Our Mission

City Hall Fellows offers America's best and brightest recent college graduates an unparalleled opportunity to experience local government from the inside out. Our mission is to:

• introduce America's future leaders to the inner workings of local government;
• bring their talent and energy to bear addressing the challenges local governments face; and
• expose them to meaningful careers in public service.
  

City Hall Fellows is a non-partisan organization, independently organized under section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

The Work Experience

Fellows will be grouped in cohorts of 10 within each host city and will be placed throughout the local government with high-level local officials (e.g. mayor's office, city council, police department, housing agency, etc...). Fellows will function as full-time staff members in their assigned departments and will work on projects and tasks designated by their host city.

The Civic Leadership Development Program

In addition to working on critical city projects, Fellows will participate in an intensive and comprehensive Civic Leadership Development Program spanning the entire fellowship term. They will be introduced to the history,organization and politics of their host city, gain an in-depth understanding of city mechanics (such as the budget process and civil service), tour city facilities, explore public policy issues facing America's cities and dialogue with leading city officials and other policy makers and policy influencers about the mechanics, politics and challenges of local governance. Fellows also will complete service projects, including developing policy recommendations for review by senior city officials.

As part of this Program, Fellows will spend 2-3 days in their state capital interfacing with state government leaders and will attend a three-day national convention in Washington, D.C., where they will compare and share their experiences with Fellows from other cities and meet national policymakers and political leaders (including those who represent the Fellows' host cities).

City Hall Fellows has attracted a select, nationwide group of academics from all disciplines to advise on the design and content of the Civic Leadership Development Program.  The complete list of participants is available under the link Our History & People.

Compensation

The City Hall Fellows fellowship is a full-time, 12-month position. The fellowship year begins in August and ends the following July. Fellows will receive a reasonable entry-level salary, commensurate with the local cost of living, and basic health benefits. Compensation may vary by locale.