Applications for the Belonging Innovation Lab (BIL) Narrative Fellowship are now closed. Every applicant will be notified of their decision status by March 31st.
Across the country, communities are navigating a period of rapid change and making sense of what this means for daily life and their shared future. When people feel unsure or overwhelmed, misinformation and polarizing narratives can deepen divisions and make it harder to work together on important local considerations.
At the same time, community leaders play an integral role in creating the conditions where hard things become manageable, uncertainty becomes navigable, and big ideas become tangible. By modeling partnership, connection, and care, individuals have the power to disrupt exclusionary narratives and reground in shared commitments. Over time, these efforts build trust and hold the potential to transform people and places toward deeper rootedness and an authentic sense of belonging.
About the Belonging Innovation Lab (BIL) Narrative Fellowship
Drawing on six years of national communications work about immigrant inclusion and belonging, the Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council seeks to support local champions who understand the damage that harmful narratives are causing and are ready to explore narrative interventions that help rebuild trust and connection.
The Belonging Innovation Lab (BIL) Narrative Fellowship is designed for people who understand their local context deeply and recognize that “us vs. them” dynamics are shaped by stories, identities, and the fractured media environment we all navigate. We aim to invest in people who are harnessing the power of narrative to help build more trusting, cohesive, and connected communities.
The fellowship includes:
- An intimate, cohort-based 12-week virtual space where fellows will learn with and from peers to strengthen the skills needed to respond to local polarization and cultivate a greater sense of belonging.
- Workshops on narrative interventions, audience identification, messaging frameworks, case studies, and more from leading practitioners.
- An award of $10,000 to support participants’ time, leadership, learning, and local community impact.
Eligibility Criteria
This fellowship supports U.S.-based individuals who are deeply committed to their communities and who seek to use narrative strategies to strengthen connection. Participants may hold formal or informal leadership roles—for example, nonprofit staff, small business owners, local government employees, faith leaders, artists, or cultural workers, among others. To receive the financial award, applicants must be able to receive funding through a 501(c)(3) organization or fiscal sponsor.
Successful candidates are expected to:
- Engage fully throughout the fellowship period (tentatively April 13 – July 1, 2026).
- Attend biweekly virtual sessions during this period.
- Complete light readings between sessions.
The estimated time commitment is approximately 3-4 hours per week over 12 weeks.
Evaluation Criteria
Applicants are invited to share a narrative challenge or need in their community: something they believe is contributing to division, exclusion, or harmful “us vs. them” dynamics. Because each place has its own history, tensions, and opportunities, we look closely at how applicants understand and are rooted in their local context.
Our selection process centers three considerations:
Place-based context
Applicants should be able to clearly describe the local dynamics shaping toxic polarization in their community, including how harmful or exclusionary narratives are showing up in practice. We seek fellows who have thoughtful insight into their region’s cultural, social, or political landscape and the communities most affected.
Demonstrated local leadership
We are looking for individuals with existing relationships, partnerships, or influence in their community. This may include formal leadership roles or informal leadership built through trust, organizing, cultural work, storytelling, or service. Applicants should show they have identified a compelling need to counter xenophobic or exclusionary narratives and are positioned to respond. We strongly recommend including a letter of recommendation from a partner who can speak to the applicant’s track record of impact and community engagement.
Feasibility and alignment of need
Applications should include a general narrative intervention need or challenge the fellow is working to address. The fellowship is designed as a learning and capacity-building space for individuals. This is not a funding call for projects.
While this fellowship does not require project-based deliverables, we are interested in understanding how applicants are already using narrative interventions and ways the fellowship can support those existing commitments.
Fellowship Timeline:
- January 12th: BIL Narrative Fellowship Application OPENS
- February 8th at 11:59 pm ET: Applications are due. Follow up questions, if necessary, will be sent on a rolling basis and must be answered within seven days of receipt.
- By March 31st: All applicants will be notified of the selection committee’s decision. Selected fellows will receive information about an April orientation and kick-off call.
- April 3rd: Selected applicants must complete, sign, and return fellowship forms required for participation by 5pm Eastern time.
- April 13th: BIL Narrative Fellowship begins.
- April 13th – July 1st: Fellows will meet virtually every two weeks for 90-minute sessions in a supportive environment grounded in shared values of community cohesion, curiosity, and belonging.
About the Center for Inclusion and Belonging at the American Immigration Council
The American Immigration Council strives to strengthen the United States by shaping immigration policies and practices through innovative programs, cutting-edge research, and strategic legal and advocacy efforts grounded in evidence, compassion, justice, and fairness. Foundational to that work are program portfolios led by the Center for Inclusion and Belonging (CIB), an early leader in an emerging field of researchers, practitioners, and organizations intent on fostering community connection and a culture of pluralism in the U.S. The CIB is deeply invested in innovative strategies to expand understanding and redefine who belongs in the places we all call home. Our think-and-do tank approach guides us in continuously testing our strategies, measuring our impact, and sharing our tools and learnings across diverse movement spaces.
Visit www.americanimmigrationcouncil.org/center-inclusion-belonging to learn more.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, please email us at [email protected] and include “BIL‑NF” in the subject line.
- Can multiple people from the same organization and/or from the same community apply?
- Yes. There is no limit on the number of applicants from a given place or organization. All applicants will be evaluated individually. If you collaborate closely with others who are also applying, you may wish to indicate that in your materials.
- How many fellows will be selected?
- We anticipate selecting a cohort of 15-20 fellows from across the U.S.
- What if I’m not affiliated with a 501c3 organization? Can I still apply?
- Yes, but you may need to waive the financial award or secure a fiscal sponsor.
- Can someone apply if they are newer to their community but already engaged?
- Yes. Engagement looks different in different places, and tenure is only one marker of investment in place. For all applicants, it is important to use your application materials to demonstrate your relationship to your local context and potential for ongoing impact.
- Can community leaders working outside the U.S. apply?
- The Belonging Innovation Lab Narrative Fellowship is currently designed for U.S.-based community leaders working in a place-based context.
- Do you have an example of how a candidate might utilize this fellowship?
- The fellowship is designed to be flexible and responsive to the needs of the cohort. Ideal candidates will be those who have already identified the importance of narrative strategy to building connection, cohesion, and belonging, but may be feeling stuck, confused, or uncertain about how to put those ideas into practice.