Listen.
Start with the community. Learn from people’s experiences and identify a need worth addressing.
Don’t just imagine
what you could do.
Learn by doing it.
Preparing Inspiring Leaders through Learning, Action & Results.
Applications are currently closed.The cohort is paused. Join our updates to hear when future opportunities are announced.
Your ideas.
Community at the center.
P.I.L.L.A.R. brings emerging leaders together with experienced professionals to explore community needs and turn learning into meaningful work. The August 2025–May 2026 cohort paired mentorship with research, outreach, collaboration, and program design across ABLE’s five pillars.
Discover the five pillarsBuild.
Work with mentors and peers. Practice research, planning, communication, and collaboration through real responsibilities.
Reflect.
Share what you learned. Use feedback to strengthen your work and your confidence in leading it.
THE CHANGE, IN THEIR WORDSSee what
See what
belief can begin.
Confidence found. Ideas brought to life.
Hear from the people doing the growing.
My confidence in networking and coordinating fellow peers to a set goal has increased significantly.
Leadership skills, teamwork, contingency planning, event planning, and project management: taking what I've learned and putting it into action.
I've grown in seeing through to an idea and dedicating myself to an outcome that lived beyond my general benefit.
I am better at public speaking after speaking at the Gala.
I have grown in my ability to see projects through from beginning to end.
This challenged me to think strategically, adapt in real time, and understand the impact of communication, storytelling, and community engagement.
Mentorship, networking, and peer support were the most helpful resources in my growth.
Seeing everything come together for my pillar's business accelerator series.
BEFORE THE NEXT CHAPTERA few things
A few things
to know.
Who has the program served?
The inaugural model recruited college students and recent graduates in the DMV, with an emphasis on HBCU communities and people historically underrepresented in leadership opportunities. Recruitment included students from accredited institutions across the region.
What did fellows and interns do?
Fellows helped develop community-responsive program concepts. Interns contributed research, outreach, planning, and implementation support. Experienced professionals provided mentorship and feedback.
What are the dates, hours, and financial terms?
There is no open cohort or application cycle at present. Dates, eligibility, time commitments, compensation, and any academic-credit arrangements will be published with a future opportunity. Past program structures are not an offer of current placement or payment.
How will applications work?
When a new cycle is announced, this page will include its requirements, deadline, and application link. For now, join our email updates. Signing up does not submit an application or reserve a place.
Have experience to share?
You can express interest in mentoring or supporting future work today.
Share your volunteer interest