High school girls in New Orleans and Baton Rouge who have a parent who is or was incarcerated can apply for a policy fellowship offering a $3,000 stipend and travel to legislative events.
Daughters Beyond Incarceration is accepting applications for its 2026 Policy Fellowship, which runs from December 2026 through June 2027. The program will teach fellows about voting rights, criminal justice reform and the legislative process.
DBI plans to select eight fellows: five from New Orleans and three from Baton Rouge. Applicants must be ages 15 to 18, enrolled in grades 9-12 at a school in one of the two cities, and have a currently or formerly incarcerated parent.
Applications are due Nov. 2. Finalists will interview virtually on Nov. 9. DBI Policy Ambassadors, who are former fellows, will contact those selected on Nov. 16.
Applicants can respond to the question, “Why is it important for you to help raise awareness of the damages incarceration causes to families?” They can submit an essay, song, poem or video with their application.
The fellowship includes expense-paid trips to California, Dallas and Washington, D.C. DBI also is seeking business and community partners to provide matching suits, including alterations, for all eight fellows. Those interested can inquire here.
The program is supported by The Kresge Foundation, the Goldring Family Foundation, Foundation CHANEL, the Annie E. Casey Foundation, Tides and Borealis Philanthropy.
READ MORE:$3,000 stipend and travel await selected Daughters Beyond Incarceration fellows
