Students at 30+ colleges who participated in a LEAD California semester-long Community Engagement Student Fellowship indicate as a result of the experience enriched academic and professional competencies including expanded knowledge, empathetic understanding, psycho-motor abilities, and leadership skills. Evidenced-based outcomes demonstrate how students in community-based leadership positions define the future of democracy for higher education and communities alike. Critical to the presentation is emphasizing the voices of student participants including their authentic experiences of learning, frustration, problem-solving, and collaboration.