Kudos to Khalique Rogers on his 2026 Bush Fellowship
Photo Credit: Caroline Yang
Khalique Rogers is one of 30 regional leaders awarded a Bush Fellowship to help him take his leadership skills to the next level.
Through its fellowship program, the Bush Foundation annually recognizes a diverse group of business, nonprofit, and government leaders committed to getting things done in their communities.
As executive director of the nonprofit organization, Catalyst for Systems Change, Khalique creates opportunities for young people to shape public policy through experiential learning and cross-sector partnerships. “He brings together students, educators, policy makers, and community leaders from across Minnesota to identify challenges, develop solutions, and turn ideas into legislation. Through this work, hundreds of young people have written op-eds, drafted policy, and testified at the State Capitol. He helped lead efforts that expanded statewide housing and workforce opportunities and contributed to securing more than $120 million in public funding for youth and family homelessness prevention, workforce development, and education innovation initiatives across Minnesota.”1
As a valued guest contributor to SteveLear.org, Khalique’s work has been featured on our site. His most recent update is available at the following link: When Youth Lead, Change Happens.
The Bush Foundation
The Bush Foundation was established in 1953 by Minnesota philanthropist and entrepreneur Archie Bush and his wife Edyth. Their goal was to “invest in great ideas and the people who power them” in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native nations that share the same geography.
The Foundation’s flagship program, the Bush Fellowship, is unique in that the awarded funds are meant to advance personal leadership goals rather than fund specific projects. It represents an investment in the recipient’s personal and professional growth. Through the years, the Foundation has invested roughly $100 million into the growth of its nearly 2,500 Bush Fellows.2
Who is a Bush Fellow?
Bush Fellows are changemakers. These leaders are at a point in their lives when they know what they need to grow their capacity to lead effectively. The fellowship gives them the time and resources to put that plan into action. The program seeks to elevate problem solvers, community builders, and innovators who are self-aware, deeply committed to improving their communities, impact-driven, and growth-oriented.
What the Bush Fellowship Offers
Being a Bush Fellow means being part of a highly competitive, self-designed leadership program. Fellows receive up to $150,000 to step away from their daily work and pursue the education, networking, and experiences they need to become more effective at driving large-scale change. This highly flexible grant can be used over 12 to 24 months to cover expenses such as coursework, training, and living expenses while fellows focus on their goals. In addition to age and residency requirements, candidates must also meet the following criteria:
- A Demonstrated Track Record that includes making a positive impact, problem-solving, and leading with outstanding character and integrity.
- A Vision for Large-Scale Change that will help transform the community.
- A Well-Defined Development Plan for using fellowship resources to achieve specific leadership goals.3
Making the Region Better for Everyone
Khalique’s goal is to build scalable models that more effectively connect civic leadership, education, housing, and workforce systems. He will develop his leadership capacity by studying how other countries align these systems so that he can apply those lessons in Minnesota. 4
We congratulate our friend and colleague as he embarks on an exciting two-year mission to help improve Minnesota communities!
You can learn more about the 2026 Bush Fellowship recipients at the following link:
Endnotes
1.“Khalique-Rogers,” Bush Foundation, June 18, 2026, https://www.bushfoundation.org/fellows/khalique-rogers/
2. “History,” Bush Foundation, June 18, 2026,https://www.bushfoundation.org/history/
3.“Bush Fellowship program,” Bush Foundation, June 18, 2026,https://www.bushfoundation.org/opportunities/bush-fellowship/
4.“Khalique-Rogers,” Bush Foundation, June 18, 2026, https://www.bushfoundation.org/fellows/khalique-rogers/
