Charlie Zhen completed his fellowship in his hometown of New York City with United Community Schools. His work ranged from drafting social media content to preparing materials for meetings with city officials—including the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office.

While the financial support was important, Charlie highlighted the value of learning alongside a cohort of peers committed to civic engagement. “It was interesting to not only get a perspective of the one organization you were at but to see what other people were working on,” he said.

The experience deepened his understanding of how nonprofits, labor, and government work together to support communities. Today, Charlie serves as Manager of Community Engagement at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, calling the fellowship a pivotal step in his path to public service.