ACCESS TO HOPE INITIATIVE

Access to Hope Youth Fellowships, are designed to give youth and young adults impacted by the criminal justice system opportunities to see beyond their current circumstances. Fellowship participants will be offered mentorship, educational seminars, career and professional development, civic engagement opportunities, and interactive projects where youth will develop recommendations for solutions to community-based violence.  Participants will engage with prosecutors, professional staff, criminal justice partner agencies, and City leaders. 

Youth between the ages 14-17 may participate in a 9-month fellowship, from September through May. Applications for the 2024-2025 School Year Session opens June 5th, 2024. 

How to apply: Please submit a Youth Fellowship Application. 

All interested applicants must submit the following materials:  

• Cover Letter – What do you expect to gain from this fellowship opportunity? Describe a public safety concern that you have for San Francisco. Please list any San Francisco neighborhoods or areas you do not feel comfortable or safe in and why you do not feel comfortable or safe in that area.     
• Resume – Applicants are encouraged to apply if they do not have one   
• Youth Background Investigation Form   
• A copy of photo identification   
• Outside Employment Disclosure Policy  
• Media and Liability Waiver Policy  

Eligibility Requirements:    

• Applicant must be between the ages of 14 – 17 years old.  
• Resident, student, and/or has an established connection to the City and County of San Francisco that they can articulate. 
• All applicants acknowledge that they will undergo a background check that requires parental consent. 
• Commit to the Youth Fellowship program, 9 months in duration.  

Please note that Fellowship cohorts have limited capacity and are subject to availability. Due to the overwhelming number of applications, we receive, we are unable to take into consideration individual scheduling conflicts such as vacations or other employment. 

Important timelines for 2024-2025 School Year Session:  September 10th – May 2nd, 2025 

Young Adults ages 18-24 may participate in a 3-month long fellowship intensive, from June through August. Please note that Applications for the 2024 Summer Session are currently closed. 

How To apply: Please submit a Young Adult Fellowship Application. All interested applicants must submit the following materials:  

• Cover Letter – What do you expect to gain from this fellowship opportunity? Describe a public safety concern that you have for San Francisco. Please list any San Francisco neighborhoods or areas you do not feel comfortable or safe in and why you do not feel comfortable or safe in that area.     
• Resume – Applicants are encouraged to apply if they do not have one   
• Adult Background Investigation Form   
• A copy of photo identification   
• Outside Employment Disclosure Policy  
• Media and Liability Waiver Policy  

Eligibility Requirements:    

• Applicant must be between the ages of 18 – 24 years old.  
• Resident, student, and/or has an established connection to the City and County of San Francisco that they can articulate. 
• All applicants acknowledge that they will undergo a background check.    
• Commit to the Young Adult Fellowship program, 8 weeks in duration. 

Please note that Fellowship cohorts have limited capacity and are subject to availability. Due to the overwhelming number of applications, we receive, we are unable to take into consideration individual scheduling conflicts such as vacations or other employment.  

Important timelines for 2025 Summer Session: June 16th – August 8th, 2025 (8 weeks)