Planting the Seeds of Future Change: Welcoming the 2026 Luskin Fellows
For more than a decade, Liberty Hill and the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs have partnered to cultivate the next generation of social justice leaders through the Luskin Fellowship Program. As Liberty Hill celebrates 50 years of movement building, this enduring partnership reflects a shared commitment to investing in the people who will lead the future of change in Los Angeles.
Now in its twelfth year, the Luskin Fellowship provides graduate students in Public Policy, Social Welfare, and Urban Planning with hands-on experience advancing community-driven solutions to some of the region's most pressing challenges. Through their work alongside Liberty Hill staff, fellows gain exposure to the foundation's unique role in supporting grassroots organizing, policy advocacy, and movement building across Los Angeles.
Created through Liberty Hill's longstanding partnership with UCLA, the fellowship has become an important pathway for emerging leaders seeking to translate their academic studies into meaningful social impact. Together, Liberty Hill and UCLA have helped equip dozens of students with the knowledge, skills, and relationships needed to build power, strengthen communities, and advance justice.
Many former fellows have gone on to become influential community advocates, policymakers, nonprofit leaders, and elected officials, extending the program's impact far beyond their summer experience.
Throughout the 12-week fellowship, participants engage directly with Liberty Hill's issue areas and community partners, gaining a deeper understanding of how lasting change is achieved through collective action and community leadership. At the conclusion of the program, fellows present their work and reflections, sharing insights gained from their experience on the frontlines of social justice.
The fellowship is made possible through the generosity of UCLA alumni and Liberty Hill donor activists Stephanie Bronson '81 and Harold Bronson '72, whose support continues to nurture future leaders committed to equity and justice.
This year, we are proud to welcome Jessica Rodriguez, MURP '27, and Ernesto Zelaya, MURP '27, who will join Liberty Hill's Housing Justice team. As they work alongside advocates advancing housing justice across Los Angeles, they represent the next generation of leaders whose ideas, passion, and leadership are helping plant the seeds of a more just future.