PUBLIC VOICES FELLOWSHIP
on Domestic Violence and Economic Security

Blue Shield of California Foundation is accepting applications for the Public Voices Fellowship on Domestic Violence and Economic Security, in partnership with The OpEd Project. The year-long fellowship is for individuals who have expertise and experience working to address the economic security and mobility of survivors of domestic violence in California (e.g., housing, job skills, economic coercion, financial literacy, etc.). The 20-person cohort of diverse thought leaders will receive extraordinary support, build leadership skills, and develop knowledge to ensure their ideas shape the local, state, and federal discussions on how to best meet the needs of survivors.

The fellowship curriculum explores leadership, knowledge exchange, and empowerment in an unjust world. Fellows will examine building consensus, how ideas spread, when and why minds change, and how ideas can shape the future. The fellowship includes workshops and one-on-one coaching by leading journalists and editors. All fellows will write a minimum of three opinion (“op-ed”) articles during their fellowship. Attendance at all convenings, continuously and in full, is required. Applicants must be available on the convening dates to apply and should hold the dates on their calendars until the application and selection process has been completed. The application deadline is Sunday, November 17, 2024. You may find the application form here.

The application window for this year has closed. Please email krista@theopedproject.org with any questions.

PUBLIC VOICES FELLOWSHIP

The Public Voices Fellowship is a global initiative to diversify public knowledge and discourse, and change who writes history. Launched by The OpEd Project in partnership with leading mission-aligned organizations and funders, it is a collective investment in changing the demographics of voice at scale, in a world where we now face challenges and opportunities that can only be unlocked with a diversity of knowledge sets, expertise, and voices. Each fellow joins a unique cohort of highest-caliber thinkers, supported by extraordinary resources and training over the course of a year, including cutting-edge programming, high-level coaching, and access to a prestigious network of journalists and fellows at peer institutions nationwide. Emphasis is on thought leaders who are underrepresented in the public sphere, including women.

What’s it like? Watch a video of one fellowship cohort’s experience.

WHAT IS SUCCESS?

We are not interested in providing a service as much as creating an outcome. Our goal is 100% success: we envision that every participant will produce at least three op-eds, which in turn lead to tangible pieces of thought leadership in influential places (which may include citations, speech invitations, radio/TV appearances, proposals for new initiatives or businesses, and more) and that these will significantly accelerate their impact as thought leaders. Longer-term, we aim to build a thriving and connected community of Public Voices Fellows across cohorts.

LOGISTICS

Fellows are required to participate in virtual convenings (see dates below), scheduled at two-to-three-month intervals, and commit to writing a minimum of three opinion pieces over the course of the fellowship. Fellows are also assigned to work with veteran journalist coaches for dedicated one-on-one coaching throughout the year. In addition, fellows will have periodic opportunities to join calls with public thinkers and influencers and receive weekly customized email support and news alerts. Upon completion of the Fellowship, they will have access to a powerful network of peers and The OpEd Project’s network of high-level journalist mentors.

SELECTION

We are seeking thought leaders who are working, researching, practicing, or have lived and/or living at the intersections of domestic violence and economic security, with a demonstrated desire and ability to contribute to public dialogue at the intersection of these issues. We are seeking fellows who work to address these issues in California.

Fellows will be chosen through a competitive selection process. We are committed to building a diverse cohort. We will consider various factors, including but not limited to gender, race/ethnicity, geography, area of expertise, work history, and experience as an agent of change.

We understand that not everyone’s employment situation will support participation. We are able to provide a limited number of stipends of $4,000. If you need this financial assistance to participate, please indicate that on the application form.

We will announce acceptance into the Fellowship in early December.

DETAILS

20 fellows
Year-long fellowship
Applicants MUST commit to attending these Fellowship convenings in their entirety:
- Convening 1: January 15, 16, and 17, 2025 @ 12pm-3:30pm ET (virtual)
- Convening 2: March 27 and 28, 2025 @ 12pm-3:30pm ET (virtual)
- Convening 3: June 5 and 6, 2025 @ 12pm-3:30pm ET (virtual)
- Convening 4: August 21 and 22, 2025 @ 12pm-3:30pm ET (virtual)
You will receive:
- Dedicated Fellowship Coaches (top journalists) to provide regular, one-on-one support/editing/coaching for the first nine months of the Fellowship
- Access to ongoing mentoring for the fellowship year
All the convenings will be provided free of charge

MORE ABOUT THE OPED PROJECT

The OpEd Project is a think tank and leadership organization that expands history by amplifying the ideas and public impact of new and necessary voices, including women of all backgrounds. We are a community of thought leaders, journalists, commentary writers, and activists who proactively share our skills, knowledge, and connections across color, creed, class, age, ability, gender, orientation, and beyond. Through our programs, we elevate the ideas and knowledge of underrepresented expert voices, including women, and accelerate solutions to the world’s biggest problems – problems that cannot be solved justly or sustainably without a diversity of voices, expertise, experience, and identity. We believe the best ideas, regardless of where they come from, should have a chance to be heard and to change the world.

APPLICATION