Giffords Kicks Off Courage Fellowship for Second Year, Opening Applications for Program Empowering Young Advocates to Demand a Safer America
Courage Fellowship provides students with the tools and resources to help fuel the fight to end gun violence.
May 3, 2019 — Giffords announced its ‘ Courage Fellowship ’ to fuel the efforts of young advocates seeking to bring change to directly impact their communities is continuing for the second year in a row and is now taking applications. The Giffords Courage Fellowship provides young people with tools and opportunities to demand safer gun laws in communities across the country.
“Young people are tired of politicians failing to keep them safe so they are becoming leaders of their own with ideas on how to create an America free of everyday gun violence,” said Lydia Kuykendal, deputy engagement director at Giffords. “March For Our Lives ignited a movement within a new generation that won’t stop fighting the status quo. They continue to rally, march, and demand to live in a country where they can go to school, a place of worship, or to the park without worrying about getting shot. We’re inspired by their courage, and we continue to lift up their efforts to create a future that keeps safe all Americans across the country.”
The semester-long fellowship is open to young leaders between the ages 16-20. After submitting an application, those selected as Courage Fellows will have the opportunity to participate in a variety of trainings, events, and meetings that will help them learn from one another and sharpen their activism skills.
“Being a Courage Fellow showed me what my future is. In working with courageous adults and youth, I found my passion. I know what I want to do and how I can do it for the rest of my life, thanks to this fellowship with Giffords,” said Sydney Lewis, an alumna from last year’s Courage Fellowship program.
The fellowship will place participants in the heart of the gun violence prevention discussion. Courage Fellows will take part in a number of activities in Washington, D.C. including two, three-day trainings and a lobbying day on Capitol Hill. In between fly-ins, Fellows will be given the resources to complete their own engagement project in which they will promote gun violence prevention in their local communities.
Over the course of the semester-long program, Fellows will:
- Learn from nationally recognized leaders in gun violence prevention.
- Network with other dynamic student leaders from around the nation.
- Work in a team to develop and implement a community-based gun violence prevention project.
- Build critical communication, organizing and advocacy skills.
- Meet with legislators to discuss the importance of taking action to keep kids safe from gun violence.
- Develop new tools and resources to advance gun violence education and prevention.
Individuals eligible for the fellowship must be 16 to 20-years-old by August 2019, be willing to travel to Washington, D.C. for 2, three-day trainings (all travel-related costs will be covered by Giffords), be able to work as a part of a team and secure written parental consent. Those hoping to apply can do so by completing the application here. Applications must be submitted by June 2nd, 2019 at 11:59 PM EDT.