The ADL (Anti-Defamation League) and Aspen Institute have announced the creation of the Civil Society Fellowship to prepare the next generation of community and civic leaders, activists and problem solvers from across the political spectrum.

Civil society encompasses a broad array of concerns that requires the participation and mutual understanding of all, regardless of political labels. The Civil Society Fellowship is designed to empower fellows through values-based leadership seminars, on-site learning, and exposure to a diverse network of leaders to accelerate the creation of more engaged and cohesive communities in the United States.

To that end, fellows will participate in five seminars over a period of two-and-a-half to three years. Two seminars will be held in Aspen, Colorado, or Wye River, Maryland, in addition to three remote sessions that will take place in Europe, the Middle East, and the American South. Remote sessions are core to the experience and are intended to expose fellows to divergent solutions and perspectives on major issues such as immigration, social movements, and economic inclusion. In addition, a required leadership venture will translate the fellows’ insights into action by challenging them to tackle a societal problem of their choosing.

ADL and Aspen are seeking nominations of a diverse group of participants. Building on the Aspen Institute approach to leadership development, fellows will be exposed to a diversity of thought and will commit to dialogue and personal reflection. The fellowship seeks candidates between the ages of 25 and 45 who have already demonstrated a capacity to build a community, movement, organization, or an idea. Each class will consist of twenty to twenty-two individuals, and diversity of perspectives is a critical goal. respectfully. Nominees that express hate or intolerance toward others based on particular ideas or identities will not be accepted into the program.

Fellows’ room and board during sessions as well as their airfare (domestic and international-coach class) and all moderator sessions will be covered by the fellowship.

The nomination period for community and civic leaders, activists and problem solvers from the United States and any of its territories will open upon launch of the program and close at the end of May 2019, with applications from invited candidates due by the end of June 2019. Class 2019 interviews will take place in July 2019 in select cities across the United States. Cities will be announced once the pool of candidates invited to apply is identified.

For more information to submit nominations, visit the Civil Society Fellowship website.