Young People For: Fellowship Associate (Washington, DC)

People For the American Way Foundation conducts research, legal, and education work on behalf of First Amendment freedoms and democratic values; monitors, exposes, and challenges the Religious Right movement and its political allies; identifies, trains, and supports the next generation of progressive leaders through its Young People For youth leadership programs and its Young Elected Officials Network; and carries out nonpartisan voter education, registration, civic participation, and election protection activities.

Young People For (YP4) is a progressive leadership development program focused on identifying, engaging, and empowering the next generation of progressive leaders. YP4 is dedicated to identifying young campus and community leaders, engaging them, and supporting them with the skills and resources they need to create change. Together, People For and YP4 are building a long-term network of emerging leaders committed to protecting our nation's fundamental rights and freedoms.

YP4 has three overarching priorities: 1) to diversity leadership in the progressive movement; 2) to support young leaders to effect change in their communities now; and 3) to ensure that young leaders are sustained in their leadership over the long term. The core of YP4 is our one-year Fellowship for progressive college students, which supports and empowers them to create change now on their campuses and in their communities. The 2012-2013 Fellowship class is comprised of 151 Fellows from over 80 campuses in 32 states and is the next generation of YP4's growing network of over 1,000 alumni across the nation.

The position is located in Washington, DC and reports to the Fellowship Program Manager of Young People For.
Responsibilities:

• Assist the Fellowship Program Manager with Fellowship program planning, program development and piloting new strategies to engage Fellows.   
• In consultation with the Fellowship Program Manager, develop and manage the vision, strategy, and process for Fellowship program recruitment and selection.
• Oversee planning, logistics and evaluation for all four Regional Trainings, the training of trainers, and the YP4 National Summit
• In consultation with the Fellowship Program Manager, work with the Advanced Leadership and Alumni department on the evaluation and implementation of curriculum for the YP4 program
• Work closely with YP4 staff, alumni, and other People For staff to manage day-to-day communication with Fellows.
• Work with Fellows to plan, manage and execute sustainable, community-driven projects, which may include some travel to campuses to provide in-person support.
• Work to build strong relationships with professors, administrators and campus activists at state universities, Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU’s), Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI’s), Tribal Colleges, liberal arts universities and community colleges.
• Work with the Fellowship Program Manager to build strong relationships with national, state, and local progressive organizations.
• Represent the Young People For program at national conferences and events.
• Other activities and responsibilities as assigned. 

Qualifications:

• 1 – 3 years related work experience.
• Bachelor’s degree, preferably in social sciences, political science or government, or equivalent experience.
• Excellent interpersonal and communications skills.
• Demonstrated ability to motivate and manage a variety of people.
• Previous grassroots/political/campus organizing experience.
• Event and program planning experience preferred.
• Ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment; must be well-organized and able to effectively manage competing priorities and meet frequent deadlines.
• Ability to work well both independently and with supervision.
• Willingness to learn, show initiative and creativity.
• Familiarity with MSOffice applications; experience with online communities and interest in web-based tools.
• Ability and willingness to travel as needed.
• Familiarity with the progressive community, and a commitment to the issues of Young People For (campus diversity, civic engagement, civil rights, economic justice, education, environmental conservation and justice, healthcare, immigration, international human rights, worker’s right, Native American issues, traditions, and empowerment, and progressive coalition and alliance building) and People For the American Way Foundation.

To apply: Send resume and statement of interest to Human Resources, People For the American Way Foundation, 1101 15th Street NW, Suite 600, Washington, DC 20005. Email hr@pfaw.org

People For the American Way Foundation is an Equal Opportunity Employer