New Suns Fellowship

New Suns Fellowship

Funder: Minnesota Black Collective Foundation (BCFMN)

Award Amount: $10,000 per fellow (flexible funding)

Total Investment: $120,000 annually

Number of Awards: 12 fellows per cohort

Geographic Scope: Minnesota

Program Description:
The New Suns Fellowship supports the genius of Black-led change by investing in organizers and leaders engaged in community-centered civic action. The initiative nurtures an ecosystem that supports Black-led change beyond election cycles, harnessing civic engagement year-round to create lasting, durable, transformative infrastructure and power within communities.

Focus Areas

• Community-centered civic action
• Leadership development
• Political education
• Economic empowerment and justice
• Community healing and trauma-informed work
• Immigrant and diaspora advocacy
• Media and storytelling
• Environmental and housing justice
• Criminal justice reform and abolitionist work
• Spiritual leadership and community wellness

Eligibility

• Applicant Type: Individual organizers and leaders
• Criteria:
- Commitment to community-centered civic action - Track record of driving social change - Building durable, transformative infrastructure - Black-led and community-rooted work
• Geographic Focus: Minnesota

What They Fund

• Flexible funding to support organizing efforts
• Leadership development and personal wellbeing
• Community-centered work

Contact Information

Address: 2429 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404 Phone: 612-293-7787 Email: leadership@mnblackcf.org Website: minnesotablackcollectivefoundation.org

2025 Fellows

• Abena Dannete-Caroline Abraham (Headwaters Foundation; Black Immigrant Collective)
• Antonio Williams (T.O.N.E. U.P. Inc.)
• Brian Curtis Herron (Zion Baptist Church)
• Dr. Habon Abdulle (Ayada Leads)
• Georgia Fort (BLCK Press/Here's the Truth)
• Jaleesa Kelly (Memorialize the Movement)
• Kevin Leroy Reese Jr. (Until We Are All Free Movement)
• Mabel Joan Nelima Sitati (ACER)
• Roderick Devon Adams (New Justice Project)