Catalyzing Neighborhood- Youth Development and Reinvestment

Catalyzing Neighborhood-Based Youth Development and ReinvestmentFUSE
-Atlanta, GA, United States

The City of Atlanta is working to make Atlanta the best place to raise a child by expanding equitable access to early education, safe spaces, and career pathways for youth in historically under-invested neighborhoods. The FUSE Executive Fellow will catalyze systems change across the city’s youth development initiatives through place-based partnerships to align programs under a unified strategy. Ultimately, this work will accelerate outcomes for youth and families in historically under-invested neighborhoods, reduce disparities, improve safety and opportunity, and ensure that every young person can thrive in a stronger, more connected Atlanta.

Fellowship Dates:
April 27, 2026 – April 23, 2027

Salary: Executive Fellows are FUSE employees and receive an annual base salary of $95,000. Fellows can also access various health, dental, and vision insurance benefits. Compensation for this year of public service is not intended to represent market-rate compensation for the experienced professionals in our program.

ABOUT THE FUSE EXECUTIVE FELLOWSHIP

FUSE is a national nonprofit working to expand social and economic opportunities, particularly for communities that have been limited by a history of systemic and institutionalized racism. FUSE partners with local governments and communities to more effectively address pressing challenges by placing experienced professionals within city and county agencies. These FUSE Executive Fellows lead strategic projects designed to advance racial equity and accelerate systems change.

Since 2012, FUSE has led over 250 projects in 40 governments across 20 states, impacting the lives of 25 million people.

When designing each fellowship project, FUSE works closely with government partners and local stakeholders to define a scope of work that will achieve substantive progress toward regional priorities. FUSE then conducts an individualized search for each project to ensure that the selected candidate has at least 15 years of professional experience, the required competencies for the role, and deep connections to the communities being served.

They are data-driven and results-oriented and able to effectively manage complex projects by developing actionable roadmaps and monitoring progress to completion.

Executive Fellows are hired as FUSE employees and embedded in government agencies for at least one year of full-time work. Throughout their fellowships, they receive training, coaching, and professional support from FUSE to help achieve their project goals. FUSE Executive Fellows bring diverse perspectives and new approaches to their projects. They build strong relationships with diverse arrays of stakeholders, foster alignment within.

PROJECT CONTEXT

City-wide youth development strategies are essential to advancing accessibility, improving community safety, and expanding opportunity for children and young adults. These strategies ensure that all young people, regardless of race, income, or zip code, have access to high-quality education, safe spaces, and meaningful pathways to careers. Prioritizing underserved communities and addressing longstanding challenges with youth development efforts can strengthen families, reduce violence, and help create the conditions for lifelong success.

When cities invest in coordinated early learning, enrichment, and workforce programs, they not only improve individual outcomes but also build healthier, more resilient neighborhoods and a stronger civic fabric.

In Atlanta, Georgia, opportunities and resources for children and youth have not been evenly distributed across all neighborhoods, resulting in differing outcomes in education, childcare access, and safety. Historically underserved neighborhoods have experienced fewer investments in youth programs and career pathways, limiting the support available to help young people thrive. To build a stronger foundation for all of Atlanta’s youth, Mayor Andre Dickens has made youth development a central pillar of his administration’s agenda.

Through the Year of the Youth initiative and a citywide vision to make…