Podcast: Democracy hangs there by a thread

Across the nation, a new wave of civic-minded student-athletes stepped forward this past year through the 2024-25 Engaged Athlete Fellowship, using their athletic platforms to spark meaningful civic change. Now entering its third year, this fellowship is a cornerstone program of The Team, a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to integrating civic engagement into college athletics. Guided by their mission to “develop teammates, inspire leaders, empower citizens,” The Team equips student-athletes with the tools and support necessary to transform that vision into action. The Team operates as a fiscally sponsored project of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund, which also serves as the parent organization of The Fulcrum.

From August 2024 through June 2025, a diverse cohort of student-athletes from historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), major universities like Harvard, Duke, and Vanderbilt, and smaller colleges from across the country participated in intensive leadership training. Representing 16 states and 15 athletic conferences, these fellows received personalized coaching, professional mentorship, leadership curriculum, and stipends supporting their community-focused projects.