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BLACK FREEDOM FELLOWSHIP 2024

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Are you passionate about driving change and strengthening Black community across North Carolina?

 

Then, we need you! The NC-BLOC Fellowship allows dedicated BLOC members to amplify their impact across the state. As a participant, you will join forces with other committed organizers to push forward strategic campaigns, all while gaining skills and experiences to support your work. Each host site will designate representatives and fellows, ensuring a cohesive and collaborative environment tailored to support and advance Black-led initiatives. Whether you're currently leading a campaign or looking to develop one, this fellowship offers the resources and guidance needed to transform your vision into action.

 

This fellowship is more than just training; it's a movement-building that will expand your toolkit.

Participants will delve into essential organizing skills, deepen their political understanding, and learn effective base-building techniques. Join us in building a leaderful North Carolina that is unapologetically BLACK, and achieve tangible victories. Apply now and be part of a transformative journey to grow, celebrate, challenge, and get embodied!

 

 

 

Since 2020 NC BLOCs Freedom Fellowships have supported individuals in gaining essential organizing skills and political education. In the midst of a global pandemic, sweeping political strife, and unprecedented uprising we trained newly (re)activated folks on how to make a difference across North Carolina.

The Protect Black Freedoms Fellowship continues to grow and shift in order to answer the urgent and important needs of our members.

 

 

 

Learn More about NCBLOC

Criteria for Fellowship Participation

  • Be a BLOC member
  • Apply to the fellowship on behalf of your formation or initiative
    • If the host is accepted to the fellowship, the fellows are also accepted(barring extreme and unlikely misalignment). These fellows should be people that have already been working with their hosts. Think volunteers, staff, etc.
  • Each prospective host site must have 1-2 people to act as Host representatives and a maximum of 2-3 people to act as fellows. 
  • All Host sites must be moving an active and strategic campaign.

 

If you do not currently have a campaign but would like support in learning how to develop or transform a campaign. If you have questions, concerns, or requests, reach out to [email protected]

This Fellowship is created with the intention to:

  • Develop a leaderful NC, rooted in our values, prepared and practiced at essential organizing skills and politics.
  • Train, develop, and strengthen base-building and mobilizing Black-led organizers to work across North Carolina
  • Maximize the ability of the BLOC ecosystem to do shared work on a local and state scale
  • Deepen relationships within North Carolina in order to build power, weaken the carceral state, and strengthen local coalition work & alternatives
  • Increase our collective capacity to create and advance campaigns that win

Application Process

  • Application Opens:  TBA
  • Interviews are required before an application can be considered and will be conducted on a rolling basis from ??? to ???  
  • Applications Close: TBA
  • Hosts & fellows will be notified regarding their acceptance into the fellowship by ???
  • Orientation & Training begin for Host Representatives on ???
  • Orientation & Training begins for fellows July 17th(virtual meet and greet) 
  • Both Hosts and Fellows are required to attend an in person orientation the weekend of July 22nd
  • Hosts & fellows must submit 1 application per formation

A maximum of 10 Host Sites will be selected to participate in the Protect Black Freedoms 2023 Fellowship. Since space and eligibility is limited, all applicants may not be selected to participate. The application and interview process will begin a conversation around ways that BLOC can support and develop your folks that will continue regardless of acceptance into this particular fellowship. There are many more opportunities to receive support! 

Apply Now

Don't worry if you do not fit within those parameters!

There are many other ways for you to be supported by and access resources within BLOC.

If you're interested in NC BLOC's future Freedom Fellowships please sign up to be notified. 

Keep Me Updated!

Expectations for Fellows & Hosts: 

 

Fellows:

Hosts:
  • Devote approximately 10 hours a week to participate in the fellowship
  • Participate in and support your Host organizations programs and campaigns
  • Be proactive about meeting Host goals, communicating, and seeking clarity when needed
  • Devote approximately 2-5 hours a week to participate in the fellowship, plus additional time needed to managing and supporting your fellows
  • Manage fellows in successfully executing a strategic work plan 
  • As much as is practicable ensure a safe and generative work environment 

Both Fellows & Hosts are Expected to:
  • Treat fellowship peers with dignity and respect
  • Proactively communicate any concerns or needs for support or clarity to the Freedom Fellowship Coordinator 
  • Maintain consistent and strong communication throughout the fellowship including timely responses active advancement of designated campaign
  • Participate in host organizations and designated NC BLOC orientations, trainings and events indicated on the timeline

 

What you Can Expect from BLOC:

 

Fellows:

Hosts:
  • $2,500 stipend (equivalent to $15 an hour) to support participation in fellowship activities and to boost any existing compensation fellows may already receive from their Hosts
  • Opportunities to hone and practice essential organizing support
  • Access to a community of fellow organizers to learn and build with
  • A $5,000 stipend to support your campaign and training that will strengthen your ability to manage people and projects that win. 
  • Opportunities to hone and practice essential Project Leadership/Coordination skills like management, organizational development, resource and project management etc.
  • Access to a community of project leads to learn and build with
  • Opportunities to connect to national partners

 

Both Fellows & Hosts can Expect the Following from BLOC:
  • Campaign support and troubleshooting
  • Hands-on support with programing and events
  • Weekly office hours for drop in support and co working
  • Ongoing and consistent training

Fellowship Term & Timeline

  • Protect Black Freedoms Fellowship 2023 will begin at a virtual orientation on July 17th and at an in-person orientation July 21-23. A fellowship convening will take place the weekend of November 18th
  • All calls, office hours, and check-ins will be scheduled at the beginning of the fellowship based on majority availability. Training topics and times will be announced by the beginning of the fellowship and are required for fellows and highly encouraged for host reps. 

 

Full Timeline