-week summer fellowship positions young people as inheritors of ongoing struggles for justice, grounding their leadership in relationship, accountability, and collective liberation.
This 8-week program includes in-person orientations, weekly virtual workshops, and hands-on experience with a Community-Based Organization. Fellows learn the people’s history to better understand power, connect past movements to present conditions, and develop strategies for meaningful change. They build skills in organizing, leadership, and workforce readiness while practicing leadership as both a relational and political act, grounded in embodiment practice.
The Activator Fellowship is a space for young people committed to creating a more just and liberatory world in their own communities. Fellows leave with the tools, analysis, and support needed to take action and sustain impact, and join a broader CARE network of alumni and mentors working toward equity and justice together.
Program OVerview
ELIGIBILITY
Dates: July 6 – August 28, 2026 (8 weeks)
Time Commitment: 12 hours/week
Weekly Fellowship Meetings via Zoom (4 hrs)
Project Work Blocks (2 hrs)
Community Organization Placement (6 hrs in person)
Stipend: $1500
In-Person Requirements:
First week of July
First week of August
Plus optional development days
Youth 16-18 years old currently attending a high school in Massachusetts
Applications close: May 31st, 2026
Roots and Resistance FELLOWSHIP
expected Outcomes
Critical Consciousness & Analysis:
Fellows develop a strong understanding of social justice frameworks and the history of organizing in their communities
Workforce Development Skills:
Fellows gain hands-on experience with community-based organizations, building skills in organizing, advocacy
Relationships & Collective Impact:
Fellows build lasting relationships with peers, mentors, and community leaders, fostering networks rooted in solidarity, accountability, and sustained civic engagement
Embodiment Practice:
Fellows cultivate social-emotional, somatic, and reflective practices that support personal well-being, collective care, and long-term engagement in liberatory work
Pathways to Continued Leadership:
Fellows leave prepared to engage in ongoing leadership opportunities in their communities and broader movement ecosystems