The Parent Fellowship

This hybrid virtual/in-person fellowship, which runs from October to April, is an incredible opportunity for New Jersey parents to refine their advocacy skills further and connect with a network of like-minded advocates. By participating in this fellowship, parents will become equipped to drive positive changes within our education system and address the needs of their children. Parents participating in this program receive a $3,000 stipend for the work they do.

    • Develop a team 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 Public Affairs Manager, arranging advocacy efforts at the local school board 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 with 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.
    • Organizing or outreach experience is a plus
    • Passion for education advocacy and student-centric reform
    • Bonus: Interest in literacy
    • This fellowship includes a stipend of $3,000, which will be distributed upon completion of the program and deliverables
    • The fellowship will run from early October until late April
    • Must be a parent, grandparent or guardian of a student attending school in New Jersey.
    • Completed JerseyCAN’s parent training program, Parent Champions for Strong Schools

Virtual Parent Training Program

A free, fully virtual parent training program, “Parent Champions for Strong Schools,” is tailored to equip parents with the knowledge and tools necessary to advocate for education at both local and state levels effectively. Through this 7 week program, parents will gain a deeper understanding of education policy, sharpen their advocacy skills, and collaborate to drive meaningful change.

    • Organizing or outreach experience is a plus
    • Passion for education advocacy and student-centric reform
    • Bonus: Interest in literacy
    • The parent training will run for 7 weeks from October to November, completely virtual
    • Participants are not required to submit any deliverables for this program
    • This is ideal for parents and guardians new to advocacy
    • Must be a parent, grandparent or guardian of a student attending school in New Jersey
    • Attend at least 6 out of the 7 training sessions (each session will be 1-1.5 hours)