Career Opportunities

About Forefront

The Forefront Fellowship is an annual professional fellowship dedicated to cultivating emerging leaders in urban design, development, policy, and advocacy.

Each year, an interdisciplinary cohort of 25 Forefront Fellows investigates how design can address a social or political challenge facing New York City. Over the course of 10 months, Fellows explore wide-ranging approaches to the program topic in partnership with a city agency and through independent projects. Fellows build new skills and knowledge, expand their professional community, and develop meaningful projects with impact beyond the fellowship.

Forefront is grounded in an equity-based approach to urban design, which shapes the composition of each cohort, the selection of program theme, and the ethos of the program.

Forefront 2021: Neighborhood Fare

Our 2021 Forefront Fellowship, Neighborhood Fare, explores how to foster food equity in every New York City neighborhood through the built environment.

In Phase I, Fellows will partner with the Department of City Planning and the Mayor’s Office of Food Policy to investigate how city government can strengthen community-based infrastructure to advance food equity.

In Phase II, Fellows will work in independent teams to develop projects that support neighborhood food networks.

How can we improve access to healthy, affordable, and culturally appropriate food across the city? And how can we devise ownership structures, operational models, and new networks that empower communities to shape their own food systems?
Who Should Apply

Interests & Experience
Forefront Fellows are architects, landscape architects, advocates, planners, engineers, developers, public officials, technologists, data scientists, lawyers, scholars and journalists. Fellows typically have five to ten years of working experience, though we welcome mid-career candidates of any age.

This year, we welcome candidates with interest in food equity, community engagement, neighborhood and infrastructural planning, and/or business development. We particularly encourage candidates with expertise in mapping and visualization; capital planning and real estate, with experience in financial modeling; food policy and advocacy; and individuals with experience operating a food business or nonprofit.

Diversity, Equity & Inclusion
Forefront reflects the Forum’s commitment to promote the achievements of traditionally underrepresented groups in planning and design. Women, people of color, people with disabilities, and professionals with experience in diverse community settings are strongly encouraged to apply.

Additional Criteria
Fellows must live or work in the five boroughs of New York City for the duration of the Fellowship to be considered.

To Apply & For More Details: https://urbandesignforum.org/review/forefront-2021-neighborhood-fare/