Meet the 2026 AV Fellowship Cohort
Empowering the Next Generation of Changemakers
In a world where the obstacles to progress can sometimes feel overwhelming, the Access Ventures Fellowship is for young leaders committed to making a meaningful difference.
This unique program, designed for emerging leaders between the ages of 22 and 30, provides a platform for individuals with bold ideas to develop their leadership skills, grow their visions, and contribute to human flourishing. With a $20,000 stipend, personalized mentorship, and a vast support network, the fellowship empowers its participants to craft innovative solutions to the systemic challenges that vulnerable communities face.
The 2026 Access Ventures Fellows
Since its founding in 2014, Access Ventures has been dedicated to elevating transformational leaders who challenge the status quo. The fellowship is rooted in the belief that significant change starts with people—those who see possibilities where others see obstacles. It is a place where ideas take root, driven by individuals with the passion and grit to bring them to life.
The Access Ventures Fellowship is highly selective, drawing applications from across the nation each year, with submissions accepted until January 31. The ideal candidate has demonstrated resilience, a strong sense of purpose, and a proven track record of entrepreneurial action. Whether you’re an aspiring social entrepreneur or a researcher focused on improving health outcomes, the program seeks leaders with a clear vision for human flourishing and the commitment to fully engage with the fellowship’s activities.
Introducing the 2026 Fellows
Six new fellows have joined the AV Fellowship for 2026. They kicked off together in San Diego this week and are now starting a 10-month journey that runs through May 2027.
The fellowship supports bold leaders working to foster human flourishing. Each fellow gets a $20,000 unrestricted stipend, mentorship, and three in-person gatherings to build community and move their projects forward.
Here is the 2026 cohort, and what each of them is building.
Sophia Newhouse Brown
LOs angeles, ca
Sophia is a Los Angeles County Public Defender with a background in psychology and social work. Off the clock, she plays recreational soccer, travels, and is dog mom to her pitbull, Bea.
Her project is an Elder Diversion Program: a way to move older adults involved in the criminal system out of prosecution and into tailored care and support that addresses the root causes of their involvement. By May 2027, she aims to produce a viable diversion model she can propose in her own jurisdiction and others can adapt. As she puts it, "Aging, illness, and the unmet needs of elder adults are best addressed in the community, not through the criminal legal system."
Chase Dominguez
pasadena, ca
Chase is a wealth strategist at a family office who works with professional athletes on financial planning. A former University of Utah and New Orleans Saints player, he runs marathons and ultras, cooks, and golfs.
His project, Restorative Leadership for High-Performance Earners, explores what happens when performance and personal growth stop competing and start working together. Drawing on his own experience in football and the NFL, and his year of personal transition, he'll interview athletes, advisors, coaches, and families, then build and pilot a restorative leadership model that measures trust and well-being. His reframe: "Leadership that builds people, not just portfolios."
Jordin Young
imperial beach, ca
Jordin is a San Diego native and former college football player from a military family. He draws on faith and lived adversity to develop people and strengthen communities.
His project, the Young Opportunity Foundation (Project LightPath), empowers foster youth and teens in at-risk environments, ages 12 to 17, through exposure, mentorship, career pathways, sports, and faith. The idea is simple and personal: young people need to see a different future before they can believe it's possible. "Sometimes you have to see a different future before you can believe it is possible."
DaNae McDaniel
los angeles, ca
DaNae is a creative strategist and Howard University graduate with experience across corporate, nonprofit, and entrepreneurial worlds.
Her project, The Playbook, is a human-centered creative ecosystem for people who have the conviction and need the strategy. Built at the intersection of identity, strategy, and creative expression, it's not a business accelerator and not self-help. It's a framework for people who are ready and need the right structure to match. She's already tested pieces of it: distributing 150 art-supply bags with the Carolyn James Legacy Foundation and the Boys and Girls Club of Riviera Beach, facilitating creative work inside juvenile detention, and building a workbook that takes people from raw idea to real clarity. Her premise: "Play is not the opposite of serious. It's the condition for genuine discovery."
Roosevelt Augustin
los angeles, CA
Roosevelt is a filmmaker and Senior Project Manager at Warner Bros. Discovery, where he leads streaming launches across live sports and HBO Max. He's the youngest of eight in a first-generation Haitian household, a Howard University graduate, and founder of the production company Field of Roses.
His project, The Hidden Cost of Ambition, examines loneliness inside high-performance environments. One in two U.S. adults reports loneliness, and executives and founders often report it most. Roosevelt will host four Socratic seminar dinners, turn what surfaces into a 10-to-12-minute short film, and build a screening format that partner organizations can run on their own. The question driving it: "Do the systems that produce high performance also produce isolation, and can they be built to produce connection instead?"
Sarah Hartono
la mirada, CA
Sarah is a builder who has spent years designing play-based experiences for social and emotional wellness, work that has reached more than 12,000 kids. She has also worked at Quizlet and Nintendo.
Her project, Ambition x Limits, asks a question a lot of founders and leaders quietly carry: what happens when hard work stops working? She wants to design a healthier relationship with work, rest, and human limits, and to help leaders discern what a limit is actually asking of them, whether that's perseverance, recovery, boundaries, redistribution, or transition. Over the fellowship she'll interview founders, athletes, and professionals about ambition and limits, then prototype a practical tool leaders can use.
What's Next
Over the next 10 months, these six will pursue their projects with unrestricted funding, mentorship, and a community of peers committed to building people up and serving the vulnerable.
Welcome to the AV Fellowship!!
A Catalyst for Change
The Access Ventures Fellowship is much more than a leadership development program; it’s a springboard for young innovators ready to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. With a commitment to investing in the next generation of change agents, Access Ventures provides the resources and community needed to help these fellows turn their ideas into real-world solutions.
Whether you’re an aspiring social entrepreneur, a researcher looking to make a difference, or an artist with a vision for a better world, the Access Ventures Fellowship offers an unparalleled opportunity to make a lasting impact.
For more details on the fellowship and how to apply, visit the Access Ventures Fellowship.