Solidarity Fellows
The Solidarity Fellows are “community organizers in training” who are passionate about working for social justice through collective action and community-led efforts. Fellows are placed with a local community organization focused on addressing issues such as systemic racism, economic justice, mass incarceration, gentrification, LGBTQ rights, immigration justice, disability justice, and more. Fellows spend the year building relationships with the staff and community members, while supporting community-led organizing work with logistics, fundraising, volunteer recruitment, research and other special projects.
Solidarity Fellows apply to the program in the Spring semester, in order to begin their Fellowship starting the Fall of that year. Interested students can apply here.
In participate, students must have:
- Completed the first tier of the public service graduation requirement;
- Experience in service learning or community engagement; and
- A desire to engage deeply around a particular issue or cause, and a willingness to learn from and work collaboratively with members of the community who are working to address those issues.
All Solidarity Fellows must enroll in a required platform course, which is 3 credits in the Fall and 1 credit in the Spring. Fellows gain training and experience in community organizing by working directly with their partner while also taking a year-long platform class called “Liberatory Education and Ethical Service.” The class syllabus is based on Paulo Freire’s “liberatory education” framework; readings and class activities are selected, designed and co-taught by students, faculty and community partners collectively. By completing this course students receive four credit hours and fulfill the second tier of the graduation requirement and are eligible to receive special project funding. The course provides an opportunity for Fellows to explore theories related to social justice and civic engagement, while reflecting on their ongoing work with community partners.
