2025-2026 Fannie Lou Hamer Cohort

The ASCEND Cohort of the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program offers comprehensive leadership and advocacy training to Black identified disabled student leaders from across the country while supporting student leaders to create a project that directly benefits their local community. The ASCEND Cohort, the Alliance of Students Creating Educational Networks for Disability Rights, will be connected to a community of other leaders and the technical expertise of the Department of Education to actualize their projects.

As disabled youth, we recognize academia’s profound impact on students with disabilities. While academia can enrich, empower, educate, and motivate, disabled students often encounter barriers, dissuasion, and a lack of empathy. By collaborating with the Department of Education, the ASCEND Cohort of the FLH Program aims to expand the department’s initiatives by placing disabled student leaders at the forefront of advocacy and change.

About Fannie Lou Hamer

This cohort is a branch of the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program, created by Keri Gray. The Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program’s typical focus on voting rights has shifted to education through the ASCEND Cohort in collaboration with the Department of Education through the White House Youth Policy Summit Fund.

The namesake of the program, Fannie Lou Hamer, was a formidable civil rights leader known for her tireless work in advocating for the rights of Black Americans and individuals with disabilities. Her efforts to challenge educational inequalities and promote accessible opportunities laid the foundation for integrating disability rights into the broader civil rights movement. Hamer’s legacy continues to inspire new generations of leaders dedicated to ensuring equitable access to education for all.

What is the Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program?

The Fannie Lou Hamer Leadership Program is a 16-week hybrid leadership and advocacy fellowship designed to cultivate Black disabled leaders ages 18-59. It equips and supports 5 Black disabled advocates who want to grow as community organizers and leaders.Through a combination of virtual sessions, mentorship, and one in-person retreat, fellows will develop the tools and confidence to create measurable change within their own local contexts.

How much time does the FLH Program require?

The program includes weekly virtual leadership development and community outreach sessions along with group discussions, independent study, and community-based activities. It is tailored and designed for emerging and established organizers, leaders, and advocates, offering content that ranges from intermediate to expert levels. Participants should expect to spend about 5-10 hours per week on program-related work. Each participant will receive a $1,500 stipend for their participation, $500 technology stipend, as well as up to $3,000 in funding to plan and execute the required capstone in-person community event.

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Details About the Application Process

Program Timeline and Key Dates

November 1, 2025: Applications Open
December 5, 2025: Application Close
December 12, 2025: Final Cohort Selection Announced
December 19, 2025: First class and weekly virtual training meetings begin, focusing on leadership development, community engagement, and project implementation
February 2026 In-Person Retreat (Dates TBA): Participants will attend a mandatory in-person training retreat to engage, network, and strengthen their advocacy and leadership skills
March 27, 2026: Participants will complete their community capstone projects

Commitment and Requirements
  • Completion of the online application is required.
  • Attendance of at least 80% of all ASCEND modules is mandatory.
  • Participants must be available for weekly virtual calls and the D.C. trip scheduled for February 19-23.
Stipend and Technology Options
  • Participants will receive a total stipend of $1,500: $500 at the beginning of the program, $500 midway through, and $500 towards the end.
  • Alternatively, participants may opt to receive $500 worth of technology (such as a laptop) to assist with their participation in the program. Any remaining funds after purchasing technology will be provided as a stipend.
Eligibility Criteria
  • Applicants must self-identify as an individual with any type of disability.
  • In line with the inception of the FLH program, we prioritize Black identified individuals in this application.
  • Applicants must be between the ages of 16-25.