The Beyond the Bars Fellowship offers students and community members impacted by incarceration, an interdisciplinary leadership development program to deepen and expand their identity, analysis, skills and network towards ending mass criminalization and incarceration; and to create a more just and safe world through restorative, transformative, healing and human justice practices. Through seminars and guest lecturers, Fellows explore their own experiences and identities as people working for social change; gain a theoretical and practical understanding of mass incarceration; and are introduced to various models of social change including community organizing, legislative advocacy, policy and more. A primary goal of the Fellowship is to support Fellows’ in finding their place in the movement, while offering them the knowledge, skills, experience and community to sustain their work.
The Fellowship is made up of both students and community members. Our aim is to work collaboratively with the university and the community towards increased awareness and social change. In addition, Fellows identify issues and existing efforts for change, and then work together with partner organizations to develop projects to support their goals and efforts. In small groups called Solidarity Team Projects, Fellows collaborate with these organizations to make a valuable contribution to the work or campaign of these partners. A final presentation is prepared by each group. Some of the organizations we've collaborated with are Alliance for Families for Justice, Black Alliance for Just Immigration, Center for Community Alternatives, How Our Lives Link All Together (H.OL.L.A) JMAC for Families Release Aging People in Prison Campaign (RAPP), Community Capacity Development, Step Beyond Women and Girls among many others.
The Fellowship will be in person and meet weekly in the Columbia School of Social Work (CSSW) unless otherwise noted. It will begin in October 2025 and run through May 2026.
Application Process Timeline
July 15, 2025 - Application Period Opens
August 15, 2025 - Application Period Closes
August 25, 2025 - September 5, 2025 - Group Interviews - Rolling basis
September 12, 2025 - Accepted Applicants are Notified
October 7, 2025 - Fellowship Begins
