PART1: ● ProgramVisionandPurpose
● FellowshipBenefits
● ImportantDatesandDeadlines
● Q&A:PleasesendquestionsusingtheQ&A feature.
PART2: ● FellowshipApplication
PART3:
● Q&A:PleasesendquestionsusingtheQ&A feature.
ThevisionfortheEnvironmentalLeadershipInitiative(ELI)isafellowshipprogramthat nourishesenvironmentalleaderswhoarereflectiveofthediversepopulationof California,includingBIPOCandimmigrantcommunities,CaliforniaNativeandtribal communities,andrepresentationofgeographicdiversitythatincludesbothurbanand ruralcommunities.ELIFellowsareindividualswhoseworksupportsbuildingpowerwith disadvantagedcommunitiesthataremarginalized,underservedandoverburdened byenvironmentalharmsandeconomicinequities—theirvoicesand leadership—driveCalifornia’sEnvironmentalJusticevalues,resourcesandagenda, onethatcentersamoreholisticunderstandingofEnvironmentalJusticethatincludes agriculture,foodsystems,outdooreducation,CaliforniaNativeLandstewardshipand Rematriation.
ProgramPurpose:
TheEnvironmentalLeadershipInitiative(ELI)willbeaprogramthatnourishesleaders whoseenvironmentaljusticeworksupportsbuildingpowerwiththediverse populationsofCalifornia,includingBIPOCandimmigrantcommunities,California Nativeandtribalcommunities,andgeographicallydiverseregionsthatincludesboth urbanandruralcommunities,theirrelationshipswithoneanother,andadvancesa deeperlevelofsolidarity,advocacy,andcollaborationamongthem.Thisprogram willsimultaneouslysupportleadersintheirindividualpathsofgrowthandinfluence alongwithstrengtheningtheirorganizationsandnetworkssothatgrassroots, CaliforniaNativeNationsandcommunity-basedorganizationswillhaveincreased powerandinfluencerelativetoBigGreensandotherwell-resourcedorganizations, agencies,andpolicymakinggroups.
OurApproach:
Thisprogramaspirestohaveanintergenerationalcohort.Year1isdedicatedto facilitatedlearning,healing,andrelationship-buildingamongstcohortmembers.While thecurriculumandfacilitationisnottailoredspecificallyforentry-levelleaders,at times,thecurriculummayfeelgearedtowardentry-levelleaders.Whilethetopicswe covermayfeelfamiliartosome,itmaybeanintroductionforothers.Thisis intentionalandisdonetobuildaconnectiontotheworkfellowsengageinandhow topowerbuildwithotherorgsandNativeNationsandcommunities. Ourhopeisthathavingacohortwithabroadrangeofexperience,knowledge,and familiaritywithEJmovementhistoryandrelated-topicswillallowforgreater peer-to-peerlearningandteachingopportunitiesduringfacilitatedlearning sessions.
Year1
● Unrestrictedgeneraloperatinggrantsfor non-profitorganizationsthatfellowsarean employeeofand/oraffiliatedwith.
● Engagementinintentionalcommunityand networkbuildingacrossEnvironmental justiceleadersinthestateofCalifornia
● AdeepenedunderstandingofaLiberatory leadershipframework,groundedina historyofEnvironmentalJusticeto strengthenimpactinenvironmental movementwork.
Year2
● Professionaldevelopmentfundsthatcan beusedtowardconferences,certificates,or otherengagementsfellowsidentifyas importanttotheirprofessional development.
● Professionaldevelopmentcoachingto supportintentionalleadershipgrowthand skillsbuilding.
Year1:FellowshipJourney
● 12monthsoffacilitatedlearning
○ Two2-hoursessionspermonth
○ Weeklyassignmentsandreading
○ Individual&Collectivegroupprojects
○ Practicumexperienceinthefield
● ActiveParticipation:Fellowsarerequiredtoattend80%of facilitatedlearningsessions.
Year2:MovefromFellowstoAlumni
● Coaching:Alumniwillreceive20hoursofcoaching
● Alumniengagement:In-personandvirtualevents
● ProfessionalDevelopment:
○ Developmentofaplanforhowtoutilizeprofessional developmentfundsincollaborationwithaliberationcoach
○ Useofprofessionaldevelopmentfunds
ELIisa2-Year+Commitment
Year1:Cohort-based facilitatedlearning
Year2:Professional development+individual coaching+networking opportunities
Years3+4:AlumniNetworking &Engagement
24learningsessionsbetweenMarch2024toMarch2025
First2-hoursessionwilltakeplacetheweekofMarch11th
Fellowscanmakeupsessionswithwrittenreflections
ScheduleofFacilitationisbeingfinalizedandwillbesharedwith
Weestimatethatforeveryhouroffacilitatedlearningwillrequire upto2hoursofoutsidereadingandhomework,althoughthis
Goal:AdeepenedunderstandingofaLiberatoryleadershipframework,groundedinahistoryof EnvironmentalJusticetostrengthenimpactinenvironmentalmovementwork.
TheFellowshipwillcovervarioustopicsincludingsomeoftheexamplesbelow:
● Theglobalandlocalimplicationsofthedoctrineofdiscoveryandextractiveeconomies
● BeinginRelationshipwiththeLands,Waters,andAncestralCaretakersofCA
● StructuralandEnvironmentalracismandtheintersectionalelementsofoppression
● ExploringtheunfoldingofEnvironmentalmovementsovertime
● RadicallyimaginingaFutureofLiberation
● Conflictresolution Eachmodulewillincludethefollowingcomponents:
● Facilitatedclasseswithatopicexpert
● Selfwork:Internalwork/homeworkthatcohortparticipantsindividuallydooutsidefacilitatedspaces
● CarePractices:Selfcare/managementandcollectivecarepractices
● Practicum(productoflearningoutcome):Collectiveorindividualprojectsthatapplyfacilitated learningandselfwork.Theproductorevidenceoflearningoutcomes.
HowitWorks:
● Organizationsaffiliatedwithfellowsareeligibletoreceiveanunrestrictedgrantbetween$25,000and $30,000.
● Fellowswillreceiveapproximately$10,000inprofessionaldevelopmentresourcesforindividual growthalongwithone-on-onecoaching.
● TheprofessionaldevelopmentfundswillnotbedirectlygrantedtothefellowsduetoIRSreporting andtaxcollectionrequirements.Toaccessthesegrants,organizationsmustbeaffiliatedwitha 501(c)(3)orhaveafiscalsponsor.
● Organizationswithwhichyouareaffiliated,whetherthroughemployment,volunteerism,orboard participation,musthavemechanismsinplacetoreceiveagrantof$25,000to$30,000.
● Applicationdeadline:October4th,2023;11:59PM
● InformationalWebinars
○ Wednesday,September20that1:00pm
○ Tuesday,September26that4:00pm
● ApplicationDrop-InOfficeHours
○ Friday,September29that11:00am
○ Tuesday,October3rdat3:00pm
● FellowAnnouncements:November-December2023
● 2-dayIn-PersonFellowshipOrientation:February2024
● Year1FacilitatedLearningBegins:March2024
● Year1FacilitatedLearningEnds:March2025
● Applicationopens:September11th,2023
● Applicationdeadline:October4th,2023;11:59PM
● InformationalWebinars
○ Wednesday,September20that1:00pm
○ Tuesday,September26that4:00pm
● ApplicationDrop-InOfficeHours
○ Monday,September25that2:00pm
○ Friday,September29that11:00am
○ Tuesday,October3rdat3:00pm
● FellowAnnouncements:November-December2023
● 2-dayIn-PersonFellowshipOrientation:February2024
● Year1FacilitatedLearningBegins:March2024
● Year1FacilitatedLearningEnds:March2025
IdentitiesandExperiences-AllpromptsinSection1arelimitedto150wordsmax.
● Pleaseshareanyreflectionsabouthowyouidentifywiththecommunitiesinourvisionfortheprogram.
● Isthereanythingyouwouldliketoshareaboutyourbackgroundorhowyouidentifyyourself?
● HaveyouhadexperienceworkingdirectlywithBlack,NativeAmericanNations,Nativepersons, Indigenous,andcommunitiesofcolor-ledcoalitions,organizations,programs,movements,or collaboratives?
○ Ifyes,pleaseelaborateonyourresponse.
● Pleasedescribeyourworkinyourorganization,orinotherspaces,andhowitrelatesand/orhowit intersectswiththemovementtoadvanceenvironmentaljustice.
AccessibilityNeeds,EducationalExperiences,andAdditionalInformation
● Doyouhaveanyaccessibilityneedsthatweshouldbeawareofinordertoprovide equalaccessandopportunity
● Pleaselistanynon-colonialculturalformsofeducationoreducationoutsideoftheU.S. youhavereceived/participatedin,here.(e.g.community-ledcertificationprograms, etc.);(ShortAnswer,150wordsmax)
● EducationalBackground
● HowdidyouhearabouttheELI?
Section2:ShortResponsePrompts
Written,Video,andAudioResponsesareaccepted.Writtenresponsesshouldbenomorethan300words. Videoandaudioresponsesshouldbenomorethan90secondsinlength.
Prompt1:Pleaseprovideanexamplethatdemonstratesyourexperienceandpassioninadvancingtheprinciplesof EnvironmentalJustice,Rematriation/LandBack,collectivemovement/participationinmovement-buildingwork,or otherintersectingwork.Whatcallsyoutotheworkyouengagein?Whyistheworkyoudosoimportanttoyou?
Prompt2:WhydoyouwanttobeanELIFellowandwhatknowledgedoyouhopetowalkawaywith?Howdo youenvisionthestatewideELIFellowshipsupportingyourcurrentand/orfuturegoals?
Prompt3:Howdoyouapproachdifficultsituationsandinwhatmomentsdoyoushine?Canyousharea specificexampleofatimewhenyouencounteredachallengingconversationorconflictwitha peer/colleagueandhowyouworkedthroughit?
CameraSetting,Audio&Lighting
1. Ifshootingonamobilephone,pleaseusethehighestsettingyou haveforvideorecording(e.g.,iPhone13pro-4kat60fpsisthehighest setting).
2. Makesurethereisamplelightinginyoursurroundings.
3. Donotrecordwithawindoworotherlightsourcebehindyou–the lightsourceshouldbeinfrontofyou.
4. Pleaseleave2secondsatthebeginningand2secondsattheendof yourvideo.Justsitinfrontofthecamerasilentfortheseperiods.
5. Speakloudly&clearly.Useheadphoneswithabuilt-inmicrophoneto enhanceyouraudio.
6. Ifyouarenotusingheadphones,notethatthefurtherthephoneis fromyou,themoreyouneedtoprojectyourvoice.
Framing
1. Pleaseshootvertically(long-way).
2. Pleasemakesurewecanseeatleastthetopofyourheadand 1/3ofyourshoulders.
3. Ifrecordingsittingdown,pleasecropinsoweseeyoufromyour torsoup.
4. Awhitebackgroundisideal,butifnotavailable,anybackground isfineaslongasitisn’treflectiveanddoesnothave“buzzing” pattern(e.g.,stripes).
5. Standascloseaspossibletothewall/background.