2022 JerseyCAN Parent Fellowship

JerseyCAN is pleased to present a new parent fellowship opportunity, which builds on the parent training program we offered this summer. Both the training program and our fellowship program are components of the JerseyCAN initiative, Parent Champions for Strong Schools. The parent fellowship will provide interested parents with more opportunities to interact with the JerseyCAN team and engage in their own advocacy efforts.

Working alongside the JerseyCAN Senior Advisor, with opportunities to interact with our Executive Director, each parent fellow will support parent and community engagement focused on improving students’ educational opportunities and outcomes in New Jersey. During this fellowship, the parent fellow will strengthen his/her organizing and communication skills as well as develop a deeper understanding of education policy.

Scope of responsibilities:

- Develop a core group of local advocates to engage on local education issues in your community. For this, each fellow must engage a minimum of 10 other parents.
- Develop a consistent presence on social media.
- Work with the JerseyCAN Senior Advisor to engage in advocacy efforts at the local district level and/or the New Jersey state capitol.
- Attend a minimum of three local community meetings (i.e., school board meetings or town halls) around education to gain familiarity about community support and needs.
- Attend a minimum of one state-level advocacy event such as a legislative hearing, State Board of Education virtual meeting, etc.
- Complete a minimum of three public-facing deliverables, which will be defined by the JerseyCAN team and will include, but are not limited to, testimony/public comment at the state or local level, op-eds, letters to the editor, video/podcasts, creating social media campaigns, organizing parents to speak at a local board meeting, etc.

Key skills section:

- Passion for education advocacy and student-centric reform
- Outstanding writing abilities
- Political organizing or outreach experience is a plus

Important notes:

- This fellowship includes a stipend of $3,000, which will be distributed upon completion of the program requirements.
- The fellowship will run from early October until mid-December 2022 with possible extensions granted with JerseyCAN approval.

Requirements of the program:

- Must be a parent, grandparent or guardian of a student attending school in New Jersey

Not required but strongly encouraged:

- Completed JerseyCAN’s parent training program, Parent Champions for Strong Schools

Application closes on September 26.

This application is now closed.