OUR 2026 HARD RESET FELLOW
COHORT
The Hard Reset Creator Fellowship gave six labor-focused creators the tools, support, and community they needed to level up their voice and strengthen their storytelling.
Over six months, fellows dug into the stories they actually wanted to tell, sharpened their production skills, workshopped new ideas, and built a creative practice that fits their real life.
By the end, each fellow walked away with a clearer direction, a real path to monetization, and a community that will stick with them long after the program ends.
THE RECEIPTS:
REN FITZGERALD gained 2k+ followers (including Sen. Ed Markey) and launched their YouTube platform, earning 4k+ views on their first video and 10k+ views on the second.
TERRILL HAIGLER gained 1,300 followers; his views increased by 30%, and he cinched a brand deal with Tatsu Tea.
FRANCISCA GARCIA doubled her followers, topped 333k views on one video alone, landed brand deals with Trolls Clothing, Trade Hounds, Dewalt, and was featured in The Cut.
ALEXIS HINKLEY gained 200,000 total across platforms, signed a contract for a long-form podcast, “Be Serious” with
Passes and hired manager
Qasim Rashid.
ISSEN ALIBRIS grew 1k followers and improved his engagement and episodic style-content.
JASMINE SUN became a
contributing writer for The Atlantic and was recently featured on Ezra Klein’s podcast.
REN FITZGERALD // URBANIST & TRANSIT ORGANIZER
Instagram: @renzarofitzgerald // YouTube: @renzarofitzgerald
“Gaining self-confidence was my biggest win. I achieved my original goals, never strayed from my north star, and achieved more goals than I ever thought.”
FRANCISCA GARCIA // IRONWORKER
Instagram: @francisca.pamela_xo
“I improved my content, learned to be more intentional with my content, and gained more confidence putting myself out there… Being able to connect with the other fellows, hear their experiences, and get real feedback pushed me to think differently and keep growing. Those meetings made me feel like I really belonged in a room I never even thought of being in. Like there was a seat there for me.”
ISSEN ALIBRIS // GIG WORKER & JOURNALIST
TikTok: @mr.alibris
“Programs like this matter more than I think people realize. Good creators without an existing following need a blueprint — equipment, access to experts, real feedback, and enough handholding to build the confidence to keep going and to know how to expand a network. This fellowship provided all of it, which is not common.”
ALEXIS HINKLEY // NURSE & ACTIVIST
Instagram: @travelingnurselex
“I think this program reminded me that there is still a person behind the messages… I was starting to feel like a talking head with no real personal identity, and now I feel much more well-rounded, which helps my messages remain relatable to my audience.”
TERRILL HAIGLER // SANITATION WORKER & COMMUNITY ACTIVIST
Instagram: @yafavetrashman
“My whole ideology around being a content creator has changed thanks to this program. I’ve improved my editing skills. I’ve learned to organize all my ideas, and I have a fire to execute like no other.”
JASMINE SUN // TECH JOURNALIST
TikTok: @jasminewsun
*While Jasmine made the decision to prioritize her flourishing writing career, she continues to use new media to uplift her work and explore modes of documentation.