Meet the 2025 Access Ventures Fellows
Developing Tomorrow’s Leaders, Today
Since its founding in 2014, Access Ventures has been dedicated to elevating transformational leaders who challenge the status quo. The Access Ventures Fellowship is rooted in the belief that significant change starts with people—those who see possibilities where others see obstacles.
The fellowship, designed for emerging leaders between the ages of 22 and 30, provides a platform for individuals with bold ideas to develop their leadership skills, grow their visions, and contribute to human flourishing. With a $20,000 stipend, personalized mentorship, and a vast support network, the fellowship empowers its participants to craft innovative solutions to the systemic challenges that vulnerable communities face.
More than a pathway to economic success, the AV Fellowship encourages a holistic approach to well-being, nurturing Fellows to contribute not only to their own growth but also to the common good. Through this lens, participants are empowered to build a more just and compassionate society, where flourishing extends beyond self to embrace the needs and dignity of all.
The 2025 Fellows
This year, we are thrilled to announce the selection of 6 incredible individuals for our 2025 Fellowship. We’re eager to dig into their projects, collaborate and grow together, and uncover the impact they’ll have on their communities.
Natalie Delille • Atlanta, GA
Natalie is a social equity advocate from Brooklyn, NY, dedicated to improving lives through education and technology. She founded DearSociety, a nonprofit empowering youth in Haiti. It also hosts “DearSociety: Let’s Talk,” a speaker series on global issues. Natalie is a graduate of Howard University’s School of Business and the University of Cambridge. She also serves on the board of the Georgia Haitian-American Chamber of Commerce.
During the Access Ventures Fellowship, Natalie will focus on the DearSociety: Changemakers Institute. Changemakers Institute will house a fellowship program designed to equip high school students with the leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills necessary to drive sustainable change in their communities. It will provide mentorship from accomplished Haitian professionals, university preparation and access, and hands-on experience in social innovation.
Briana Parlor •Tallahassee, FL
Briana serves as a Training Specialist at Prevent Child Abuse Florida, housed within the Ounce of Prevention Fund of Florida. In this role, she provides training and education to communities, equipping them with meaningful strategies to support families. Beyond this role, she’s a Certified Community Doula, dedicated to supporting maternal and infant well-being. My mission is to empower families, professionals, and organizations with the knowledge and tools to cultivate stronger, healthier communities.
During the Access Ventures Fellowship, Briana will focus on The Birth Nerd, a digital resource hub for birth workers. The website will provide birth workers with resources (including but not limited to): the latest research on maternal health outcomes, maternal health terminology page, resources on Medicaid reimbursement, trainings, and study material for doula certification.
Rachel Snyder • New York, NY
Rachel Snyder is a chef, host, and modern-day salonnière in New York City. She has a background in public relations, where she secured New York Times reviews for her chef clients before pivoting to the culinary world herself in 2019. Rachel currently runs a boutique hospitality business, blending business and publicity expertise with culinary artistry to provide exceptional culinary experiences for diverse clientele, including (on one occasion) Food Network's "Chopped" celebrity judges.
During the Access Ventures Fellowship, Rachel will focus on a hospitality movement for city flourishing. This hospitality movement is designed to combat urban isolation among the restaurant and creative industries, city youth, and ministry leaders, through intentional, community-focused dining experiences. By reimagining the dining table as a transformative space, the initiative creates meaningful connections among diverse New Yorkers while nurturing those in high-burnout industries and underserved communities.
Shuyi Lyu • New York, NY
Shuyi (Sophia) Lyu, a girl from Hangzhou, China—a boxer, skateboarder, Yankees fan, and solo travel lover—is a Project Manager specializing in AI product development. As NYU’s 2024 student speaker, she’s passionate about empowering women, and has taken on roles in organizations like Girls Who Consult and Women In Product, aiming to build tech-driven wellness tools to help women better understand and embrace themselves.
During the Access Ventures Fellowship, Shuyi will focus on developing Hers, a female hormone tracking app. Hers introduces an AI-powered hormonal health assistant that predicts emotional downturns and provides personal lifestyle suggestions.
Zac Clark • Los Angeles, CA
Zac Clark is the founder and executive director of The HomeMore Project, a 501c3 nonprofit organization serving the homeless community of California. Zac built the organization while studying international business and marketing at the University of San Francisco. In 2025, the organization will serve nearly 3,000 people experiencing homelessness across 30 cities in California. This summer, Zac will graduate with a master’s in urban planning focused on housing and economics at UCLA.
During the Access Ventures Fellowship, Zac will focus on the Tiny Home Transitional Housing Program. This project is a proposed one- to two-year Transitional Housing Program emphasizing workforce development for people experiencing homelessness in California.
Zhateya Jones • Charlotte, NC
Zhateya Jones is a storyteller, activist, and entrepreneur empowering marginalized communities through media, education, and economic development. As the founder of Sistah, Reclaim Your Image!, she challenges harmful narratives about Black women through books, social experiments, and multimedia content. She also launched The Almighty’s House of Restorative Services, a national online food pantry, and through Z Branding & Business Solutions, helps startups build economic sustainability.
During the Access Ventures Fellowship, Zhateys will focus on “Our True Colors: Life from a Blacker Lens”–a 7 episode series that highlights the realities and systemic barriers faced by marginalized communities. The series combines science and storytelling to reveal how systemic barriers affect social, economic, and personal well-being—and, more importantly, to craft pathways toward equity.
A Catalyst for Change
The Access Ventures Fellowship is much more than a leadership development program; it’s a springboard for young innovators ready to tackle some of the world’s most pressing challenges. With a commitment to investing in the next generation of change agents, Access Ventures provides the resources and community needed to help these fellows turn their ideas into real-world solutions.