Fellowships

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)

DIA Application