2024-25 Western States Center Defending Democracy Fellowship

About Western States Center: 

Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center (WSC) works nationwide to build a future where all people can live, love, worship, and work free from bigotry and fear. WSC envisions inclusive democratic movements and societies rooted in justice and equity. Since 1987, WSC has worked with communities and organizations to build movements, develop leaders, shift culture, and defend democracy through a prism of race, gender, justice, and equity. We provide resources, toolkits, and trainings that equip communities, organizations, individuals and local governments to build and defend inclusive democracy.  

Fellowship Overview: 

Western States Center is pleased to open applications for the 2024 Defending Democracy fellowship program. The program is designed for organizers and those interested in research and monitoring to counter white nationalism and other anti-democracy movements of organized bigotry, build peer-to-peer relationships, and sharpen their visions of a democracy where all people can live, love, work, and worship free from fear.  

Fellows will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the white nationalist movement and its broader anti-democracy coalition—forces that seek to limit the rights of Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, queer and trans folks, women, immigrants, refugees, religious minorities, and other marginalized communities. The ideal candidate will have a commitment to racial and gender justice, some experience in community organizing and/or research, and an interest in engaging in anti-hate work. Additionally, this year our team has specific project work in mind for fellows who have interest and/or experience in the following subject matter: Organizing for LGBTQ+ liberation; working for a free and fair election season; collaborating with or within local government, schools, or libraries to protect inclusive democracy and advance racial and gender justice. 

During this year’s fellowship, fellows will be embedded within Western States Center’s programmatic work gaining hands-on experience in countering organized bigotry. Fellows’ work may include, for instance, supporting local community organizing against white nationalism, contributing to trainings for community and institutional leaders, drafting communications, and online monitoring of white nationalist and anti-democracy groups.  

Fellows will also have the opportunity to hear from and connect directly with national and local leaders in this work through a monthly lecture series.  

The fellowship will launch on Tuesday, May 28th and will end on Tuesday, December 18th, 2024.  

Requirements: 

• Priority will be given to applicants with affiliations to grassroots justice organizations within the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States region, but applications from across the U.S. are welcome. 
• Ability to commit to weekly fellowship supervision meetings to be held on Tuesdays at 1pm-2pm PT / 4pm-5pm ET and the monthly lecture series, which will be held the second Wednesday of every month at 1pm-2pm PT / 4pm-5pm ET. 
• Ability to commit to 12 hours of work for Western States Center per week during normal Pacific or Eastern Time business hours. 
• A demonstrated commitment to racial and gender justice.
• Enthusiasm about creative approaches to countering white nationalism and approaches that build broad coalitions to deal with the white nationalist movement and defend democracy.
• Attention to detail and excitement about the nitty-gritty work of organizing and monitoring.  

Compensation: 

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 based on 12 hours of work per week for a total of $7,000 for the fellowship.  

To apply: 

Please submit your resume and a work sample of your choice along with the answers to application questions through this form. The application deadline is Wednesday, May 8th.