The Cornerstone Fellowship

We currently run two programs on post-secondary campuses across Texas. Our focus on peer-to-peer organizing makes our civic engagement efforts effective, and we pair that work with a leadership development curriculum that prepares students for a career in government, advocacy, and public service.

Cornerstone’s Organizing Fellowship cultivates civic leaders by providing college students with hands-on experience in organizing. Fellows are trained to conduct non-partisan voter registration drives on their campuses and become trusted community resources via a peer-to-peer approach, providing critical post-registration support such as helping voters find their polling locations and securing the necessary forms of ID. Our model has a decisive impact: 76% of the voters Cornerstone registered turned out in November 2024 – far surpassing the 46% statewide average for registered Texans ages 18-25. 

Cornerstone Leadership Development Series is a semester-long program that cultivates the next generation of effective, policy-minded public servants in Texas. This advanced fellowship track is available only to Fellows who successfully complete the Cornerstone Organizing Program. Building on those foundational skills, the program advances Fellows’ understanding of Texas government, policy, and leadership through a mentorship-based model, integrating monthly leadership programming, professional development, and a student-designed capstone project.