EmpowHERed Kandake Fellowship
Leveling Up and Career Advancement of Black women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse youth with disabilities.
EmpowHERed is a 6-month fellowship program that is fueling the creation and vision of an empowered community and network of Black women, girls, Two-Spirit, and gender-diverse with disabilities (BWg2SGDYwD).
The Kandake Fellowship aims to foster a network of Fellows (BW2SGD youth with disabilities aged 16-29) and Fellowship Coaches (community leaders and professionals who identify as BW2SGDwD)
This 4-month program consists of
- Fellowship coaching and peer mentorship
- Leadership, education, and professional training certificate program.
- Workplace accommodation plan and accessibility consultations.
- Experiential hands-on placement (optional).
Each Cohort consists of up to 10 Kandake fellows and 3 Fellowship Coaches, over a 4-month period.
Project Objectives (Fellows)
Mobilize knowledge, build professional skills (ie. leadership, career portfolio development), and raise the visibility of BW2SGDwD as leaders and changemakers
Reclaiming our Time- Seat or not seat!
Build confidence and self-efficacy skills critical to successfully navigating discriminatory systems and barriers; advocating for themselves, including individualized accommodations and human rights.
Kandake toolkit comprised of BW2SGDwD-tailored professional development and accessibility resources, education, and training found in the
Overall Program Objectives:
To amplify our collective talents and voices, shifting power into the hands of Black women, girls, and Two-Spirit and gender-diverse individuals with disabilities(BW2SGDwD) by:
- Cultivating an empowered network of BW2SGDwD fellows, community leaders, and allies
- Pioneering groundbreaking and intentional mentorship, career training, and experiential opportunities that expand professional skills, networks, and career advancement for both fellows and fellowship leads
- Exploring disparities and barriers identified by BW2SGDwD; further exacerbated during the global pandemic
- Creating virtual accessibility and professional development toolkits anchored in the Ase Community’s Black Accessibility Knowledge Hub
- Designing a framework for navigating the intersectional realities of gender-based violence and biases, anti-Black racism, and ableism in the ecosystem of the workplace, school, and entrepreneurial endeavors
EmpowHERed Kandake Fellowship Role descriptions and responsibilities.
Kandake Youth Fellow
- Must self-identify within this group of Black women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse individuals with disabilities (BW2SGDwD)
- Meet with Kandake Fellow coach and Fellows for a 4-month term
- Commit to establishing and working towards individualized learning goals and reflexive learning
- Attend and actively engage in Kandake workshops, sessions, and training.
- Interest in building a network rooted in the principles of intersectionality and the advancement of BW2SGDwD
Kandake Fellowship Coach
- Mentors and inspires 3 Kandake fellows, for a 4-month term (up to 15 hours/month)
- Must self-identify within this group of Black women, girls, Two-Spirit and gender-diverse individuals with disabilities (BW2SGDwD)
- Demonstrate commitment to an intersectionality approach rooted in the eradication of anti-Black racism, gender-based violence, and ableism.
- Prior experience in mentorship, coaching, or supervising BW2SGDwD; it is an asset to have experience supporting career, education, and/or entrepreneurship goals
Join the EmpowHERed Kandake Fellowship Today!
Cohorts start in September and January, with optional placements May-August.
Registration is open! Apply Now!
Youth Fellows Fellowship Coaches linked to 2 separate applications
We encourage all experts, community partners, entrepreneurs, and educators to join us in shaping the training curriculum and/or also support a 2-month fellowship employment placement.
Please email Mila at for more information.
To participate in the Fellowship, or become a fellow lead please complete this interest form: