OAKLAND, CA (October 19, 2026) – JD Genesis, Inc. is proud to announce that it has been awarded a $10,302 grant from Georgetown University’s Social Innovation Public Service Fund (SIPS) in recognition of JD Genesis’s commitment to supporting health and wellness throughout the legal field. This grant will fully fund the 2027 Fellowship Program.
The Social Innovation Public Service Fund is a student-led program at Georgetown University that supports innovative ventures with social impact and a commitment to the public good. Awards from the SIPS fund are made possible by an endowment fund at Georgetown University provided by Georgetown students. Through this student-led committee, Georgetown invests in organizations whose work addresses societal issues and spearheads progress towards meaningful, community-centered change. JD Genesis is honored to receive the support of this fund as it amplifies SIPS pillars in innovation, sustainability, and community.
Founded to address disparities in access to mentorship, wellness resources, and professional and educational preparation that have disproportionately affected women from marginalized communities, JD Genesis is a non profit that provides aspiring legal professionals with educational resources, exam preparation, mental health support, and networking opportunities that promote both personal well-being and professional growth. Each JD Genesis fellow receives a suite of high-touch resources valued at over $6,000 per participant across an 18-month, four-phase fellowship. The program begins with LSAT preparation, including personalized tutoring, a digital prep course, and a covered LSAT exam registration fee. Fellows then move through a structured law school application phase with dedicated strategy sessions and application review support, followed by a wellness- and success-focused phase featuring financial planning, scholarship guidance, and a pre-orientation program to prepare for the rigors of law school. The fellowship concludes with career preparation, equipping fellows with networking strategies, personal branding guidance, and support identifying practice areas aligned with their goals.
“As a Bay Area native myself, when I first saw JD Genesis as a SIPS project I was more than elated,” Devika Mathur, SIPS Project Manager, said. “Working with JD Genesis was a refreshing change to the constant hustle of the region, especially through its unique focus on mental health. The supportive environment, through the cohort system, the various resources and partnerships, and mental health support made my co-project manager Leighton and I very excited to pitch this project to our board. JD Genesis truly embodies SIPS pillars of Innovation, Sustainability, Impact, and we are proud to support JD Genesis’s mission to provide educational and mental health resources to prospective law students,” Mathur continued.
“Receiving the Georgetown SIPS grant in the foundational stages of JD Genesis is an incredible milestone—a full-circle moment tied to an institution whose diverse, dynamic community shaped my own path and vision for the future,” said Johnsenia Brooks, founder of JD Genesis. “When I visited Georgetown University for the first time, I was exposed to “Utraque Unum,” the latin phrase on the Georgetown seal that has transformed the way I view myself in the legal field. The latin phrase translates literally to “both are one” or “both into one” and it is used to express the idea of two distinct, seemingly contrasting entities coming together to form a harmonious, unified whole. When people think about lawyers and mental health, the immediate associations usually fall into two main categories: the extreme stress and burnout prevalent within the profession, and the barriers the professional culture creates to seeking help or prioritizing mental health and wellbeing. At JD Genesis, we are reshaping legal culture to ensure mental well-being is recognized not as a compromise, but as a foundation for true excellence.”
As JD Genesis celebrates its first year, receiving the Georgetown SIPS grant marks a defining milestone in our rapid growth. This support advances our mission to increase the representation of underrepresented women entering law school by integrating culturally responsive wellness coaching, mentorship, and admissions readiness—ensuring students do not merely gain access to legal education, but find sustainability and success within it. The SIPS grant is expected to help support three JD Genesis Fellows next year, enabling the program to expand its impact and continue investing in the next generation of legal professionals.
The 2027 JD Genesis Fellowship application is now open. Those interested can find more information on the official website at https://www.jdgenesis.org/jd-genesis-fellowship/.