Tag Archives: fellowship

Exciting Opportunities, Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

Morgan Stanley/ANHD Community Development Fellowship Program

The Association for Neighborhood and Housing Development (ANHD) is currently recruiting for the 2015-2016 Morgan Stanley/ANHD Community Development Fellowship Program.  This program will provide an opportunity for nine Master’s Degree students to take a significant role in a high-impact, community-based project targeting a low- and moderate-income neighborhood.  Fellows will receive a $20,000 stipend to serve in a part-time (20 hours a week), ten month (September 1st – June 30th) internship in a neighborhood-based community development corporation (the host organization).  Projects may be in the fields of affordable housing, economic development, or community planning.  A key objective of the program is to help train the next generation of community development leaders, so in addition to hands-on community development work, Fellows will have the opportunity to meet with leaders in New York City’s government, planning, and community development fields.  If academic credit is available, the host organization will work with the Fellow and his or her educational institution towards securing this credit. 

The nine host organizations have each designed a distinct, compelling community development project and the role for the Fellow within this project. Projects were chosen based on their impact, achievability and suitability, the learning experiences provided to the Fellows, evidence of the importance of the project to the host organization, and the strength of the host organization. Each host organization will play a significant role in choosing its Fellow. Fellows will be required to attend periodic networking and training events.  In addition, Fellows will have access to all of ANHD’s regularly scheduled educational courses and conferences.

Process

The selection process for Fellows has two phases. In phase one, ANHD will review all timely completed applications and select a pool of finalists. In phase two, finalists will be interviewed by host organizations. Fellows will be chosen from among these finalists (i.e., not all finalists will be selected as Fellows) and placed at host organizations based on the best match of skills and interests of the Fellow with the specific project and needs of the host organizations. While Fellows’ preferences for specific host organizations, projects, and neighborhoods will be taken into account, Fellows may be placed with any of the host organizations. Host organizations may be located anywhere within the five boroughs.

Requirements:

  1. At least one semester of Full-Time graduate studies completed (will have completed at least ¼ of the credits necessary to graduate  as of September 1, 2016) in a two-year Urban Planning, Urban Policy, Public Administration, or related program.
  2. Availability for at least 3 days each week at the host organization
  3. Strong commitment to New York City’s neighborhoods.
  4. Respect for grassroots organizations.
  5. Familiarity with community planning and neighborhood development.
  6. Strong academic record.
  7. Previous experience with community development or community planning a plus.
  8. Bilingual a plus.
  9. Applicants must be available on Friday, May 8th for a full day of in-person interviews.

Application

To apply, please submit the following no later than Wednesday, April 1st, 2016

  1. Cover letter and CV.
  2. Graduate academic transcripts (unofficial or official).
  3. Two short writing samples, with one preferably focused on community planning or development issues.
  4. Two references, with members of CDCs, or other people involved with the CDC community, especially encouraged as references.
  5. Letter of Recommendation from a current or former professor or employer.  Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly to ANHD from the professor or employer, and indicate their position, the applicant’s name, and their relationship with the applicant.

Fellows may apply by e-mail to NYCFellowshipApplication@gmail.com with the subject line “Fellowship Application.” Please include cover letter, CV, transcripts, writing samples, and references as attachments.  Letters of recommendation should be submitted to NYCFellowshipApplication@gmail.com with the subject line “Letter of Recommendation for (applicant).”  Those selected to advance to the final interview will be notified the beginning of May.  Final interviews, selection of Fellows, and placements will take place in May and June. ANHD and all host organizations are equal opportunity employers.

Exciting Opportunities, Labor and Community Job Opportunities, Opportunities

Community Voice Heard — Gail Aska Policy Fellowship (Summer 2016)

Deadline for Application: February 17, 2016

Organization Description:

Community Voices Heard (CVH) is a 20 year-old membership organization of low-income people working together to influence policy change around issues that impact low-income families’ lives.

We were started as a welfare rights organization and have since evolved to work more broadly on economic justice issues.  CVH uses a combination of strategies including base-building & mobilization, leadership development, direct-action, legislation promotion & advocacy, grassroots-driven research, media & public education, voter education & engagement, and coalition building to lead campaigns to win benefits for our membership of low-income families.

We have chapters across New York State – in New York City, Westchester, Orange, and Dutchess Counties.  Our main office is located in East Harlem/ El Barrio of New York City.

Fellowship Description:

The Gail Aska Policy & Research Fellowship is a full-time, 8 to 10 week fellowship from June through August, and is designed to support and develop the skills of a graduate level student to shape public policy and conduct constituent-driven research on issues affecting low-income communities. The fellowship is inspired by its namesake, Gail Aska, a founding member of Community Voices Heard, and aims to address the gap between public policy and research practitioners and those that are directly impacted by social, racial and economic justice issues.

CVH seeks an individual interested in bringing technical skills and expertise to the grassroots – someone wanting to support the development of policy from the ground up and anxious to fuse one’s policy/ research work with ongoing direct-action organizing campaigns. Policy and research work will be oriented around one or more of CVH’s five current organizational priority areas: a just social safety net, good jobs and access to them, truly affordable housing, sustainable and resilient communities, and a participatory democracy.

The position provides a unique opportunity to engage multiple strategies for assisting in moving campaigns forward:

  • Develop Policy Proposals: craft proposals for local policies and programs that support the advancement of low-income families and communities.
  • Conduct Research: conceptualize and carry out research on programs and policies impacting low-income families – can include both quantitative and qualitative data collection and analysis (with possible supervision of data gatherers).
  • Support Campaigns: work with community members and organizational staff to develop and implement campaign strategy to win policy proposals at city and state levels.
  • Provide Training to Community Members: develop and conduct trainings for community leaders on policy issues and processes.
  • Advocate for Change: participate in meetings with elected officials and governmental committees, and help prepare community members to do the same, to promote organizational policy proposals.

Qualifications:

  • Prospective candidates should possess the following qualifications:
  • Enrolled in public policy / administration, urban planning, social work, law or other relevant graduate program is required;
  • Demonstrated commitment to building long-term power for low-income people of color, their families, and their communities;
  • Excellent research, analytical, writing, and oral communication skills;
  • Experience in quantitative and qualitative research and analysis, including facility with data analysis software, is preferred. Research design and project management experience is a plus. Previous exposure to action-oriented participatory research methodologies is an advantage;
  • Knowledge of policy issues affecting low-income communities of color and related to social justice, including affordable housing, poverty, public benefits, etc.;
  • Personal, lived experience with one or more of the issues/campaigns on which CVH works is preferred;
  • Spanish language skills desired but not required.

To Apply:

Please send a cover letter, resume, writing sample, and names & contact information for three references by email to cvh@CVHaction.org.  Please put “Gail Aska Fellow” in the subject line.

CVH is an equal opportunity employer.  Women of color are strongly encouraged to apply.  For more information please check out our web page at: www.CVHaction.org.

Timeline:

The deadline for applications is February 15, 2016. Interviews will be conducted through mid-March 2016 and the Fellow will be selected by early April 2016.  The fellowship will begin in June and conclude in August.

Compensation:

$600/week for the 8 to 10 week fellowship.