EmailMe Form - 2016 FREEDOM FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

2016 FREEDOM FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

The Chicago Freedom School’s (CFS) mission is to create new generations of critical and independent thinking young people who use their unique experiences and power to create a just world.

The Freedom Fellowship is a six-month program that brings you and 20 new friends from across the city to explore issues of injustice, gain skills in leadership and activism. You and a team will design and lead an action project to make real change in your school or community related to one of the following issues:

Environmental Justice – Campaign issues may include gentrification, climate change, pollution, transit justice and food justice.

Fair and Just Schools - Campaign issues may include: zero tolerance policies, homophobia in schools, school hiring practices and policies or the school-to-prison pipeline.

Healthy Communities - Campaign issues may include: community violence & healing, sexual/reproductive health issues or mental/physical health concerns.

Important Dates:
Summer Leadership Institute: July 11 – August 5 Monday-Friday 10am-5pm
The Freedom Fellowship will consist of leadership and activism training and an overnight retreat. Freedom Fellows will participate in wellness seminars, leadership workshops, anti-oppression training, and community-building workshops. Every Wednesday (July 13, 20, 27 and Aug 3) youth will participate in a policy and issue-based campaign training on one of two issue areas.
Please read carefully and indicate a preference in your application.

Weekly Action Planning Meetings: Sept–Dec 2016
Fellows are required to meet with their action team (cohort) once a week in order to create and implement an Group Action Plan aimed at addressing an injustice in their issue area (Environmental Justice, Fair & Just Schools or Healthy Communities).

Monthly Leadership In Action Trainings: August-December
In addition to weekly meetings, Fellows participate in monthly skill-building workshops to continue exploring social justice issues. Trainings will increase skills & knowledge in leadership, current issues, and movement building strategy. Dates are: August 26, September 17, October 15, November 19 & December 17.
Program Requirements:
ELIGIBILITY
Youth applicants must be ages 14 – 17 as of June 1, 2016. Students must be 8th grade graduates. However, youth are not required to be enrolled in high school. Youth must be able to commit to all the summer components, which means if they are in summer school they cannot participate in the program.

COMMITMENT
Fellows must commit to six months of participation with the Chicago Freedom School.

STIPEND
Youth participating in the 2016 Freedom Fellowship will receive a $400 stipend for their participation. They will receive the first payment of $200 upon completion of the four-week Summer Leadership Institute and the second payment of $200 in December 2016 upon completion of the group action plan. Public transportation, breakfast, lunch and field-trip costs are provided by CFS.
Application Process:
Youth interested in applying must submit an online application or mail in a handwritten application by Sunday, May 1, 2016. School transcripts are not necessary nor important to the application process. Applications will be reviewed by the Selection Committee, comprised of CFS staff and the Youth Leadership Board. After reviewing applications, the Selection Committee decides who will be invited for a formal interview. Notifications regarding acceptance or non-acceptance into the Freedom Fellowship program will be sent by Saturday, May 28, 2016.
Application Form
Full Name: *
Preferred Name:
Date of Birth: *
MM / DD / YYYY
Age: *
Street Address: *
City: *
State: *
Zip Code: *
Email Address:
Primary Phone Number: *
Secondary Phone Number :
School (if applicable):
Neighborhood/Area of Chicago in which you live:
Personal Information:
The Chicago Freedom School seeks a diverse group of people—youth who represent different ethnicities, abilities, gender identities, sexual orientations, language skills, citizenship status, and socio-economic backgrounds. We ask for (but do not require) your demographic information to get a better understanding of who will be participating in our program.
Race/Ethinicty:
Gender Identity:
Sexual Orientation:
Cognitive or Physical Disability:
Free/Reduced Price Lunch at school?:
Yes
No
How did you hear about the Chicago Freedom School? *
Issue-based Campaigns
Please rank your issue-based campaign preference.
Please note, while we will work hard to place you in your first choice, we cannot guarantee your choice.
Environmental Justice *

Frist Choice
1

2

3

Last Choice
Fair and Just Schools *

First Choice
1

2

3

Last Choice
Healthy Communities *

First Choice
1

2

3

Last Choice
Essay Questions
Please write 1 – 2 paragraphs in response to EACH question. If you prefer ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE respond to question 2A. If you prefer FAIR AND JUST SCHOOLS respond to question 2B. If you prefer HEALTHY COMMUNITIES respond to question 2C.
1. Why do you want to be involved in the Chicago Freedom School?
2A. Describe an environmental issue that deeply affects you or your community. Why should this issue be addressed? What have you done OR could you do to contribute to the solution?
2B. Describe a school issue that deeply affects you and your community. Why should this issue be addressed? What have you done OR could you do to contribute to the solution?
2C. Describe a mental, physical, sexual health that is important to you or affects your community. Why should this issue be addressed? What have you done OR could you do to contribute to the solution?
3. What do you wish to gain/accomplish by being in the program?
4. Please feel free to add any other information you would like for us to know.
Signature *
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Important Dates:

Program Requirements:

Application Process:

Application Form

Personal Information:

Issue-based Campaigns

Essay Questions