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Grant

NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy

Looking to possibly change careers? Looking to support the labor movement and public education? The NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy seeks to train member leaders in the skills of organizing and advocating for members.
NOFA
Published: February 1, 2022 Last Updated: February 7, 2023
NOFA - NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy

We are looking for a few good organizers. Looking to possibly change careers? Looking to support the labor movement and public education? The NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy seeks to train member leaders in the skills of organizing and advocating for members. This experience is open to members of a local NEA affiliate and subject to approval by the State Affiliate & NEA. Elected leaders that apply for the program must resign from their governance position if they are selected to participate in the program.

WE WILL COVER THE FOLLOWING:

  • Transitioning from governance to staff
  • Leadership identification and development
  • Data in organizing (goal-setting, mapping, targeting, etc.)
  • Narrative, one-to-ones, and membership recruitment tactics and skill-building
  • Problems, issues, targets, theory of change (strategy), and tactics
  • Basic campaign planning (including timelines, benchmarks, reflection, etc.)
  • Coalitions and partnerships
  • Communication

The learning will be heavily field-based and experiential. A majority of the trainers will be former UniServ staff, member leaders, NEA staff, and affiliate staff in sponsoring Affiliates. Participants will have an NEA coach as well as an affiliate mentor. The participants will leave the program able to meet the expectations of UniServ and Organizer staff positions. This is a one-year, full-time, paid position. Following the Fellowship Program, participants will return to their job and/or pursue staff opportunities in-state or out-of-state, there is no guarantee of future employment. Must be able to work weekends and late evenings. Travel is required both in state and travel to the required training. Must have a valid driver's license and be willing to drive. Experience working with Word, PowerPoint, Excel & Outlook required.

Applications open on February 23, 2024 and must be received by April 5, 2024. Applications submitted after this date will not be considered.

SUBMIT A FELLOWSHIP APPLICATION

All candidates for the NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy will be notified on Friday, May 22 if they were accepted or not into the program. Successful candidates must secure a Leave of Absence by June 21, 2024, to participate in the program.

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Merritt Island High School Physics teacher and mentor Diane Wallschlag (Left) with her mentee and high school science, biology and chemistry teacher and colleague, Andrea Williams (Right).

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