Boards & Commissions Fellowship
New Orleans thrives when the people closest to the problem have a seat at the decisionmaking table.
About the Fellowship
Every day in Louisiana, critical decisions about our communities are shaped by local and statewide boards and commissions. These bodies influence nearly every aspect of community life, yet too often, the people most affected by these decisions are missing from the table.
The Boards & Commissions Fellowship is a 6-month leadership experience designed to change that. Fellows will spend half a year building the knowledge, confidence, and network needed to step into public service roles with purpose and readiness. Through training, mentorship, and hands-on learning, you’ll understand how boards and commissions work, where your voice is needed, and how to make meaningful, values-aligned contributions in your community.
Our Partners
The 2027 New Orleans cohort is the local program of a statewide Fellowship offered by Serve Louisiana. We’re proud to be connected to this program and to leaders and leadership opportunities across the state.
Curriculum Highlights
This program is designed to get established leaders appointment-ready. The 6-month program features an early January kickoff celebration, monthly full-day training sessions, and a civic send-off celebration at the conclusion of the program.
Local Government 101
Louisiana Open Meetings & Public Records Law
Parliamentary Procedure (Robert’s Rules of Order)
Power Mapping & Navigating Board and Commission Appointments
Effective Communication for Public Impact
Networking & Building Public Relationships
Louisiana Issues & Ongoing Local Policy Efforts
And more!
Session Schedule
Training sessions will be held in person in New Orleans from 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. on the fourth Tuesday of each month.
2027 session dates:
January 26
February 23
March 23
April 27
May 25
June 22
The final session will include a celebration to follow in the evening.
Who should apply?
You don’t need any prior political or policy experience—all you need is a strong commitment to serving your community and a desire to make a meaningful impact. If you want to improve local health, protect natural resources, and bring diverse perspectives into public decision-making, this program is for you.
