About the Program:
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The Youth Justice Leadership & Community Advocacy Fellowship is a 6-month fellowship opportunity for Black girls and young women, enrolled as sophomores, juniors, or seniors in high school, or as an undergraduate in college. The program begins in January 2020 and runs through June of the same year. It is for girls and young women who want to develop leadership, community organizing, and advocacy skills, and have a desire to be the change they wish to see in their schools, communities and the world. Watch our 3 minute informational video to learn more about the fellows program. The application deadline has been extended to February 21, 2020.
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The Fellowship seeks to prepare girls to lead change efforts in their community. Fellows will participate in bi-monthly restorative sister circles, workshops, group mentored experiences, community events, and service opportunities, as well as gain access to travel scholarships to attend local and national conferences. The 6-month fellowship will culminate in a graduation ceremony and opportunity to travel with Code Switch to the African American Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C.. Action project scholarships are awarded to fellows who successfully complete the full program. Graduates must meet all program requirements and attend all bi-monthly meetups.
Those who meet the criteria are invited to apply. Nominations also accepted. Special consideration given to Black girls with lived experiences shaped by identified exceptionalities (learning disabilities), housing insecurity, identification as LGBQT, and/or involvement with the juvenile justice system due to minor discipline/low level infractions. Nominate a girl you feel might benefit from this program or apply yourself!
Those who meet the criteria are invited to apply. Nominations also accepted. Special consideration given to Black girls with lived experiences shaped by identified exceptionalities (learning disabilities), housing insecurity, identification as LGBQT, and/or involvement with the juvenile justice system due to minor discipline/low level infractions. Nominate a girl you feel might benefit from this program or apply yourself!
Eligibility Criteria:
Fellows must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- be 16-24 years old,
- self-identify as a Black Girl/Young Woman,
- give your consent to participate,
- have parent/guardian/caregiver consent to participate (if under 18),
- agree to be a mentor for your sisters and open to being mentored by your sisters,
- can provide 2 references, with one being from an individual 24 or over (nomination also required if under 18)
- currently enrolled as a sophomore, junior, or senior in high school or as an undergraduate in college,
- can commit to meeting twice a month on Mondays or Wednesdays @ 4-6PM from January 2020 - June 2020,
- can self-transport to meeting site (near vicinity of West Las Vegas Library, Pearson or Doolittle Community Centers),
- have a deep desire to learn more about Black racial history/Black Woman Herstories, youth-led organizing, restorative advocacy, education policies shaping the school-to-prison pipeline, and the skills necessary to develop and lead community-based action projects.
Program Time Commitment:
The program requires a six-month commitment. It runs from January 2020 – June 2020. Fellows will meet twice per month, likely on a Monday or Wednesday from 4-6 PM. Fellows will also need to attend and participate in Code Switch leadership meetings on the third Sunday of the month from 2-4 PM. These meetings are held digitally using the zoom.us meeting space. Occasionally Fellows will have the opportunity to attend local and national events and conferences as a group. These events are not mandatory but attendance is strongly encouraged. As a culminating exercise Fellows will help plan, execute, and facilitate workshops at the annual Youth of Color Restorative Practices Mentorship Summit on Saturday, May 9, 2019. Finally, we will guide Fellows to co-plan a summer leadership institute for Black Girls culminating in a summer excursion to the African American Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. The program concludes with a graduation ceremony. A detailed program schedule with all required dates of participation will be provided during the application interview process. Traveling to and from meetings will be the responsibility of Fellows and their caregivers.
Applicants Under 18:
Applicants under the age of 18 will require three things:
***Applications without parts 1 and 2 are considered incomplete.***
- Nomination Form: The family, caregiver, teacher, and/or mentor nomination form is accessible here.
- Application Form: The student application form is accessible here.
- Parent/Caregiver Consent and Participant Assent Form: Consent/assent form provided via email upon application.
***Applications without parts 1 and 2 are considered incomplete.***
Applicants 18 and Over:
Applicants 18 and over require the following two items:
- Application Form: The student application form is accessible here.
- Consent Form: Participant consent form provided via email upon application.
The Application Process:
Applicants should expect to move through the following steps during the application process:
- Submit Application (and Nomination Form if under 18) - Due by February 21, 2020
- Application Review & Phone Interviews - February 22-28, 2020
- In-Person Panel Interviews - Sunday, March 1, 2020
- Decision Letters (email) - Friday, March 6, 2020
How To Apply:
Apply today using the tabs and links above or below:
FAQ and Contact Information:
If you need more information about the Fellows program, consider downloading our FAQ handout HERE. It will help answer the questions we get most often.
Reach out with questions:
Ashante' Herring, Program Manager
Email: codeswitchlv@gmail.com
Social Media: @CodeSwitchLV
Reach out with questions:
Ashante' Herring, Program Manager
Email: codeswitchlv@gmail.com
Social Media: @CodeSwitchLV