Climate Resiliency Fellowship
Are you 17–24 and interested in climate, the environment, design, art, community work, or creating a more resilient New York? The Climate Resilience Fellowship is a hands-on training and career program by Waterfront Alliance over 16 weeks, for young people from New York City communities on the frontlines of climate change.
Climate resilience is a growing field, and there are many different ways to be part of it. The program will help you explore many pathways into roles, such as related to climate resilience and adaptation, green infrastructure, community planning, sustainability, environmental justice, and more. You’ll also connect with employers and professionals and explore internships, apprenticeships, and early-career jobs.
Participants should expect to attend 2 sessions per week, including a combination of workshops, field experiences, and community-based activities. Some activities may take place on evenings or weekends. Participants who complete specific fellowship requirements also receive a $700 honorarium. If you have any questions, contact Furhana Husani: fhusani@waterfrontalliance.org.
What will you do?
Prepare for the WEDG® Associate exam. The WEDG® Associate credential is a professional certification that validates your expertise in building resilient shorelines, enhancing ecosystems, and ensuring public access. You will engage in the WEDG® Professionals training curriculum, receive dedicated support for exam preparation, and have all your testing costs fully covered. To honor your dedication and success, a $700 stipend is awarded to those who finish the exam.
Visit and assess real-world resiliency sites, such as bioswales, rain gardens, vegetated shorelines, beaches, marshes, and other spaces to understand how these systems work, what makes them resilient, and how to identify problems and opportunities.
Learn how climate resilience projects are assessed and documented, how professionals communicate about their work, and how community needs and public access can shape design and planning.
Turn what you’re learning into creative projects, public activities, storytelling, and interactive experiences that help neighbors understand and respond to climate change.
Connect with professionals and employers working in areas such as green infrastructure, environmental education, planning, restoration, sustainability, and climate resilience.
Participants will receive:
WEDG® training and exam preparation
Opportunity to earn the WEDG® Associate credential
Hands-on field and technical training
Career exploration and professional development
Opportunities to meet climate and environmental professionals
Connections to internships, apprenticeships, and jobs
Participation in creative, community-based climate projects
A full $700 will be provided upon completion of the WEDG exam
OMNY cards will be provided to support travel
Every in person session will have food available
Who should apply?
You don’t need to already know anything about waterfront design, climate planning, climate science, or environmental work to participate. We’re looking for young people who:
Are 17–24 years old
Live in New York City
Are from or connected to a New York City environmental justice community
Are willing to learn, participate, and work with others
Commit to and engage in nearly 100 hours of training spanning 16 weeks, which includes twice-weekly sessions, select evening or weekend engagements, site visits, and professional growth opportunities.
We believe the people who know these communities best should have opportunities to shape what comes next, and to build careers doing it.
Stipend and support
Fellows receive a $700 award upon finishing the WEDG® Associate exam.
Food is provided at every in-person gathering, and OMNY cards are available for travel.
Timeline
Sign up to the application form by October 31.
Notification: Applicants will be notified of acceptance before December 15, 2026.
Program Timeline: The first cohort runs from January 2027 through April 2027. (Dates will be updated soon).
Where will you be?
Waterfront Alliance Office in Manhattan
Community and partner locations across the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, and Staten Island
Local libraries, waterfronts, parks, and field research sites throughout the five boroughs
What is the time commitment?
We’re ready to work with participants’ capacity. Dedicated fellows receive roughly 6 to 8 hours each week, a total of approximately 100 hours of engagement over 16 weeks.
Fellowship cohort size
Each cohort includes about 60 fellows
A total of 120 young leaders will participate across two cohorts
Accessibility and inclusion
We select training sites near participating neighborhoods that are easily reached via public transportation.
All indoor workshops are held in ADA-accessible spaces.
Travel support is provided through OMNY cards.
Meals are available for all participants at every in-person event.
Waterfront Alliance provides reasonable accommodations to support fellows with disabilities or specific access requirements.
Translation or language assistance can be coordinated upon request.
To discuss specific needs, please reach out to fhusani@waterfrontalliance.org.
What is WEDG®?
WEDG® (Waterfront Edge Design Guidelines) is a nationally recognized framework developed by Waterfront Alliance to help create waterfronts that are resilient, ecological, accessible, and equitable. The WEDG® Associate credential demonstrates foundational knowledge of waterfront resilience, climate adaptation, ecology, public access, and community-centered planning, and is increasingly recognized by planners, designers, engineers, agencies, and resilience practitioners working on waterfront projects across the United States.
