By Ruby Phillips, Policy Analyst, and Patrick Hart, Associate Policy Director
The Civic Engagement Fellowship has embedded CUNY seniors into community-based organizations to support innovative voter engagement and education initiatives. Since the program’s launch in summer 2025, the Fellows have had a huge impact. In this blog, we highlight some of what they’ve accomplished.
Over 300 voters registered. Nearly 200 community events hosted. More than 21,000 community members brought into the conversation. That’s what the 14 Civic Engagement Fellows have accomplished in the six months since the first cohort of the Fellowship has kicked off.
This two-year Fellowship connects CUNY seniors with roles at community-based organizations (CBOs) building civic engagement and community power in the South Bronx. The first year, they work part-time while attending trainings and learning sessions; after graduation in the spring, the Fellowship supports a full year of employment at their host sites. The Fellows started in August 2025 and have been making an impact in supporting voter registration and other civic activities throughout the fall. The Fellowship was created in partnership between CUNY ISLG and the New York City Campaign Finance Board (NYCCFB).
Each Fellow—and the CBOs in which they are embedded—works on meaningful initiatives designed to foster voter education and engagement. But each Fellow’s work looks different day-to-day or overall. The South Bronx is a diverse, multifaceted collection of communities, and the CBOs that serve it have a wide range of services, programming, and target populations. To celebrate half a year of the Civic Engagement Fellowship, we’re highlighting a few specific projects that show the work Fellows are accomplishing as well as the gamut of innovative strategies and initiatives they are bringing to their communities with their host sites. These stories are not unique: all 14 host sites are leading dynamic and changemaking civic engagement projects. At a time where federal government gaps are impacting community services like never before, the work the Fellows are doing building civic engagement and empowering communities is critical.
Each Fellow—and the CBOs in which they are embedded—works on meaningful initiatives designed to foster voter education and engagement. But each Fellow’s work looks different day-to-day or overall. The South Bronx is a diverse, multifaceted collection of communities, and the CBOs that serve it have a wide range of services, programming, and target populations.
At the Muslim Community Network, Fellow and senior at Baruch College, Ruksana Ruhee has been busy helping to facilitate the Muslim Women's Civic Empowerment Program and building out social media outreach to help spread the word about the Network's civic engagement activities. Ruksana, who is pursuing a Masters in Public Affairs, said her experience as a South Asian Muslim has helped her connect with the South Bronx community.
“We are often excluded from political landscapes and narratives, although we have remarkably contributed to the political and social fabric of New York City,” she said. “I am so glad that MCN has provided me with the space to organize in various communities across the Bronx. I learned of practicing civic engagement in a variety of ways, not only through voter registration and voter education, but through discourse, through community care, delivering direct services, and creating an environment where we all come together to engage in community, work together to build a safer, inclusive city for all.”
Ruksana has also collaborated with multiple Fellows to coordinate outreach efforts and highlight voter education opportunities for South Asian and Muslim communities. As part of this work, she has led a variety of community workshops and helped register 120 voters.
“I learned of practicing civic engagement in a variety of ways, not only through voter registration and voter education, but through discourse, through community care, delivering direct services, and creating an environment where we all come together to engage in community, work together to build a safer, inclusive city for all.”
- Ruksana Ruhee, CUNY Senior and Civic Engagement Fellow
At We Stay/Nos Quedamos, Fellow Benjamin Gamboa, a senior at Baruch College studying Marketing Management, helped set up voter registration and education events leading up to the November 2025 elections. This included providing rides to the polls and answering community questions about various items on the ballot. These activities formed an excellent base of support for the local resident committees that We Stay/Nos Quedamos plans to form within their two housing developments this spring to make sure that community engagement, input, and voice are central to the future of the Melrose neighborhood.
Fellow Fahlovi Noman, a senior at the City College of New York double majoring in Political Science and Biology, has helped Volunteers of America/Greater New York make an impact by organizing a successful series of debate watch parties for nearly 200 residents of VOA-GNY's supportive housing programs in the Bronx. Fahlovi has also helped support credit-building workshops for VOA-GNY's EmpowerRent program, a rent reporting program that allows VOA-GNY supportive housing residents build credit through reporting on-time rent payments, helping build economic security, which can help build civic engagement and connectedness.
Finally, Fellow Stephanie Frias, a senior at Baruch College majoring in Public Affairs,has supported Urban Alliance Youth International, Inc. (UYAI)’s BronxConnect initiative in connecting with a population often left out of civic engagement: individuals impacted by the criminal legal system. She has been working with formerly incarcerated individuals to make sure they are aware of their rights and of the (sometimes complicated) information about how people with a criminal record can participate in voting and other civic processes. While criminal legal system involvement is often a barrier to civic engagement, UYAI is working to break that cycle and ensure that people who are impacted by incarceration or other criminal legal system policies, or at risk of being impacted, can play a part.
“As someone dedicated to civic education and criminal justice, BronxConnect has been nothing short of an amazing experience,” Stephanie said. “Being able to talk to those in the South Bronx about their experiences with policy neglect, and those affected by the incarceration cycle has been extremely fulfilling. I hope to continue working with vulnerable communities to make sure they understand their rights, and voices.”
All of these Fellows, and all of their cohort members, are working hard to make change and build a more informed, empowered, and engaged population in the south Bronx. With the midterm elections approaching this year, CUNY ISLG is continuing to grow the partnership with NYCCFB to educate and train Fellows so they can support New Yorkers increasing their participation and agency in civic life. Over the next year and half, we are looking forward to seeing this initiative continue to flourish and increase civic engagement and participation.
Photo Felix Mizioznikov on Adobe Stock.