Jun 29
Application Opens
A school food leadership program
The Kindred Fellowship for School Nutrition Leaders is a nine-month leadership program designed to equip school nutrition professionals and emerging school food leaders in transforming their fields. Built on our 15 years of expertise in school food systems, the fellowship will provide leaders with evidence-based, community-centered tools they can bring to their own schools. The name Kindred is a nod to the Octavia E. Butler novel, honoring the book’s essential themes of Legacy, Community, and Influence—elements that define this influential network of change agents.
The Kindred Fellowship is open to school nutrition professionals and others aspiring to careers in this field. Applications for the 2027 cohort open June 29, 2026. Share you contact information below and we’ll email you when the application is live.
Kindred Fellowship Curriculum
As a Kindred fellow, you’ll learn how to drive change in school nutrition through community-centered, evidence-based practices.
The fellowship includes a fully-paid in-person orientation in Philadelphia, PA (October 16-18, 2026); monthly, 75-minute virtual learning sessions; pre-reading and reflection activities; an in-person advocacy gathering in Washington, DC (June 2027); and a culminating comprehensive project in your home institution. Throughout the year, you’ll sharpen your skills in these areas:
Leadership development
Grow as a communicator, collaborator, and project manager in service of your goals
Data and analysis
Understand the quantitative and qualitative tools that will help you make a measurable difference
Storytelling for change
Reach more people through powerful personal narratives
Policy and advocacy
Leverage your experience to shape local, state, and federal policies
Fellowship Benefits
Participation in the Kindred Fellowship is free. The cohort of up to 30 fellows will receive:
- A fully-paid in-person orientation in Philadelphia, PA to kickoff the fellowship (October 16-18, 2026)
- Nine months of leadership training through monthly virtual sessions
- Personalized coaching and feedback
- Guided work plans toward the culminating project
- Connection with values-aligned participants
- Monthly digital advocacy engagement
- A fully-paid convening in Washington, DC, providing hands-on engagement in policy advocacy at the program’s conclusion (June 2027)
Key Dates
Questions about the Kindred Fellowship? Contact Morgan McGhee, FoodCorps’ Director of School Nutrition Leadership, at morgan.mcghee@foodcorps.org.