Welcoming the 2026–2027 Community Planning Fellows

The Fund for the City of New York is pleased to welcome the 2026–2027 cohort of NYC Community Planning Fellows, an accomplished group of graduate students bringing a wide range of experiences, perspectives, and skills to community planning across New York City.

This year’s Fellows come from programs in urban planning, public administration, public health, social work, architecture, urban design, and design and urban ecologies. Collectively, they have worked across City government, community-based organizations, public housing and affordable housing initiatives, transportation and public-space projects, environmental and climate resilience, education, public health, research, advocacy, design, and technology. Their experiences range from community engagement and GIS mapping to documentary filmmaking, engineering, data analysis, policy research, and neighborhood organizing.

The NYC Community Planning Fellowship connects graduate students in planning and related fields with New York City Community Boards and nonprofit partners, giving Fellows an opportunity to apply what they are learning to real community priorities while providing participating organizations with additional capacity. Throughout the academic year, Fellows contribute to projects that may address issues such as housing, transportation, zoning and land use, sustainability, public space, economic development, and quality of life. They also participate in workshops and trainings designed to deepen their understanding of community planning and local government.

As previous cohorts have demonstrated, the Fellowship is as much about learning from communities as it is about bringing new skills into the planning process. We look forward to seeing how this year’s Fellows collaborate with community leaders, residents, and organizations to help address local needs and contribute to a more equitable and responsive New York City.