Overview
About the Fellowship
Overview
The Genocide Intervention Network empowers individuals and communities with the tools toThe Genocide Intervention Network empowers individuals and communities with the tools to prevent and stop genocide.
Within this context, the Carl Wilkens Fellowship (CWF) Program is designed to foster sustained political will for the prevention and cessation of genocide and, ultimately, to contribute to the creation of a permanent anti-genocide constituency. The Fellowship trains informed citizens living in communities throughout the United States to mobilize lasting networks of citizens who believe that protecting men, women, and children from genocide is everyone's responsibility.
Objectives
To recruit a group of informed US citizens with experience creating positive change in their communities.
To guide these citizen leaders to a deeper understanding of their communities and of the unique resources and challenges to building political will to end genocide within them.
To empower these leaders as grassroots organizers on behalf of the anti-genocide movement, with the capability to enrich community awareness about situations of genocide and mass atrocities, to build dynamic relationships with service coalitions, businesses, and other institutions, and to advocate for essential policy change at local, state, and federal levels.
To support the Fellows as they develop and implement strategic plans to sustain the anti-genocide movement within their communities over the long-term.
Fellowship Details
The CWF is a selective year-long, part-time program that aims to give a diverse set of individuals at every level of experience the tools and resources to build sustained political will to end genocide. This program is designed to accommodate the schedules of busy people with full-time personal and professional commitments.
Twice a year, the CWFs will travel to Washington, DC, for a Fellowship Retreat. A February Retreat kicks off each Fellowship year and focuses significant time on strategic planning. A second Retreat in the late summer or early fall brings the group back together and allows the group the opportunity to dialogue about issues faced within their communities and within the movement at-large; they brainstorm with each other on how best to address these issues moving forward; and to identify occasions or arenas for coordinated group action when moving into the next half of the year.
Each month, the CWF Program revolves around three core components: a one on one mentoring call; a set of knowledge- and skills-building training calls; and a group check-in/conference call.
Over the course of one year, CWF receive knowledge and skills-building training in the following areas:
- Messaging, communications strategies, and media outreach
- Volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention
- Technology for social networking
- Coalition building
- Conflict-specific history
- Legislative policy and action
In addition, Wilkens Fellows receive:
- $1,000 stipend for the year to use towards organizing events in their communities.
- Connections to experts, elected officials, and GI-NET staff.
- A social network with other fellows and prominent anti-genocide advocates.
- Ongoing leadership development and networking opportunities including joining the Alumni Program and serving as Peer Advisors to future Wilkens Fellows.