Community Technology Fellowship 2026–2027 with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) ·2027 with the Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI), a leading international nonprofit dedicated to making the online world safer for children and families, has announced an exciting opportunity for graduate students: the Community Technology Fellowship 2026–2027. This fellowship is designed to empower young people with digital citizenship skills while equipping graduate students to become facilitators and community implementers of FOSI’s evidence-based online safety programs.

Fellowship Overview

• Organization: Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI)
• Location: Hybrid – Remote & In-person at community-based sites in Chicago, IL; Austin, TX; or Los Angeles, CA
• Position Type: Fellowship (Part-time)
• Grant Award: $10,000 total ($5,000 per semester)
• Program Dates: September 8, 2026 – May 2027

This fellowship provides graduate students with the opportunity to deliver FOSI’s Digital Citizens workshop series to youth in trusted community settings. Fellows will help young people build skills in AI literacy, social media wellbeing, healthy online relationships, digital boundaries, and responsible online behavior.

Fellowship Goals

The Community Technology Fellows Program is designed to:

1. Develop youth digital citizenship skills through accessible, engaging workshops.
2. Bring FOSI’s balanced online safety guidance into local institutions.
3. Equip graduate student Fellows to serve as facilitators and community partners.
4. Support community centers that lack staff capacity or curriculum for digital citizenship programming.
5. Generate practical learning from youth and community partners to inform FOSI’s future resources and policy work.

Key Responsibilities

1. Workshop Facilitation & Youth Engagement

• Deliver FOSI’s Digital Citizens workshop series in assigned community centers.
• Facilitate interactive, discussion-based sessions for diverse youth groups.
• Create a welcoming, age-appropriate, and nonjudgmental learning environment.
• Guide youth through reflection activities, scenarios, and group discussions.

2. Community Center Implementation Support

• Serve as the primary Fellow contact for assigned sites.
• Coordinate scheduling and logistics with site liaisons.
• Support youth recruitment and engagement.
• Surface site-level needs and feedback to FOSI’s Programs Specialist.

3. Curriculum Delivery & Program Materials

Fellows will use standardized FOSI materials to deliver three core modules:

• AI, Chatbots & You – Understanding how AI generates responses, evaluating information, and setting personal “AI rules.”
• Social Media & Mental Health – Exploring attention design, mood impacts, identity, and healthy digital habits.
• Healthy Online Relationships & Boundaries – Recognizing cyberbullying, distinguishing healthy vs. unhealthy behaviors, and building respectful communication standards.

4. Evaluation, Learning & Reporting

• Track participation and engagement.
• Administer pre/post reflections or surveys.
• Collect informal feedback from youth and staff.
• Contribute recommendations for curriculum improvement.

5. Cohort Participation & Professional Development

• Participate in Fellow training before program delivery.
• Join regular cohort meetings for coaching and shared learning.
• Collaborate with other Fellows to exchange strategies and insights.
• Represent FOSI professionally and uphold its balanced, evidence-based approach.

Qualifications

Required

• Current graduate student in a relevant field (education, public policy, social work, youth development, communications, public health, information studies, technology policy, psychology, sociology, etc.).
• Strong interest in youth digital citizenship, online safety, media literacy, AI literacy, or technology and society.
• Comfort facilitating workshops or discussions with youth.
• Excellent verbal communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to coordinate with partners.
• Ability to explain complex topics in clear, age-appropriate ways.
• Commitment to inclusive, culturally responsive programming.
• Reliability and professionalism in community-based settings.

Preferred

• Experience working with teens in schools, youth programs, or community organizations.
• Experience facilitating workshops, trainings, or peer education sessions.
• Familiarity with digital citizenship, online safety, cyberbullying prevention, or media literacy.
• Experience collecting program feedback or survey data.
• Interest in nonprofit programming, community engagement, or public-interest technology.

Time Commitment

• Part-time during the semester.
• Approximately two community center sites per semester.
• Includes training, workshop delivery, scheduling, participation tracking, and reporting.
• Flexible scheduling to accommodate graduate student commitments.
• Fellows will work 3 days a week (remote and in-person on community engagement days).
• A lunch stipend is included.

Application Process

Interested candidates should submit the following :

• A CV
• A cover letter describing interest and relevant experience
• A writing sample (policy or tech-focused preferred)

Send your application to: fosi@fosi.org

Deadline: Fellowship begins September 8, 2026.

Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until a candidate is selected.

About FOSI

The Family Online Safety Institute (FOSI) is an international nonprofit organization working to make the online world safer for kids and families. FOSI convenes leaders from industry, government, academia, and nonprofits to collaborate on innovative solutions, research, and policy approaches. Through programs, events, and family-facing guidance, FOSI helps children, parents, caregivers, educators, and policymakers acknowledge risks, mitigate harms, and realize the rewards of digital life.

Conclusion

The Community Technology Fellowship 2026–2027 offers graduate students a unique opportunity to combine academic interests with real-world impact. Fellows will play a vital role in empowering youth with digital citizenship skills, supporting community centers, and contributing to FOSI’s mission of online safety. With professional development, a generous stipend, and hands-on experience, this fellowship is ideal for graduate students passionate about technology, youth development, and social impact.