AfroFutures Fellowship

A passport is more than just another form of ID.

With a passport you are free to see and connect with the rest of the world. Free to gain a new and transformative perspective on life. Without it, you are forever confined to your country of birth - and if your ancestors come from elsewhere in the world, this means you are forever disconnected from a vital piece of your heritage.

For too many Twin Cities young people of African descent, a $165 passport fee — along with confusing paperwork and harmful stereotypes about Africa are the first barriers that separate them from life-changing opportunity to travel and reconnect with their ancestral homeland.

The Afrofutures Passport + Travel Fellowship removes both barriers.

Two Pathways. One Passport. Unlimited Possibilities.

Young people earn their first passport by choosing a path:

Path 1: Service to Community
Volunteer at Twin Cities homeless shelters. Give back locally while preparing to connect globally.

Path 2: Become a Knowledge Creator
Research African history, culture, or innovation. Share what you learn through spoken word, rap, poetry, or storytelling.

Both paths include full passport coverage, application support, and one parent/caregiver participating alongside their student.

Then, the Journey Deepens

Participants explore Pan-African history—Marcus Garvey's influence on Malcolm X, Kwame Nkrumah's vision, the global Black Panther movement. They trace their favorite music back to its African roots. They discover Africa's tech revolution: mobile banking, data sovereignty, agricultural innovation.

The most committed participants earn fully-funded 6-week summer fellowships in Ghana—experiencing vibrant cultures, meeting peers, building networks that last a lifetime.

Why Ghana? Why Now?

Ghana has established a Law of Abode welcoming diaspora descendants home. But many Twin Cities youth have never considered going—held back by misconceptions and cost.

This fellowship answers the questions: What's it like outside the U.S.? What is Africa really like? What was lost in the transatlantic slave trade—and what can we reclaim and take into the future?

Your gift directly supports our inaugural cohort of 15 young people in five core areas - each with their own funding goal:

1. Passport Program — $3,450
Covers passport fees and hands-on application support for students and families.

2. Curriculum Development — $20,700
Development of Minnesota-based Pan-African curriculum, creative prompts, and digital learning tools.

3. Travel / Stay in Ghana — $93,470
Airfare, housing, meals, local transportation, educational site visits, and cultural programming for a six-week exchange.

4. Program Admin / Operations — $29,640
Youth coordination, facilitation, partnerships, safety planning, and administrative support.

5. Post-Trip Programming — $7,000
Community showcases, creative production, storytelling events, and alumni engagement back in Minnesota.

Total Program Budget: $160,560

This fellowship is inspired by the legacy of Ernestine Belton, a South Minneapolis mother, activist, and community educator who championed Black excellence and knew that knowledge about the world is transformational, and powerfulapplication.

Our inaugural Summer 2026 cohort launches soon. Every dollar builds the foundation: curriculum development, Ghana partnerships, and opportunities for students who need this most.

Be Part of the Foundation. Your gift today makes our Summer 2026 program possible!