Plant Powered Youth Fellowship

Core responsibilities:

• Regularly attend two Zoom meetings per week, including one on Wednesdays at 7 PM ET
• Attend an in-person advocacy event in Washington D.C. on July 18-22
• For high school students: Launch a campaign in your school district to add, expand, improve, or promote plant-based meal options with support from a project advisor
• For high school graduates: Support a state-level policy campaign to promote plant-forward K-12 menus with support from an organization in the Plant Powered School Meals Coalition
• Organize youth-led actions such as social media campaigns, peer outreach, writing blogs, and other initiatives

This role creates positive change by advocating for plant-based options in K-12 schools through movement building, policy advocacy, and leadership development, helping advance federal policies that shift school lunch menus toward more plant-based, climate-friendly foods and expanding plant-based options in local school cafeterias.

Required qualifications:

• Be between ages 14-22 as of August 14, 2026
• For high school graduates/college students: Must have attended K-12 school or currently attend college in California, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, or Washington
• Currently attend or have previously attended a school participating in the National School Lunch Program
• Be passionate about improving school lunch by expanding, improving, or marketing plant-based (vegan) options
• Be available for in-person advocacy trip to Washington D.C. July 18-22
• Live in the continental United States

Additional compensation will be provided to high school students in grades 9-11 who continue the program for the full year. The fellowship provides leadership development opportunities, policy advocacy experience, and networking with organizations in the Plant Powered School Meals Coalition.

The Plant Powered School Meals Coalition, led by Chilis on Wheels and Friends of the Earth, advocates for plant-based options in K-12 schools through movement building, policy advocacy, and leadership development to shift school lunch menus toward more plant-based, climate-friendly foods.