Introducing a New Initiative to Cultivate Future City Council Leaders

The season of elections is upon us, with the 2026 voting ready to unfold. However, discussions are already shifting towards 2029, as a dedicated group of New York City Democrats work to nurture the next round of candidates poised for upcoming City Council elections. Many current members will term out of office, creating opportunities for new leaders.

The We the People Fellowship is a 10-week program designed to equip potential candidates with essential skills through weekly classes and assignments. Esteemed figures such as former City Planning Department Chair Dan Garodnick, NAACP New York State Conference President L. Joy Williams, and Global Strategy Group President Jefrey Pollock are leading the program. Queens Borough President Donovan Richards emphasized the importance of cultivating quality leadership for the future, while the fellowship’s founders, André Richardson and Evan Thies, aim to create a non-ideological space for promising talent to emerge.