Our leadership development programs train high school and college students to become leaders in the movement to end factory farming. Participants benefit from workshops with experts, a thought-provoking curriculum, dedicated mentorship, performance coaching, financial support, and a supportive community of like-minded, high-achieving peers. These program benefits are critical components of systems leadership development, empowering students to take what they learn and put it into practice for real-world impact.
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A six-week educational fellowship that empowers emerging advocates with knowledge, training, and networks to create a just and sustainable food system for all. Fellows design campaigns to shift behaviors, norms, and systems to oppose factory farming on their campuses.
A practical fellowship spanning two twelve-week terms. Advocates receive coaching, mentorship, and leadership development as they launch and lead the campaigns they planned during the Leadership Academy.
A paid opportunity for graduates of the Leadership Academy and Academic Year Fellowship to support the next generation of fellows. Teaching fellows receive training and mentorship to facilitate powerful coaching groups, helping emerging advocates challenge assumptions, develop leadership skills, and drive change in their communities.
After graduating from the Leadership Academy, fellows join a lifelong community of over 500 advocates against factory farming. Alumni are connected with mentorship and job opportunities, community-building and networking events, personal and professional development sessions, and more.
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“With extensive support from New Roots Institute and their partner organizations, I encouraged Cornell Dining to remove the up-charge on plant-based milk, add more plant-based options and defaults, create a Plant-Based at Cornell guide, and coordinate a plant-based fair. New Roots connected me with professionals in the movement, helping me to gain multiple internships. Following a career session with the Executive Director of Balanced, (Audrey Sanchez), I reached out and soon secured a summer internship. Thanks to New Roots Institute’s leadership development programs, I now have the confidence, skills, support, and experience to excel in the food systems space.”
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“Joining this program was critical for my development as an advocate against factory farming, not only because of the knowledge and skills I’ve gained or the wide network to which I’ve been connected, but also because it opened my eyes to the diversity and power of the many paths in this movement. New Roots Institute connected me with the Greener by Default Coalition at NYU, which became my focus of my campaign for the Academic Year Fellowship. I collaborated with New Roots fellows, alumni, and other invested advocates on my campus to introduce plant-based defaults into on-campus catering and hosted a plant-based food festival that served food from almost 40 brands to over 400 attendees.”
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“New Roots truly embodies growth. As a college fellow and later a teaching fellow, I experienced firsthand the power of transformative change through collaborative advocacy. Inspired by their eye-opening presentation to my class, I joined New Roots to contribute to the conversation on our food system’s challenges. My fellowship provided a dynamic, engaging, and supportive environment, where I built valuable connections. With New Roots’ support, I made a global impact, even while studying abroad in Korea. Their mentorship and networking opportunities allowed me to develop creative initiatives and overcome unique challenges, leaving a lasting impact on food systems at my university and beyond.”
500+ ALUMNI
IN 200+ SCHOOLS
in 36 states and 21 countries
Participants in the Leadership Academy have the opportunity to work with a wide array of partners in our network!
New Roots Institute alumni Noa Greene-Houvras had an op-ed published in Teen Vogue. In her piece, Noa dives into her experience voting for the first time and lays out some crucial recommendations for President Biden to step up as a stronger climate advocate.
Check out her insightful OP-Ed “Joe Biden Approved Drilling Projects, Now Young Climate Voters Are Watching for 2024”
Parker Do (New Roots Fellow) and Natalie Amezcua, M.A Humane Education (New Roots Lead Educator) spoke with Jane Velez-Mitchell on Unchained TV. Parker spoke about how their experience as a New Roots fellow fueled their readiness to advocate for a just food system.
Watch the interview here!
