Fellowships
The application process for ALL 2023-2024 Mississippi Votes' Fellowships has officially begun! Please share these amazing opportunities with any and all young people in Mississippi that are interested in making a real difference.
For questions about the any of our fellowship opportunities, please contact our Programs Manager, Velvet Johnson, at velvet@msvotes.org or give her a call at 601-589-0732.
Overview
MS Votes’ Democracy in Action Fellowship is a 10 month program that engages, enriches, and empowers young people attending Mississippi’s colleges and universities. Democracy in Action Fellows are tasked with the grand responsibility of not just registering their peers to vote, but also engaging their peers in real ways that allow them to see themselves as part of the larger vision for democracy. The research and goal of this fellowship aims to amplify the mission of MS Votes by investing in the leadership of young Mississippi. Fellows will learn skills such as grassroots organizing, communications, data management and much more. Democracy in Action Fellows will deepen their political analysis through readings, training, resources and opportunities unique to their geography and experience.
Our fellows are responsible for hosting forums and events that enlighten, empower, and engage their peers to not only register to vote, but to be informed about the political processes and their local government. Our students will experience direct work relationships with their local and state representatives as they are engaged in legislative work and issues. Our students are the Ambassadors of Change on the campuses of their college or university. This program helps administrators, faculty, staff, and student leaders on college campuses across the state of Mississippi to engage students in national, state, and local elections. Our powerful resources and communally crafted approach to organizing helps us give our students and their campuses the tools they need to not only register young voters but turn them out to vote on election days. Of the 17 colleges and universities in Mississippi, Mississippi Votes has fellows on 12 of those campuses and one of them is YOURS!
Total Payments: $1,000 per semester
Requirements
Selection Process: Fellows must be currently enrolled in a college or university in the state of Mississippi. Students will be selected through an application and interview process and confirmed by the MS VOTES selection committee.
-Must be enrolled in a college or university in Mississippi
-Must be registered to vote in Mississippi
-Have an interest in grassroots organizing and voter registration/voter education
-Demonstrate a commitment to educating peers about the importance of registering to vote and becoming an informed voter
-A self-starter who takes initiative to develop and implement their work plans
-Flexible with time commitments and able to put in an average of at least 10 hours a week through April
Duties and Responsibilities
- Host at least four (4) events per semester (i.e. voter registration training, volunteer training, “Why Local Elections Matter” forum etc.)\
- Organize GOTV efforts on campus (i.e. walk to the polls, pizza and polls, etc.)\
- Adopt MSV’s #Up2US Campaign (Ex. #up2usjsu #up2usmsu #up2ususm, etc.)\
- Partner with other student groups doing civic engagement work (i.e. voter registration drives)\
- Complete at least 5 hours of community service per semester.\
- Attend at least one of MS Votes’ scheduled Legislative Days\
- Schedule Bi-Weekly Check Ins with MSV Youth Civic Engagement Coordinator\
- Submit end of semester report to Youth Civic Engagement Coordinator
Hours Per Week: Minimum of 10 hours per week\ - Must complete 2 hours of political education and document them to YCE coordinator (i.e attend MS Votes' events and/or partner events, PE events on campus or in campus community e.g., town halls, council meetings, public forums etc)
Duties and Responsibilities
35% of the responsibilities are clerical/administrative; 35% is special projects; 30% is training and leadership development
- Answer phone inquiries, direct calls, and provide basic information; oversee mail deliveries, packages, and couriers
- Perform clerical duties, take memos, maintain files, and organize documents; photocopy, fax, etc. as needed
- Assist in preparing information and research materials; create and maintain PowerPoint presentations
- Take notes and memos during meetings; type documents, drafts, and reports; sort and manage files
- Run general operations related errands
- Manage databases and input information, data, and records
- Set up, break down, organize, and maintain conference rooms, training rooms, and meeting rooms; update company calendars
- Attend organization functions and networking events
- Update and post supervised social media and website content; respond to web correspondence, social media posts and emails
- Manage Already Existing Pop-Up Voter Registration Events
- Coordinate and/or assist with special projects as assigned
Benefits
- Develop experience working on a wide variety of projects
- Gain exposure to a fast-paced, collaborative office environment
- Work side-by-side with Executive Director and Leadership Team of youth civic engagement organization
- Organize and attend company meetings and networking events
Expectations
- 24 office hours per week; office hours are between 9 am - 5 pm weekdays (schedules are approved through MS Votes’ Executive Assistant each week; some work may be done virtually)
- Attend at least 2 weekend activities/events (must coordinate with MS Votes’ Executive Assistant)
- Self-motivated
- Self-starter
- Task oriented
- Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully toward resolving obstacles and/or conflicts
- Exceptional collaborative learning style
- Commitment to the mission of the MS Votes
Requirements
- Must have reliable transportation
- Must be a currently enrolled student in a junior college/college/university
- Must have availability for the scheduled hours of the internship as well as some weekend availability for training/events
Overview
The One Girl One Vote (OGOV) fellowship's sole purpose is to provide young womxn and femmes of color with the tools they need to organize their communities.
Politics is usually a patriarchal, heteronormative game but this fellowship will provide young women with the tools and knowledge they need to advocate for intersectional issues that young womxn of color face.
OGOV is needed in Mississippi to establish a broad constituency to work in pursuit of equity-- social, political, and economic equality for young womxn. OGOV will study and take action on national, state, local, and campus issues.
Our fellows will focus on a broad range of civic engagement issues through a Black, Queer Feminist Lens. Our students will work directly with their local and state representatives as they are engaged in creating a legislative agenda. This program will also benefit administrators, faculty, staff, and student leaders on college campuses and surrounding communities.
Please complete the application below. For more information about the One Girl, One Vote Fellowship program please see our website at www.msvotes.org. You can also email info@msvotes.org if you have questions