# OUDC Social Justice Fellowship

Tuition-free yearlong social justice fellowship in Washington, DC for rising sophomores and juniors, including a two-week summer immersion journey through the American South.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Operation Understanding DC |
| Category | leadership |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 10–11 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | Washington, DC |
| Apply | https://oudc.org/ |

## About this program

# OUDC Social Justice Fellowship

Operation Understanding DC has run cross-cultural leadership programming for Washington-area teenagers since 1993, bringing together a diverse cohort of high school students for a full academic year of dialogue, history, and social justice training. The organization is explicit that "OUDC does not charge students for their participation in its yearlong, cross-cultural education program."

## What You'll Do

- Meet regularly across a full academic year with a selected cohort of DC-area high school students
- Study the histories of the communities represented in your cohort and the roots of discrimination
- Practice facilitated dialogue, conflict resolution, and public speaking
- Travel on a two-week summer immersion journey through the American South, visiting civil rights sites
- Design and lead your own community education or advocacy work back home

## Who Should Apply

OUDC recruits "rising sophomores and juniors" for each academic-year cohort, drawn from the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Students apply directly to OUDC - the program is not school-mediated - and "applications are accepted on a rolling basis," so interested students should apply as early as possible in the recruitment window.

## Outcomes

Fellows finish with a year of documented dialogue-facilitation and leadership training, a two-week civil rights immersion experience, a genuinely cross-cultural peer network, and entry into an alumni community that spans three decades - all at no cost.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does OUDC Social Justice Fellowship cost?

OUDC Social Justice Fellowship is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for OUDC Social Justice Fellowship?

OUDC Social Justice Fellowship is open to high school students in grades 10–11. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is OUDC Social Justice Fellowship online or in person?

OUDC Social Justice Fellowship is an in-person program based in Washington, DC.

### How do I apply to OUDC Social Justice Fellowship?

Apply directly through Operation Understanding DC's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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