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Change Stories 2026 Fellowship: Be part of a global exchange shaping more equitable and sustainable cities — and the stories we tell about them.

About the Fellowship

The Change Stories Fellowship is a 9-month learning and knowledge exchange program for U.S.-based leaders and changemakers in urban equity and sustainability. Fellows will connect with peers and activist-academic partners worldwide in a week-long international residency in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, and will implement a post-residency storytelling project that highlights insights and learning in their own networks and communities.

All travel costs covered, plus $3,000 honorarium provided; Fellows may also be eligible for additional funds to support implementation of their post-residency storytelling project (maximum of $2,000; must be spent by 31 August 2026).

Who We’re Looking For

We welcome applicants from US-based state and local agencies, community-based organizations, and independent advocates — including organizers, urban planners, journalists, artists, and public health leaders — who:

  • Are committed to equitable and sustainable urban policy, power building, increasing community agency in decision-making, and/or participatory planning
  • Are skilled in narrative change and inclusive storytelling, including through digital and visual storytelling methods (familiarity and comfort with social media are preferred but not required)
  • Bring perspectives from historically marginalized communities (including on the basis of race, ethnicity, nationality, gender and gender identity, income, class, age, sexuality, disability and other characteristics)
  • Have strong interpersonal skills to participate effectively and respectfully in peer learning and international exchanges, including in Spanish and Portuguese with translation support; fluency in these languages is not required
  • Can share insights and learnings widely with their professional, organizational, and/or community networks to influence change

Six to eight fellows will be selected through a competitive application and review process.

Why Apply?

As a Change Stories Fellow, you will:

  • Build relationships with activists, researchers, and peers in the U.S. and across the globe
  • Learn and share strategies for urban change, including community-led initiatives
  • Experience a place, cultures and people that contribute to your professional and personal growth
  • Amplify marginalized voices in urban development stories
  • Implement storytelling action plans that inspire change in your community toward equity and sustainability

Fellow Commitments

Fellows must secure support from their organization’s or agency’s senior leadership to participate in the Change Stories program and apply knowledge gained from this experience in their own work, as appropriate.

Fellows must review and secure any visas necessary for travel to Brazil based on their nationality. Review the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website for details. Ensure that you will have six months remaining before your passport expires at the time of travel.

Fellows must commit to completing all required program elements, including:

  • 5-6 virtual pre-residency meetings focused on program orientation, site visit co-design, relationship development, and storytelling skills sharing:  Jan – Jun 2026
  • International immersion residency to Belo Horizonte, Brazil: 29 June to 3 July 2026 (with travel arranged on the weekends).
  • Fellow-led teach-back and skills-exchange sessions (pre- and during residency).
  • Collaborative storytelling and media production activities (during and post-residency).
  • A practical post-residency action plan to apply knowledge and disseminate stories to share learnings widely and facilitate knowledge transfer within Fellows’ own practitioner networks and communities: Jul-Sep 2026.
  • One required post-residency virtual meeting, a report-back summary of post-residency knowledge sharing and storytelling activities, and option to attend future Change Stories Fellows convenings: Aug-Sep 2026.

Key Dates

Applications Open: Oct 10, 2025
Virtual Info Sessions: Oct 22, 2025
Application Deadline: Nov 14, 2025

How to Apply

Complete an application by November 14, 2025 here.

Anyone interested in applying is welcome to attend the optional informational webinar on Wednesday October 22nd at 10-11am PT / 1-2pm ET. Register here. The webinar will be recorded and posted here for those who are unable to attend.

Questions?

Email changestories@uw.edu