LEE closed out the first quarter of 2026 with more than 71,000 members and 26 partners. This includes:
New members registered with LEE in Q1
Newly engaged members
LEE members have registered to run for office
LEE Public Policy Fellow (PPF) Isabella Esquivel, has made significant impact in her policy and advocacy placement with Red Cloud Renewable.
Her role at the organization–which empowers Native American communities by offering vital education in solar installation, sustainable building practices, and weatherization techniques–has led to important contributions in workforce development and policy research. She has created policy briefs, improved research systems, and developed materials used in workforce training programs.
Isabella’s research has included important findings on tribal enterprise structures, such as Battery Energy Storage Systems, that support long-term energy sovereignty on native lands. This research has helped inform how this and similar programs will be impacted by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. The findings are critical, as energy sovereignty ensures that native families are able to live in homes that conserve energy, cut utility costs, and create healthier living environments. According to Red Cloud Renewables, by upgrading insulation, sealing leaks, and modernizing heating systems, families get immediate relief while strengthening long-term energy independence for Native communities.
In addition to her PPF placement, since joining LEE, Isabella has participated in the Storytelling Course, which she says improved how she communicates her work and shares community narratives. She also took part in the Political Leadership Program in Houston, which focused on strategy, representation, and community power, and connected her with a strong network of leaders of color.
“LEE offers opportunities to continue building my leadership and policy skills, and the programs help me stay focused on professional growth and connected to community-centered work,” she said. “I am most interested in coaching, policy learning, and leadership development opportunities that strengthen long-term community impact.”
“LEE has provided structure, clarity, and community during an important moment in my career. The programs strengthened my storytelling and policy skills, and coaching helped me navigate a career transition with confidence,” she added.”
“LEE also connected me with leaders who share a commitment to community-centered change. That support has shaped how I show up as a policy and workforce development leader.”
Whether members are ready to launch a campaign soon or are just curious what it would be like, the PLP meets attendees where they are. And, there is no requirement to run for office when this program ends.
Members will be connected with experienced mentors, hear from leaders who have run for office, and will walk away with a clearer understanding of what it takes to run.
Find out more about the program and apply here.
ALL Chicago is a nonpartisan organization dedicated to civic education and leadership development and promoting a vision for a Chicago where all students, especially those furthest from opportunity, benefit from school boards and local leaders who are knowledgeable, engaged, and committed to equitable education.
Their programs help community members understand school governance, develop leadership skills, and explore ways to contribute meaningfully to their schools and district. These programs include a 7-month fellowship for aspiring school board members and education advocates interested in understanding public school governance and civic engagement.
The fellowship connects leaders to part-time placements with mission-aligned public leaders and organizations. It’s designed for those exploring careers in policy and advocacy and provides practical experience, mentorship, and access to professional development.
Rachel Adenan (Teach For America), for instance, was placed with the DC Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) – Division of Teaching and Learning. With the OSSE, Rachel developed a literacy heat map detailing the curriculum used by each DC Local Education Agency (LEA) to strengthen state-level visibility into instructional practices. She mapped and synthesized state literacy policies and legislative requirements to support internal planning and ensure accurate, accessible communication for LEAs. And, she reviewed and updated English Learner policy guidance to ensure alignment with statewide literacy initiatives and better support multilingual learners.
Through this work, Rachel was able to clarify complex literacy policy, all while strengthening her skills in analysis, synthesis, and strategic communication. She hopes to continue this work by pursuing roles in education policy, implementation support, or strategic communications and said that the fellowship shaped her future goals by providing coaching opportunities and hands-on policy experience in a state education agency.
In March, LEE held its Take Action Summit, a weekend experience built for our 18-24 year-old members to learn how to use their voice, tell their story, and create impact in their communities. Members from eight partners were in attendance, including Breakthrough Collaborative, the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute, Alliance College-Ready Public Schools, KIPP, IDEA Public Schools, Teach For America, DREAM, and YES Prep.
The event offered members a chance to gain clarity on what matters to them, build confidence in using their voice, develop leadership skills to use in their school, work, and community, and make connections with others who support their growth. Check out what attendees had to say after the event.
“Attending the LEE Take Action Summit was a turning point in how I view my role within my community. In this program, I had the opportunity to reflect on the issues I truly care about and develop an actionable, scalable plan. I now aspire to become involved in the non-profit sector, where I can help unify the neighborhood that raised me. My goal is to ensure that the next generation has the mentorship and resources that were often out of reach during my own journey.” Oliver Ramos, IDEA Public Schools
“This program helped me realize that other people have had similar experiences to mine and now, having this community that we built in just a few days at the Take Action Summit, we can help each other out to find solutions to problems in our communities.” Ariadna Garcia, KIPP
“Get involved in making change now, even without knowing everything. I thought college was the time to learn, so that I could make change later. I’ve now realized that I don’t have to wait. I can learn and advocate; they aren’t mutually exclusive.” Adonai Ross, Breakthrough Collaborative
LEE members from the Rio Grande Valley
LEE continues to look for new and meaningful ways to engage with members through our partnerships. Check out just a few examples of our collaboration with partners over the past few months.
March’s Super Tuesday was a big day for LEE members running for elected office. With 20 primary races taking place, LEE members had a 65% advancement rate to the next state of their respective elections (with two general elections also resulting in wins!). LEE is working to support 420 members at all levels of elected leadership as they run for office in 2026.
Notable primary wins include:
Please visit our Events page to see all the upcoming regional and national opportunities for members. If you have not yet set up your LEE account, you can do so here using a personal email address.
April 29: Nevada Policy Roundtable
April 30: Setting a District-Wide Vision for AI Literacy
May 14: Organizing Leadership Network’s (OLN) Strategy Lab: Strategic Research
June 26-28: Political Leadership Program
If you have any upcoming events or opportunities you’d like highlighted in a future Partnership QuarterLEE, or you just want to get in touch, please feel free to email me at sarah.sandoval-mohapatra@wearelee.org.
We look forward to continuing this quarterly opportunity to collaborate, connect, and celebrate our work together.
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