Ruth Sidel Trailblazers Fellowship

A WRI pioneering fellowship initiative that connects and engages alumni leaders to assume organizational leadership roles.

Anticipated Selection Date: December 5, 2026--honoring Ruth Sidel’s birthday

Program Description:

A WRI “bridge” leadership model, The Ruth Sidel Trailblazers is a “bridge” program that will give alumni, pursuing graduate school or employed in their chosen fields, the opportunity to earn a stipend while working to help sustain and expand WRI. We aspire to pilot and refine this program as a precursor to developing a sustainable WRI fellowship opportunity supported by multi-year funding. WRI’s alumni network embodies the life-changing possibilities that come from opening access to education for marginalized populations. Since graduating college, many of our talented alums have moved on to careers as social workers, researchers, lawyers, educators, and public servants, while others are pursuing advanced degrees.

Centering the legacy of Dr. Ruth Sidel:

We are especially proud that our former students reflect the values and fortitude of one of WRI’s beloved founding mothers, the late Dr. Ruth Sidel. As a Professor of Sociology at Hunter College/CUNY for more than 35 years, and the author of several books about the impact of poverty on women and children, she was instrumental in the creation of the WRI Community Leadership Program. She also was a revered guest lecturer who inspired WRI’s students by sharing her extensive knowledge about self-advocacy skills, historic welfare policies, and the need to broaden access to education as a pathway out of poverty.

The Vision:

Since 1995, WRI has worked with students receiving public assistance to strengthen their ability to emerge from poverty, achieve their full potential, and contribute to society as outstanding community leaders and lifelong social justice advocates. Our 32-year investment in leadership development has given WRI access to a highly motivated group of former students. WRI alumni have valuable firsthand experiences and expertise that would greatly benefit our mission to connect more disenfranchised people – especially girls and young women of color – to life-changing educational opportunities. WRI seeks to more fully engage and unleash the organizing power of a vibrant network of 600+accomplished alumni to help sustain and expand programs that promote access to education as a pathway out of poverty.

The Need:

WRI has successfully forged strategic partnerships and collaborations with like- minded individuals, advocacy groups, and organizations to remove barriers to education for poor and low-income New Yorkers. However, current funding and staffing levels have limited our program capacity and delayed necessary expansion plans. WRI is exploring creative, cost-effective ways to respond to the growing needs of students receiving public benefits as they strive to stay in school and attain financial stability. The Ruth Sidel Trailblazers will bolster our ability to develop and replicate successful strategies, re-engage and support more alumni to serve in leadership roles at WRI and in their communities, and create a building block for organizational succession planning.

Roles & Expectations:

• Commit to at least five-hours of advisory and implementation support per week for a two-year period in exchange for a $10,000 stipend (5K each year). This compensation is intended to be a supplemental to the alumni’s other existing employment or graduate school pursuit.

• Advance WRI’s program priorities, while offering mentoring support to current students in our Community Leadership Program at Hunter College/CUNY.

• Increase the overall level of alumni network engagement by 20% by identifying and managing structured volunteer opportunities that further the organization’s mission.

• Identify and train the next group of alumni Trailblazers (during their second year of service) to support peer-to-peer learning and continuity.

The Approach

• Collaborate: The Trailblazers will collaborate with the Co- Executive Directors and faculty advisors to refine the program’s structure, design, goals, roles, and responsibilities. Our initial vision is to onboard three alumni for each two-year service period.

• Create: The Trailblazers will assist with creating a series of professional development workshops for Hunter College students currently enrolled in the Community Leadership Program and for recent graduates.

• Integrate: To reflect WRI’s integrated program model, the work of the Trailblazers will be aligned with organizational priorities within the three core program areas: Community Leadership, Policy & Legal Advocacy Organizing, and Donor Cultivation & Alumni Network Building. We also seek to build greater capacity in the areas of resource development and governance.

Desired Outcomes - Year 1

Application Steps

Ruth Sidel Trailblazer Application

Important Reminders:

• October 1, 2026 – Application portal is open and ready to receive applications. All applicants will receive a confirmation email once completed applications are received.

• November 1, 2026 – Application Deadline – by end of day, 11:59 pm.

• December 5, 2026 – Email notifications will be sent to the selected cohort of fellowship awardees.