NYC FutureForward Program
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NYC FutureForward
In response to the unique barriers faced by justice-involved youth, NYC FutureForward is a localized, hybrid leadership development program created for emerging young leaders aged 18–25 who live in New York City and have been impacted by the criminal legal system.
Designed to meet participants where they are, the program includes both in-person gatherings and virtual sessions, ensuring flexible and accessible engagement throughout the experience.
This NYC-specific cohort centers historically marginalized young people—offering intensive capacity building, mentorship, and leadership development in a culturally grounded and trauma-informed environment. Participants receive targeted support to transform their lived expertise into strategies that challenge injustice and create systems change.
At Canary Impact, we close the gap in direct investment for formerly incarcerated leaders. Our approach is grounded in trusting people over projects—providing low-barrier access to leadership development and seed funding for bold social justice solutions. Through this hybrid program, we support young leaders in NYC to reshape narratives, reduce recidivism, and reimagine justice in their communities.
NYC Core Pillars:
- Cultivation: Building a collaborative NYC-based network of young social justice entrepreneurs who share, learn, and co-create new solutions
- Innovation: Elevating the visionary thinking and lived expertise of youth to drive decarceration, community healing, and systemic transformation
- Big Bets: Investing in the next generation of changemakers working on issues like criminal justice reform, gender equity, disability justice, juvenile justice, LGBTQ+ rights, and more
The Journey Includes:
- Monetary Seed: A $10,000 award to support the development or growth of a participant’s initiative or vision
- Nine-Month Nurturing: A holistic program combining in-person and virtual experiences to build skills, refine ideas, and deepen impact
- Cohort Camaraderie: A vibrant peer community that fosters trust, shared learning, and collective leadership
- Capacity Building: Interactive workshops and mentorship to support self-reliance, critical thinking, and community-centered leadership
NYC Future Forward is more than a program—it’s a movement to uplift youth closest to the problems as architects of the solutions.
Eligibility
To apply for the NYC Future Forward Program, candidates must meet the following criteria:
- Be aged 18 to 25.
- Must live in NYC (one of the five boroughs: the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens, or Staten Island)
- Have a history of incarceration
- Have an innovative idea that will lead to systemic change
- Propose work that excludes lobbying activities
- Not have previously received Canary Impact’s 10-for-10 Program (formerly known as the Canary Impact Prize)
- Please note that priority will be given to those who have not received funding *
Timeline
- July 21st – Applications Open
- September 8th– First Application Closes at 9 am EST
- September 10th – INVITE ONLY: Second Application Opens
- September 21st – Second Application Closes
- September 22nd to 26th – INVITE ONLY: Visioning Conversation (Interviews)
- September 27th – Winners notified
- September 29th – Public Announcement
- October 1st – Program Begins
- January – In-Person gathering
IMPORTANT: Please review the linked Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) and Webinar.
Note: If you have already received one of the prestigious awards in our sector, such as the David Prize, Galaxy Gives Fellowship, Soros Fellowship, or MacArthur Award, we're proud of you. However, Canary Impact seeks to support leaders who have not yet achieved that level of success and recognition.
We do not have a specific word count and encourage all applicants to provide the most detail to the best of their ability. We recommend drafting and editing your ideas somewhere else (on paper or in Google Docs) before submitting your responses. The reviewers need to understand your idea, so we encourage you to have a friend or colleague read your responses before submission.