Leading change.
Strengthening identity.
Exploring history.
Operation Understanding DC is currently accepting applications for Social Justice Fellows for the 2025-2026 academic year!
In the Social Justice Fellowship Program, you will...
- Learn about Human Rights, Civil Rights, and contemporary social justice movements from professors, activists, artists, and executive directors in the social impact space;
- Meet regularly with your cohort to learn about the histories, religions, and cultures of Black, Jewish, and other historically oppressed communities;
- Build lifelong friendships;
Receive training in important leadership skills, including public speaking, facilitation, and writing.
We are looking for students who:
- Will be high school juniors in September 2025
- Are interested in social justice
- Want to explore their own identity
- Are eager to create change and serve as leaders in their communities
If this sounds like you, please fill out the application below.
Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Create Change With Us
OUDC’s mission is to create a generation of community leaders who promote respect, understanding and cooperation while fighting to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination.
Our students are dedicated to stamping out racism and anti-Semitism wherever they encounter it. They build bridges between communities. But, they do not stop there. They use their skills, vision and passion to bring together people of all different ethnicities, races, religions, socio-economic backgrounds and sexual orientations. Our young leaders are changing the world, one person at a time.
History
OUDC was founded in 1993 by Karen Kalish. Karen was inspired by a similar program in Philadelphia started by The Honorable William H. Gray III, then a U.S. Congressman representing Philadelphia, and George M. Ross. Since then, OUDC has worked with 26 groups of young people and empowered more than 600 leaders.
Who we are
OUDC's staff, board and alumni network is a group of diverse, committed change-makers who seek to empower the next generation of social justice leaders to promote respect, understanding and cooperation while fighting to eradicate racism, anti-Semitism and all forms of discrimination.
What we do
OUDC serves as a thought leader and facilitates dialogue to advance social justice. OUDC's signature program is the Social Justice Fellowship, a transformational yearlong program for high school juniors. Our Fellows are dedicated to learning how to challenge racism, anti-Semitism and discrimination and to educating their communities on how to do the same.
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