ACCELERATING CHANGE WITH THE MONZóN FELLOWSHIP.
THE MONZÓN FELLOWSHIP
EMPOWERING LEADERS TO ACCELERATE CHANGE IN ARIZONA
The 2025 Monzón Fellowship is a five-month fellowship program designed to empower changemakers who are building power with communities across Arizona. A “Monzón” is a sudden, powerful change in the wind’s direction. Just like it, the Monzón Fellowship equips local leaders with the skills, tools, and connections needed to rapidly accelerate their impact and create change in their communities.
THE NEXT GENERATION OF MONzóN FELLOWS
Instituto is proud to announce the 2025 cohort of Monzón Fellows: changemakers rooted in community, driven by purpose, and ready to shape the future of our state.
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Monzón builds relationships amongst emerging leaders.
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We support them to amplify their impact in their communities.
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We invest in new ideas to create transformative change.
The search for the next generation of monzÓn Fellows
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The Monzón Fellowship is more than a program—it's a transformative journey that weaves together personal growth, leadership development, and meaningful relationship-building. In Monzón, fellows gather for five in-person sessions across Arizona, immersing themselves in local communities, histories, and movements. Each session includes dynamic workshops, hands-on activities, expert-led trainings, healing sessions, and more, designed to empower fellows to drive lasting, sustainable change in their communities.
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Over the course of the fellowship, you will…
Elevate Your Leadership: Explore transformative approaches to leadership, develop strategies to lead with an equity and justice lens, and learn to lead with authenticity by integrating your identity and values.
Develop Core Skills: Strengthen key skills in strategic planning, program design, grassroots organizing, data analysis, communications, fundraising, and more to scale your efforts, accelerate your impact, and build community power.
Analyze Power & Apply Racial Justice Frameworks: Deepen your understanding of power and explore intersectional dynamics of race, class, and gender to identify and dismantle inequities in your community.
Engage in Healing & Wellness Practices: Explore different healing modalities, self-care practices, and strategies for burnout prevention to sustain your energy and capacity for long-term change.
Connect with Local Communities: Immerse yourself in the histories, identities, and cultures of local communities to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges and opportunities shaping Arizona.
Build a Network of Changemakers: Forge lasting relationships with leaders and organizations from across the state and envision collective solutions to pressing challenges to create a support network that extends far beyond the fellowship.
By the end of the fellowship, you will be equipped with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to amplify your leadership, build community power, and contribute to a more equitable, thriving Arizona.
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The Monzón Fellowship is open to emerging leaders who are:
Committed to Creating Change: You believe in the power of communities to create change and want to be part of the solution. Whether you’re working on economic justice, educational equity, housing, healthcare, or other critical issues, you understand that change requires action across all spaces and issues.
Rooted in Community: Whether you work in advocacy, direct service, mutual aid, or other spaces, you have strong ties to communities in Arizona and are already working to address the pressing needs and challenges in your community.
Ready to Collaborate, Learn, and Grow: You’re eager to deepen your leadership skills, connect with peers, and accelerate your impact. You are committed to collaboration, open to new ideas, and motivated to learn from and work with others towards collective goals.
Open to New Experiences and Personal Transformation: You embrace deep introspection and vulnerability, and are open to confronting tensions and challenging your own assumptions. You feel ready to embrace this personal growth journey to lead more authentically and effectively.
We welcome applicants from diverse fields and backgrounds, including:
Advocacy and organizing
Direct service organizations (food banks, shelters, harm reduction efforts, etc.)
Mutual aid collectives
Grassroots movements and community coalitions
Emerging leaders in progressive ecosystems
Educational organizations (teachers, students, etc.)
and more!
This program is designed for leaders who are ready to expand their impact, regardless of formal titles or roles.
✨ NOTE: Candidates must live in Arizona to be eligible to participate in the Monzón Fellowship.
FAQS, KEY DATES & MORE
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Application opens: Monday, November 25, 2024
Application closes: Monday, February 24, 2025
Fellows selected: March 28, 2025
Fellows are announced: April 10, 2025
Sessions take place: One weekend per month from May through September 2025
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Session 1 - May 16-18 - Mesa, AZ
Session 2 - June 20-22 - Yuma, AZ
Session 3 - July 18-20 - Sedona, AZ
Session 4 - August 15-17 - Prescott, AZ
Session 5 - September 12-14 - Tucson, AZ
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The Monzón Fellowship takes fellows to cities in northern, southern, and central Arizona to deepen connections with diverse communities across the state. As fellows visit places that hold rich histories of resilience and cultural significance, including Indigenous lands, border towns, and historically underinvested areas, they are immersed in the unique social, economic, and political contexts of each place. This intentional approach encourages reflection on identity, heritage, and culture, strengthens relationships with local communities, and equips fellows to lead collective efforts that foster a more equitable, thriving Arizona for all.
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This is a paid fellowship, with fellows receiving a $150 stipend for each session attended. There are no associated costs with participating. We cover all expenses, including hotel accommodations, meals, materials, and more. We also provide transportation to and from each session, mileage reimbursements, and childcare and caregiver stipends to eliminate barriers to participation.
We are committed to ensuring all fellows have the necessary accommodations to fully engage in the program, and may be able to provide additional stipends or support on an as-needed basis.
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For questions or more information about the Monzón Fellowship, reach out to Instituto's Programs Design Manager, Emily at emily@instituto.io. We’ll be hosting a virtual info session on Feb. 11. Learn more here.