The Lenfest Next Generation Fund

The Lenfest Next Generation Fund supports professional development opportunities for Philadelphia-area journalists and students of color.

The Lenfest Next Generation Fund supports professional development opportunities for Philadelphia-area journalists and students of color.

Created in 2019, the Lenfest Next Generation Fund aims to increase BIPOC representation in journalism by covering attendance costs for the national professional development conference of the awardee’s choice. After the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program evolved to also cover costs of professional equipment and support journalists participating in unpaid internships.

The Lenfest Next Generation Fund has two tracks:

The Professional Development Track provides awards to support either attendance of a professional development activity of an awardee’s choice or the purchase of equipment used for professional purposes.
The Internship Support Track provides funding to support students and journalists while participating in unpaid internships.

Recognizing that in-person networking events provide a stronger chance for journalists and students to create opportunities to grow professionally, The Lenfest Institute increased the awards this year to make these opportunities accessible and to ensure that students of color can pursue meaningful internships without worrying about financial support.

2025 Next Generation Awardees

Jesenia De Moya Correa
- Professional Development Track – Equipment for multimedia reporting
Lixandra Diaz
- Internship Support Track – Centro Integral de la Mujer Madre Tierra
Vicky Diaz-Camacho
- Professional Development Track – Documentary / audio production course
Aya Furin-Campbell
- Internship Support Track – Motivos Bilingual Magazine
Terrence Harris
- Professional Development Track – Website software
Julia Lowe
- Professional Development Track – Video and audio equipment
Tamara Russell
- Professional Development Track – Poynter Essential Skills for Rising Newsroom Leaders workshop
Kennedie Scurry
- Professional Development Track – Reporting equipment
Jean G. Sinaulan
- Professional Development Track – Video editing class and equipment
Kristal Sotomayor
- Professional Development Track – Camera equipment
Theresa Spencer
- Professional Development Track – Video and audio equipment
Gabriela Watson-Burkett
- Professional Development Track – 2025 National Association of Hispanic Journalists (NAHJ) Conference