FELLOWSHIP POSITIONS SUMMARY

[St. Louis, MO.] We are a fast-paced, small, and agile team where excellence is the expectation. We are looking for people who thrive in an entrepreneurial environment and also have a shared belief in and commitment to modeling our core principles for achieving Racial Equity. The fellowship opportunities are part-time (15-20 hours per week) for 14 weeks beginning in September 2022 with pay of $17.50/hour. Forward Through Ferguson (FTF) will support the fellows with training opportunities that build an understanding of Systems Change and Racial Equity.

This is the perfect opportunity for an undergraduate/graduate student OR person with equivalent work experience who is deeply interested in Racial Equity, Policy and Systems Change, social sector startup culture, and collective impact. 

We have two Fellow positions available:

1. STORYTELLING AND COMMUNICATIONS FELLOW (1): Develop external communications content, including social media and newsletters, and support FTF efforts to amplify community voices and stories. 
2. RACIAL EQUITY FELLOW (1): Support FTF's efforts to grow regional Racial Equity capacity through our consultation, cohorts, workshops, and other services.

We are a practicum site for several area universities and these Fellow positions may potentially qualify for field experience requirements. If you are meeting a field experience requirement: please indicate in your application and specify the field education requirement(s) you are seeking to fulfill. 

POSITION DESCRIPTIONS & QUALIFICATIONS

STORYTELLING AND COMMUNICATIONS FELLOW (1 position open)

Description

Work with the Director of Storytelling & Communications and Executive Director to implement multiple elements of FTF's storytelling & communications plan, including social media, newsletters, and storytelling projects. 

• Develop weekly content and copy for FTF's social media channels, highlighting FTF initiatives, community partners, Racial Healing + Justice Fund grantees, and other items aligned to ongoing initiatives in the areas of Justice For All, Youth At The Center, and Opportunity to Thrive. 
• Assist in developing content for newsletters and email blasts, highlighting opportunities for the public to act as catalysts for Racial Equity as well as towards FTF's signature priorities and community-led initiatives for systemic change. 
• Engage residents, community partners, fellows, staff, and board in storytelling initiatives to tell the story of why and how people can engage with anti-racist systems change efforts.
• Assist with writing copy, organizing content and creating layouts for FTF website refresh.

Position-Specific Requirements

Required:

• Experience working with social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok)
• Experience writing and developing copy
• Graphic design skills (Adobe and Canva)
• Ability to understand research data and advocacy language

Desired:

• Photography and editing skills
• Videography and editing skills
• Audio production and editing skills
• Experience with database management
• Experience with email management platforms
• Experience with website editing and design

RACIAL EQUITY CAPACITY FELLOW (1 position open)

Description

Assist the Lead Racial Equity Capacity Catalyst by supporting meetings, taking notes, drafting correspondence, and coordinating logistics as assigned, in addition but not limited to:

• Develop materials, documents, and agendas for the community governance board.
• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of virtual community events and initiatives with partners. 
• Assist in the granting process to engage potential people of color led organizations, organize application materials, and announce selected grantees.
• Support the community learning and evaluation process.

Position-Specific Requirements

Required:

• Passion and interest in how organizations can dismantle institutionalized racism and implementing Racial Equity lens

Desired:

• Some quantitative or qualitative data experience
• Strong organization skills
• Experience with curriculum development
• Experience with group facilitation
• Some experience with community participatory research

In addition to the position-specific requirements listed above, all Fellows should have the following skills and traits:

• Able to work at least 10-15 hours per week for an estimated 14 weeks.
• Be invested and engaged in Social Justice and Racial Equity.
• Interest and experience in the corresponding fellowship area.
• Some undergraduate/graduate-level education OR equivalent work experience. We do not require formal higher education to be a fellow.

COMPENSATION

• Fellows will be paid a starting rate of $17.50/hr with opportunities for an extension and raise following excellent performance.

PROCESS

• JULY 7: Application opens
• AUGUST 18 - 19: Candidate interviews
• WEEK OF AUGUST 22: Applicants notified
• SEPTEMBER 19: Fellowship begins
• DECEMBER 23 : Fellowship ends

COMMITMENT TO DIVERSITY AND EQUAL OPPORTUNITY POLICY

Forward Through Ferguson encourages individuals of all ethnic, racial, and socioeconomic backgrounds to apply. We are committed to maximizing the diversity of our organization, to engage all those who can contribute to this effort. Forward Through Ferguson is committed to providing equal opportunities to all qualified individuals and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, ethnicity, religion, sex, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, age, marital status, veteran status, pregnancy, parental status, genetic information or characteristics (or those of a family member) or any other basis prohibited by applicable law.

FORWARD THROUGH FERGUSON BACKGROUND

After the police killing of Michael Brown, Jr. on August 9, 2014, the Governor asked a group of regional leaders — The Ferguson Commission — to study the underlying conditions. Their report, “Forward Through Ferguson: A Path Toward Racial Equity,” provides the roadmap for how to move our region forward. 

With the time that remained between the Report launch on September 14th, to the Ferguson Commission's official sunset on December 31st, 2015, the Commission focused on working with the community to identify necessary investments and infrastructure to support the Report's signature priorities. As a result, anchored in the collaborative, unflinching, and community-driven principles that guided the Ferguson Commission, Forward Through Ferguson (FTF), a 501c3 nonprofit, has emerged as a catalyst for leading the St. Louis region on a path toward Racial Equity with the Report as our roadmap. 

Last year, Forward Through Ferguson:

• Invested over half a million dollars into Black- and Brown-led initiatives through the Racial Healing + Justice Fund, which is designed and governed by a Community Governance Board made up of residents who are directly affected by systemic racism;
• Engaged over 1,000 educators, families, and residents in working toward educational equity; 
• Built racial equity capacity and skill among over 200 leaders through our #STL2039 and Systems Change Primer workshops, as well as our Racial Equity Roundtable; 
• Reached over 25,000 residents in two of the largest collaborative and racial equity-focused mayoral forums;
• And advocated with the Defund. Re-envision. Transform. coalition that got over four million dollars reallocated from police into housing, health, and other holistic public safety efforts;
• And more!

We believe that through our deep commitment to unflinching leadership and our core principles for Racial Equity work of radical collaboration, radical listening, and policy and systems change, St. Louis will emerge as a region that is Just for All, a place where all have the Opportunity to Thrive, and also one in which Youth are at the Center of our efforts and decisions. In summary, we will be on a path towards true Racial Equity — a state in which life outcomes are no longer predictable by race.