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Care Village Fellowship

Care Village Fellowship · 2027 inaugural cohort · January–August 2027

Become a fellowRead the application guide (PDF)
5–7 fellows · Ages 18–30 · 8 months

What does it take to build community?

Community-building takes more than good intentions. It requires listening, understanding different perspectives, building relationships, and learning how to turn ideas into action.

Over eight months, 5–7 young Calgarians will explore these skills through hands-on learning, mentorship, and real-world experiences. You'll learn directly from community members and local organizations before taking on the challenge of collaboratively planning and delivering the 2027 Calgary Care Village.

AI illustration of young adults collaborating at a Care Village Fellowship workshop
January–August 2027

Your fellowship journey.

Scroll across to follow the journey.

  1. Phase 01 / January–March 2027

    Community Engagement Foundations.

    Get to know your community, build relationships, and explore what meaningful community leadership looks like.

    Through workshops, community visits, mentorship, and Indigenous-led learning experiences, you'll:

    • Learn about homelessness, peacebuilding, and asset-based community development.
    • Explore your own assumptions and relationships with people experiencing homelessness.
    • Meet community members and learn about Calgary's homelessness-serving organizations.
    • Participate in Indigenous-led learning, including weekend land-based experiences.

    Time commitment: 2–5 hours per week.

  2. Phase 02 / March–August 2027

    Leadership Action Studio.

    Turn your learning into action by working alongside other fellows to plan and deliver the 2027 Calgary Care Village.

    You'll have opportunities to:

    • Lead different areas of the festival, including community engagement, programming, volunteer coordination, and logistics.
    • Collaborate with community organizations, businesses, and other partners.
    • Develop practical leadership, communication, and project management skills.
    • Receive ongoing mentorship while taking ownership of real projects and decisions.

    Time commitment: 5–10 hours per week, increasing to as much as 15 hours per week closer to the festival.

  3. Phase 03 / Early August 2027

    Calgary Care Village.

    Bring months of learning and planning to life!

    Together with your fellow cohort, community partners, and volunteers, you'll deliver the Calgary Care Village, an annual festival bringing housed and unhoused Calgarians together through essential services, live entertainment, and shared experiences.

    You'll put your leadership skills into practice, navigate real-world challenges, and celebrate what you've accomplished as a team.

    Weekday event in the first two weeks of August. Exact date to be confirmed.

What You'll Receive as a Fellow

$500 Honorarium

Receive a $500 honorarium upon successful completion of the Fellowship.

Professional Training

Receive Nonviolent Crisis Intervention (NVCI) training through the Crisis Prevention Institute (CPI), Engaging Vulnerable Persons training, naloxone administration training, and more.

Community & Sector Exposure

Connect with frontline service providers, community leaders, and people with lived experience through site visits, workshops, and hands-on learning.

Real-World Leadership Experience

Gain hands-on experience leading a major community-building initiative in Calgary, from planning and community engagement to delivering the Care Village festival.

Certificate of Completion

Receive an official certificate recognizing your successful completion of the Fellowship.

AlumnX Community

Join our alumni network, stay connected with other fellows, and have opportunities to mentor and support future Fellowship cohorts.

Make room for meaningful work

Taking part in the fellowship.

What participation looks like

Meeting schedule & learning experiences.

Fellows will meet every other Saturday, with one in-person meeting and one virtual meeting each month.

Additional learning opportunities will include workshops, community visits, and Indigenous-led land-based learning weekends (Friday–Sunday). Some activities will be mandatory, while others will be optional. Specific dates for weekend learning will be shared closer to fellow selection.

Regular Saturday availability is essential to participating in the fellowship.

Make room for meaningful work

Time commitment.

January–March 2027: 2–5 hours per week. March–July 2027: 5–10 hours per week. Final month before the festival: up to 15 hours per week. Early August 2027: participation in weekday festival delivery.

During the Leadership Action Studio, you'll have flexibility to coordinate your own work, manage individual responsibilities, and collaborate with other fellows.

Communication & accountability

Flexibility & expectations.

We understand that fellows may be balancing school, employment, family responsibilities, and other commitments. We want this program to be accessible and will work with selected fellows to explore reasonable accommodations.

What matters most is communication and accountability. If you can't attend a session or complete a commitment, we expect you to communicate proactively, seek support when needed, and take the initiative to catch up.

We encourage applicants to realistically consider the time commitment. If regular Saturday meetings or the expected weekly hours are not feasible, this may not be the right program for you at this time.

Your next steps

Application & selection timeline.

Application deadline: November 30, 2026. Interviews: second week of December 2026. Selection decisions: within five days of your interview. First cohort gathering: third week of December 2026 (tentative). Fellowship begins: January 2027. Calgary Care Village: first two weeks of August 2027 (weekday, exact date to be confirmed).

Bring your curiosity

Who should apply?

We're looking for 5–7 young adults aged 18–30 who are curious about community-building, open to different perspectives, and willing to learn and work collaboratively.

You don't need prior experience in homelessness services, nonprofit work, or event planning. We're more interested in your motivation, willingness to learn, and commitment to the program.

Shortlisted applicants will be invited to an interview in December, with selection decisions communicated within five days following the interview.

2027 inaugural fellowship

Your community.
Your next chapter.

Ready to be a Care Village Fellow?
Applications close November 30, 2026.

Apply for the fellowshipRead the application guide (PDF)