Key Programs and Features

Not all students of color attend HBCUs — but they still deserve systems that see and support them. This initiative extends Elara’s mission by partnering with schools that serve high populations of underrepresented students, providing leadership development, strategic programming, and funding that ensures students thrive in every setting. Equity shouldn't depend on zip code — and neither should opportunity.

The Elara Ascend Fellowship is our flagship leadership program for high-potential HBCU students and recent alumni. Designed to cultivate future changemakers, the Fellowship combines executive mentorship, cohort-based learning, career exposure, and civic leadership training. Ascend isn’t just about who leads next — it’s about how they’re prepared to lead with purpose, strategy, and power.

The Elara Career Catalyst bridges the gap between education and employment for HBCU students and alumni. Through tailored career support, mentorship, internship placements, and executive access, this initiative prepares participants to enter high-impact industries with confidence and clarity. We don’t just help students get jobs — we help them launch careers with purpose and staying power.

You can choose to set up difThe Elara Future Boardroom Initiative prepares the next generation of Black leaders to take their place at the highest levels of influence — in boardrooms, advisory councils, foundations, and executive decision-making spaces. Through training, mentorship, and curated placements, this initiative helps HBCU alumni and allies develop the skills, language, and presence needed to lead where strategy is set and power is shaped. Because equity doesn’t end at access — it begins with governance.ferent types of input fields depending on your content. For instance, a blog might have a title, a slug, and a long-form field for formatted content. These may be different for a product directory or a photo blog, where you may need to add an image field. To edit the fields each CMS item will have, click on any of the column titles. This will trigger a modal to add new fields, where you can also re-arrange the fields or modify or delete the existing ones.

The Elara Scholars Fund provides direct financial support to high-potential HBCU students facing barriers to completion — from tuition gaps to emergency needs. More than a scholarship, it’s a lifeline that helps students stay enrolled, graduate with dignity, and lead with impact. We invest not just in education, but in generational legacy.

The Elara Alumni Circle is a lifelong network of leaders who’ve completed Elara programs and continue to shape impact across sectors. More than a directory, the Circle offers mentorship opportunities, exclusive events, continued professional development, and a shared commitment to legacy. It’s where community becomes coalition — and where Elara’s mission continues to grow, long after the program ends.

The Elara Civic Corps equips HBCU students and alumni to lead in government, public policy, and community-based institutions. Through immersive training, placements, and mentorship, the program prepares future changemakers to influence policy, build coalitions, and drive structural change from within. Because real equity requires not just protest — but presence in the rooms where decisions are made.