At ULF, fellows spend half of their time working on impactful policy proposals with a successful elected or appointed official in the region.  You will accelerate your leader's social justice impact by assisting with research, drafting, and implementation of critical legislation.  Our fellows are poised to make a difference, and each year they achieve real social change through hands-on, direct policy making.  

ULF fellows have influenced over 150 pieces of policy including Colorado immigration reform, landmark educator effectiveness legislation, and major school district reforms like implementing academic performance frameworks and funding early childhood education programs.

To learn more about the 2020 policies you can expect to work on, visit our elected officials page. 

To impact real and lasting change, creating smart policy is not enough.  At ULF, our fellows spend the other half of their time working at a company or organization that is equally committed to social justice and positive impact. 

We partner with a diverse range of organizations, including innovative schools and education programs, tech-enabled startups, and microfinance institutions.  In concert with ULF staff, our partners develop consequential and impactful projects for the summer, and the roles offer an additional opportunity for fellows to learn alongside some of the region's most talented leaders.  After the summer, many of our organizations hire ULF fellows and alumni to join their teams full time. 

To learn more about the types of organizations we partner with, visit our partner organizations page. 

Developing future leaders and supporting a diverse cohort is at the heart of ULF. We thrive on connecting high-achieving individuals with quality opportunities. But our commitment to our fellows extends beyond career development, to include:

LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT. We select individuals who are seeking to make real impact in their communities. Through exposure to diverse leaders and experiences, and collaborative work with their highly accomplished cohort, fellows learn the skills and attributes that make a strong leader, develop their own leadership style, and get hands-on practice effectively empowering teams.

ONGOING SUPPORT. When the fellowship ends, our commitment to our fellows continues. Upon matriculation, our fellows join a diverse and talented group of ULF alumni. We provide ongoing support to our alumni through career and professional development, including a yearly summit, job opportunities, and robust networking opportunities.

We’ve supported alumni in running for office, starting nonprofits, becoming school leaders, and continuing their education.  

To learn more about the ULF team and founding vision, visit our team page.  

Benjamin Keller, Tulsa Alum
(National Alumni Ambassador)

“A couple of close friends from my Teach for America corps year (Greater Tulsa ‘18) were in the program in the summer after our first year of teaching. Admittedly, I applied with them, but was rejected. Persistence is key! In all seriousness though, I’ve always been committed to policy work. Public policy was my major in college, I taught social studies, and so on (you get the picture). I knew also that even though I wouldn’t be a life-long educator, there had to be a way to fuse my teaching experience and my future ambitions. That’s what attracted me so much to ULF; it was the quintessential opportunity to “get in the weeds” of the issues I saw day after day as a teacher, and even use some of the community contacts I made while teaching to directly impact Tulsa. The additional chance to work directly under an elected representative was the cherry on top as I knew there would be some substantive product from my work. My fellowship year was 2020 and the experience exceeded expectations.”

Jasmine Carrasco, DC Alum
(National Alumni Ambassador)

“When you see significant change in policy such as this, know that it was a collaborative effort. It takes an ecosystem of dedicated and passionate leaders who stand up to say something needs to change and roll up their sleeves to do so. With that, I am extremely fortunate to have been part of the ULF team who approached the policy research on Alternatives to Policing with the empathy and intentionality it deserved. I am proud to know that we, and the voices of DC youth and residents interviewed in our research, informed conversations held by DC Councilmembers, the Mayor, and the Police Chief to bring about such vital social change.”

Nazia Hussain, Dallas Alum
(National Alumni Ambassador)

“Show up with your full self. No matter your story or experience, it is important to bring it to the spaces you want to effect change. The most valuable thing I got from the fellowship was understanding that the story I choose to tell has power; it is an asset that drives decision-making and shapes how we want to see our communities.”