September 15th, 2026 —
This September, we launched the 2026 Opportunity Fellowship with an in-person Opportunity Summit in Washington, D.C., bringing together eight emerging writers and journalists to explore the economic, cultural, and technological forces shaping opportunity for young Americans.
Over two days, our fellows heard from journalists, policy experts, and other stakeholders working on issues ranging from economic mobility and housing affordability to artificial intelligence, family formation, community life, and entrepreneurship. Now, they’re heading out to do what the fellowship is all about: original, deeply reported journalism that brings new voices and perspectives into the conversation about opportunity.
Meet the 2026 fellows:
- Mackenzie France — Director of Strategy at the Pinsker Centre and a Krauthammer Fellow at the Tikvah Fund. He has written on foreign policy and international affairs.
- Iulia Lupse — Freelance writer with experience in political campaigns, policy, and media. Her writing covers topics ranging from blockchain and climate change to political analysis.
- Benjamin Rothove — Student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and editor-in-chief of the Madison Federalist. In Summer 2025 he interned with National Review.
- Jack Verrill — Sophomore at the University of Michigan studying Politics, Philosophy, and Economics. He writes about politics and is pursuing a career in media and public policy.
- Micky Horstman — Communications Associate at the Illinois Policy Institute. He previously wrote as an opinion columnist for the Daily Illini and has experience in journalism and media relations.
- LyLena Estabine — Policy Researcher at the Illinois Policy Institute, where she focuses on housing affordability and poverty alleviation. She is also editor of Voice & Virtue.
- Abdullah Hayek — Washington-based Middle East analyst focused on regional security and U.S. foreign policy. He has experience in policy research at The Washington Institute and The Heritage Foundation.
- David Mendoza — Educator at a classical school in California and a Young Voices contributor. He writes on issues of education, culture, and public policy.
In the months ahead, our fellows will cover economic mobility through original reporting across legacy and digital media. Keep an eye out for their stories.
