The Atlanta Falcons and Wells Fargo announced on May 27 the selection of the 2026 cohort for the Atlanta Falcons HBCU Fellows Program presented by Wells Fargo. The eight-week paid fellowship, now in its fourth year, provides career pathways and real-world experience to students from Clark Atlanta University, Morehouse College, Morris Brown College, and Spelman College.
The program began on May 1 with an orientation that introduced the 17 selected fellows to Atlanta’s music and entertainment industry. As part of this orientation, fellows participated in a Creative Currency Experience alongside Grammy Award-winning producer Jermaine Dupri and executive Amir Windom. The event included a studio tour and a fireside chat themed ‘Earn, Learn and Return,’ focusing on creativity, financial education, civic engagement, and life lessons. On May 4, fellows joined staff from the Falcons and Wells Fargo for a home build project in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity during the Jimmy & Rosalynn Carter Work Project’s annual week of builds.
Jermaine Dupri said, “Atlanta has always been about creativity, culture and community coming together. Wells Fargo and the Falcons giving these students the opportunity to see how their passions can connect to real careers – and to give back to the city at the same time – is powerful. I’m proud to be a part of a program that invests in the next generation.” Tai Roberson of Wells Fargo added: “The Atlanta Falcons HBCU Fellows Program is about opening doors – to professional opportunity, mentorship and meaningful experiences that help students chart successful futures. By launching this cohort with Jermaine and Amir, we expanded into the highly sought-after music and entertainment fields, and by engaging directly in the Carter Work Project, we showed what it looks like when financial empowerment, culture and community come together with purpose.”
Throughout their fellowship period this fall, participants will work within various departments across both Atlanta Falcons operations as well as AMB Sports & Entertainment offices while building professional networks.
Bella Vaughan said, “Since the program’s inception, we have seen extraordinary talent emerge from Atlanta’s HBCUs. Our fellows and program alumni exemplify the next generation of leaders shaping the future of the sports and entertainment industry. This year’s class joins a legacy of 41 alumni who continue to write their own stories…and most importantly give back…to strengthen communities that shaped them.”
The Atlanta Falcons are based in Atlanta as an NFL franchise competing in the NFC South division; they began play as an expansion team in 1965 and have reached two Super Bowls (1998 & 2016), according to the official website.
