Florianny Norman Reyes ’26 selected for national human rights fellowship
Florianny Norman Reyes ’26, a neuroscience and human development double major and Holleran Center scholar who calls both the Dominican Republic and Queens, New York, home, has been selected as a 2025-2026 Fellow for Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights’ John Lewis Young Leaders program (JLYL). The year-long undergraduate fellowship that prepares college students for a future in community organizing and civic engagement. Selected from over 550 applicants, Norman Reyes will join 15 other students from public and private universities across the country in the 2025-2026 JLYL cohort.
The RFK Human Rights Young Leaders program was initially established in 2017 and later restructured in 2022 to honor the late civil rights leader John Lewis. Throughout the course of the year, fellows engage their campus and local communities in human rights work through a capstone project. Fellows receive resources and support to ensure their success in the program, including access to comprehensive grassroots organizing workshops, monthly one-on-one mentorship from RFK Human Rights staff, financial support and access to an extensive network of human rights professionals, peers and program alumni.
Norman Reyes said, “The fellowship has been an incredible opportunity for students passionate about human rights and community organizing. This summer, I joined their annual retreat in Atlanta, where I was deeply inspired by my peers and by the legacy of John Lewis and Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Through the workshops, I engaged with active changemakers such as Stacey Abrams and local leaders from across the country who shared their expertise in the field.”
Her capstone project focuses on empowering multilingual learners at Winthrop Elementary School in New London to continue developing their first language through Spanish interventions. The goal is to improve academic confidence while fostering a linguistically and culturally inclusive educational environment. “This fellowship directly supports my Senior Integrative Project (SIP) by connecting me with experts in the field and providing dedicated funding to carry out the work,” Norman Reyes explained.
Kerry Kennedy, president of RFK Human Rights, said this year’s cohort of fellows “is an extraordinary group” of young people. “I’m inspired by their courage, kindness and commitment to making our country a more just and equitable place,” she said. “I’m filled with hope as we welcome this next generation of leaders into the fold. The future is in powerful hands!”
Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights is a nonpartisan, not-for-profit organization that has worked to realize Robert F. Kennedy’s dream of a more just and peaceful world since 1968. In partnership with local activists, the organization advocates for key human rights issues—championing changemakers and pursuing strategic litigation at home and around the world. And to ensure change that lasts, RFK Human Rights fosters a social-good approach to business and investment and educates millions of students about human rights and social justice.
Connecticut College offers support for a wide range of fellowship opportunities for students and recent graduates. For more information, visit The Walter Commons or email fellowships@conncoll.edu.
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