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Community Fellows Program

Now in its 29th year, the Community Fellows program is a unique partnership program between Vassar College and local non-profit and governmental agencies. Thanks to generous donors, the OCEL funds Vassar students to work full-time over the summer with a core partner organization on a specific community-identified project.

The Community Fellows Program upholds the college’s mission by engaging students and community partners in the following ways:

  • Supporting capacity building with community partners by responding to community-identified projects
  • Providing students with an opportunity to experience meaningful work in non-profit and governmental sectors
  • Investing in the future of our community through public scholarship and engagement
  • Enhancing the relevance of a liberal arts education to a purposeful life

Students apply to organizations and projects that align with their social justice passions to enhance their academic learning goals. Our partner organizations serve as co-educators and co-mentors of our Vassar students. The OCEL funds the Vassar students in an effort to best support community-based organizations in the Poughkeepsie area. This is a highly competitive program for students and presents an exciting educational opportunity for them to gain more in-depth experience with a community partner and learn from them.

Read more about the Summer 2025 Community Fellows program, student experience, and reflections in this booklet.

Components of the Community Fellows Experience

  • Attend Community Fellows Kick-Off Meeting (late May)
  • Students work full-time (35) with a community partner organization from late May to early August
  • Attend weekly cohort meetings (on Wednesdays from 5–7) with the OCEL Team
  • Work in person, unless otherwise agreed upon with the organization
  • Live in the Poughkeepsie area (either on campus or finding housing on their own)
  • Attend individual check-in meetings with OCEL Staff throughout the summer
  • Write 2 critical reflection one-page papers throughout the summer
  • Create a presentation for the Community Fellows Symposium and present work to campus and community partners

2026 Community Fellows Symposium - Friday, September 25, 2026 from 4:00pm - 5:30pm in The Aula!

The OCEL Community Fellows Symposium brings together students, community partners, and members of the Vassar community to celebrate a summer of collaboration, learning, and community-engaged work. 

Throughout the summer, Community Fellows worked alongside local organizations on projects that respond to community-identified priorities and contribute to the ongoing work of their partner organizations.

At the Symposium, Community Fellows will share reflections from their experiences, highlighting the projects they supported, the relationships they built, and what they learned from working alongside community leaders and organizations. 

The event also recognizes the community partners who welcomed students into their work and served as mentors, collaborators, and co-educators throughout the summer.

Together, we will celebrate the relationships at the heart of community-engaged learning and the shared work of building stronger, more connected communities.

Please RSVP here and add the event to your calendar here!

FAQ

Is the Community Fellows Program Funded?

Yes, the Community Fellows receive a $6,000 stipend for the 10-week program.

Can I work with an organization outside of the OCEL’s Community Fellows partners?

No, the OCEL aims to build long-term, sustainable partnerships with local community partner organizations. These organizations have already agreed to participate in the program for Summer 2026. Read more about the Community Fellows Program.

Do I have to live in the Poughkeepsie area for the summer?

Yes, our Community Fellows program requires that students live either on campus or find housing locally.

Previous Community Fellows and Community Partners

2026

  • Stephanie Hernandez, Arlington Partners Against Racism
  • Sadia Rashid, Celebrating The African Spirit 
  • Alex Contreras, Community Matters 2
  • Sarahi Romano, Day One Early Learning Community
  • Jevonni Taylor, Dutchess Outreach
  • Norah Flinn, End the New Jim Crow Action Network (ENJAN)
  • Kayla Hawkins, Exodus Transitional Community
  • Sabine Weil, MASS Design Group
  • Aniyah Bailey, Prisoners' Brain Trust
  • Will Luber, The Art Effect

2025

2024

2023

2022

2021