AmeriCorps Alums @ Service Year Alliance, a powerful network of diverse alums that support and equip each other to get things done so that all people can thrive in strong communities, seeks to recognize two emerging leaders for the 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award, which also grants them entry into the lifelong Segal Fellowship.
AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Awardees:
2025
Bahga Ahmed, a 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Fellow, draws upon her experience as a refugee to the United States and first generation college student to ensure others can live with dignity, stability, and opportunity. Through a service year with New American Pathways, Bagha helped newly arrived refugees and immigrants find employment and education, access healthcare, and connect to their new communities. Today, she serves as an administrative assistant with Catholic Charities. As a Segal Fellow, Bagha is eager to share her expertise in refugee integration, closing the digital divide, and building systems that create opportunity, continuing the same cycle of support that once changed her life.
Kelly Lee, a 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Fellow, is a first-generation college graduate, two-time AmeriCorps alum, and aspiring clinical psychologist. Growing up in Washington, D.C., Kelly saw firsthand how a lack of investment in education, mental health, and community safety affected her family and peers. Motivated to make a difference for other students, she went on to complete back-to-back service years with City Year DC. As a Segal Fellow, Kelly hopes to share insights from her work in trauma-informed education, public health research, and community-based outreach, while connecting with a new family of changemakers.
Daniel Nieves, a 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Fellow, is an educator at the City University of New York and Mercy University. Daniel brings a lifelong commitment to equity, inclusion, and community empowerment to his work in education and public service. Through his AmeriCorps service with the Office of the Mayor and NYC Service at NYC Parks, he led community engagement, volunteer coordination, and environmental stewardship initiatives throughout New York City, with a focus on the Bronx. His work today centers on building partnerships between institutions and communities to strengthen participation, sustainability, and civic leadership. As a Segal Fellow, Daniel looks forward to cultivating long-term relationships and advancing shared leadership rooted in service and equity.
2024
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2023
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Meet past AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Awardees on the Segal Program website.
About the Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program
Eli J. Segal has been described as the "father of AmeriCorps.” He served as the first CEO of the Corporation for National and Community Service, and under his leadership AmeriCorps was created. To honor Eli, and build upon his legacy, AmeriCorps Alums gives the AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award to recognize the achievement and potential of an outstanding alum whose work, after completing their service in AmeriCorps, demonstrates entrepreneurial vision and leadership to make this a better world.
Being awarded the AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award automatically enrolls the awardee as a lifelong Segal Fellow in the Eli J. and Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program. The Segal Program provides emerging leaders an opportunity to join a community of other like-minded changemakers. These leaders collaborate across sectors and topic areas to break down silos and create solutions in the pursuit of a more just and equitable world. During your first year as a Segal Fellow, you participate virtually monthly in the Segal Citizen Leadership Curriculum, and lifelong participation in our networking and leadership development offerings is expected.
There are over 170 inspiring, diverse, and multi-generational fellows who are already leaders in their communities, as well as a network of over 600 Founders and program partners. In addition to joining through AmeriCorps Alums @ Service Year Alliance, Fellows gain entry into the program through partnerships with diverse leaders from Brandeis University, City Year, and AmeriCorps.
For more information about the program, please visit segal.brandeis.edu.
What are the qualifications to apply?
The application for the 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award is now closed.
Candidates for the AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award should meet the following criteria:
- Have demonstrated strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills while serving in AmeriCorps.
- Commitment to advancing diverse, inclusive, and equitable strategies in their communities.
- Have successfully completed an AmeriCorps service year position between August 2022 and August 15, 2025.
- Seek meaningful participation as a lifelong Segal Fellow in the Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program.
We welcome a diverse applicant pool to ensure a diverse network of individuals in the Segal Leadership Program. Candidates are welcome to apply from all over, although preference is given to applicants from the Greater DC Area.
Expectations and Benefits of Selected Awardees:
Benefits and expectations of being selected for the AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award:
Cash Award: Receive a $2,000 cash award from Service Year Alliance to further your leadership and professional development.
Segal Fellowship Program: Be an active participant in activities of the Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program, a national network which aims to inspire, support, and enable new generations of leaders and promote citizen leadership. During their first year, awardees are expected to participate in this program through:
- Mandatory attendance in virtual monthly Segal Program professional and leadership training and events from October 2025 to July 2026.
- Requested attendance (with costs covered) at our bi-annual Segal Fellow Retreats (including in October 2026 in Greater Boston).
- Meaningful connection with their Segal near-peer “buddy” (year one), their Segal Advisor (later years), and the larger Segal network of 170+ Fellows and 600+ partners (lifelong).
- Participation in Segal events throughout their lifetime and career, after June 2026 (networking events, service opportunities, biannual retreat, monthly webinars, etc).
Service Year Alliance Network: Stay connected to the Service Year Alliance network through your choice of opportunities:
- Write a blog post about your service year experience.
- Attend a Hill Day or congressional office visit when available.
- Write a letter to the editor about the importance of service year opportunities.
- Act as a mentor to a prospective or currently serving service year corps member.
How to Apply:
Submit the following documents and information by Monday, August 18, 2025 at 5 p.m. (ET). No late applications will be considered.
Documents to include: (each document included below should be in PDF format and uploaded to the application)
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Resume (maximum of 2 pages):
- Resume should not exceed 2 pages and should include the experience that best speaks to your qualifications as a Segal Fellow
- Please include your current residence on the resume
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Short Answer Questions (each response should not exceed 300 words):
- Describe a time when you demonstrated strong communication, collaboration, and leadership skills. What did you learn from this experience?
- What value do you hope to bring to the lifelong Eli J. & Phyllis N. Segal Citizen Leadership Program and how do you hope to actively engage, both getting from and giving to the Segal Fellowship?
- How has the pursuit of justice, with a focus on equity, diversity and inclusion, shown up in your life personally or professionally? (Examples of this may include your lived experience and your other community/professional efforts).
- What else do you want us to know about you?
- Submission of voluntary demographic information.
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Submission of voluntary demographic information.
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Please note: there is an option in every category for 'prefer not to say' for anyone who would not like to submit any or all of the information. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Please select all that apply.
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Race and Ethnicity (select all that apply):
- Hispanic, Latinx, Spanish, or Portuguese origin (Of Iberian Peninsula and/or Latin American Descent -- Eg: Mexican or Mexican American, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Salvadoran, Dominican, Colombian, Brazilian, etc)?
- Black or African American origin (Of Sub-Saharan African Descent -- Eg: African American, Jamaican, Haitian, Nigerian, Ethiopian, Somalian, etc)
- Asian or Asian American origin (Commonly of east and southern Asian Descent -- Eg: Chinese, Filipino, Asian Indian, Vietnamese, Korean, Japanese, etc)
- Native American or Alaska Native origin (Eg: Navajo nation, Blackfeet tribe, Mayan, Aztec, Native Village or Barrow Inupiat Traditional Government, Nome Eskimo Community, etc)
- Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander origin (Eg: Native Hawaiian, Samoan, Chamorro, Tongan, Fijian, etc)
- White or European origin (Of White European Descent, not Iberian Peninsula -- Eg: German, Irish, English, Italian, Polish, French, Russian, etc)
- Prefer not to say
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Pronouns (select all that apply):
- He/Him
- She/Her
- They/Them
- Prefer not to say
- Other
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What is your gender identity? (select all that apply):
- Female
- Male
- Non-binary
- Transgender
- Intersex
- Prefer not to say
- Other
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Sexual Orientation:
- Gay
- Lesbian
- Bisexual
- Pansexual
- Queer
- Asexual
- Heterosexual
- Prefer not to say
- Other
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Age:
- Under 18 years old
- 18-24 years old
- 25-34 years old
- 35 - 44 years old
- 45+ years old
- Prefer not to say
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Education Attainment:
- No formal education
- Some high school, no diploma
- High school graduate, diploma or the equivalent (for example: GED)
- Some college credit, no degree
- Trade/technical/vocational training
- Associate degree
- Bachelor’s degree
- Master’s degree
- Professional degree
- Doctorate degree
- Prefer not to say
- Other
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Disability or learning challenge (select all that apply):
- Dyslexia
- Blind/partially sighted
- Deaf/hearing impairment
- Wheelchair user/mobility problem
- Personal support need
- Mental health difficulty
- ‘Unseen’ disability (for example, asthma, diabetes, epilepsy)
- No known disability
- Prefer not to say
- Other
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When it comes to politics, how do you usually think of yourself?
- Very progressive / left
- Progressive / left
- Slightly progressive / left
- Moderate / middle-of-the-road
- Slightly conservative / right
- Conservative / right
- Very conservative / right
- Libertarian / classical liberal
- Don't know / not political
- Other
- Prefer not to say
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Race and Ethnicity (select all that apply):
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Please note: there is an option in every category for 'prefer not to say' for anyone who would not like to submit any or all of the information. All qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, genetics, disability, age, or veteran status. Please select all that apply.
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Two References: (at least one of your references should be someone you know from service like a manager or peer) - Example: [Ellie Mist, Former Team Leader, City Year, 444-444-4444)
- Name of reference (first and last)
- Relationship to reference (ex: former team leader or program manager)
- Organization where you worked together (ex: City Year)
- Phone number
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Proof of service:
- Visit my.americorps.gov for proof of service letter or other signed documentation.
- Documentation submitted should show a verified date of service.
Please only submit materials listed above. Additional materials will not be reviewed.
Note: This award is not employment and does not entitle the awardee to receive Service Year Alliance employee benefits, such as pension, healthcare, or other related benefits received by full-time employees of Service Year Alliance.
Application Timeline for 2025 AmeriCorps Alums Segal Leadership Award:
- August 18, 5 p.m. ET - Applications Due. No late applications will be considered.
- September - Top candidates notified & interviews scheduled
- October - Winners notified!
- October 2025 - July 2026 - Segal Program Leadership Development Curriculum and Cohort Meetings, held monthly
- 2026 & Beyond - Ongoing Segal Program engagement as a lifelong Segal Fellow, including matching with a Segal coach, monthly convenings, Fellow Retreats, and more
Have questions about the award? Please contact us at [email protected].
