Urban Leaders Fellowship Program

Next American City is currently seeking candidates for the winter term of our Urban Leaders Fellowship Program, a unique opportunity to write about the development of our nation’s cities. The 9-month, part-time fellowship comes with a $10,000 stipend. Application deadline is December 1, 2008.

Please note, our application deadline for the fall term has passed. Ben Adler of Washington, D.C.  was chosen as the first fellow. Michael Freedman-Schnapp of Brooklyn, N.Y.; Jori Lewis of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and Lionel Foster of Baltimore, Md. were selected as the runners-up.

Through substantial contribution to our print magazine and website, as well as a presence in other media outlets throughout the country, our fellows will conduct new research and in-depth reportage on the issues at the forefront of urban change. In addition to diversifying and expanding the editorial content of our publications, our primary goal is to have a long-term, positive impact on the cities and urban communities covered.

We will be looking for candidates with related published writing, as well as passionate urban thinkers, activists and professionals working in city-related professions – law, urban planning, social work, real estate development, education, and others. Candidates must have a demonstrated area of interest or expertise that they would like to further develop through an Urban Leaders Fellowship.

Fellows will work closely with Next American City editors to develop a geographic or topical focus of their choosing and determine how the fellow will pursue writing about it. Each fellow will conduct significant research in this focus area with the purpose of developing a unique perspective and voice of authority on that topic and further developing their area of expertise. Next American City is particularly interested in fellows hailing from states other than New York, Lousiana and California (although we certainly won’t discriminate against applicants from those states, there is increased competition from those regions).

Fellows are expected to write at least two, 2,500-word feature stories for our print magazine, as well as several web features and blog posts each month. Fellows must also work to develop substantive, pragmatic solutions for his or her region of focus through the placement of op-eds in major newspapers, participation in relevant events, conferences, panel discussions and radio appearances.

Fellows will be required to make periodic visits to our Philadelphia office to meet with our editors and staff, but will otherwise operate out of their location of focus. Approved travel-related expenses will be covered.

The Urban Leaders Fellowship represent a part-time commitment; we anticipate chosen candidates will be engaged in other pursuits in their field while taking on the fellowship and encourage connections between the fellowship and other related activities.

Please review our FAQs for additional information. If you still have questions about the fellowship, please do not call the office, but instead e-mail diana AT americancity.org.

For detailed information about the Urban Leaders Fellowship Program, please download the program outline.

Application:

We are currently accepting applications for the Winter 2009 term.

Click here to download the application form.

Prospective candidates must complete the application form and submit the following materials: a cover letter, CV/résumé listing professional writing and/or relevant experience and published works, three professional references (PLEASE NOTE: the references should be just contact information, not actual letters), and three writing samples. Applicants must also submit an essay of no more than 1,500 words identifying his or her interest in the fellowship and possible regional and topical foci for the term with Next American City.

Completed application packages will be accepted via mail, email, or fax:

(Please note: All materials must fit on 8 ½” x 11” pages. Emailed applications must be in PDF format.)

Deadlines and Fellowship Terms:

For the Winter 2009 term, all application materials must be received by Monday December 1, 2008. Fellow will be selected mid-January and expected to start February 1, 2009 (end date October 31, 2009).

Special Thanks

The Urban Leaders Fellowship Program has been made possible through a generous gift of Dan and Joanna Rose. Next American City deeply appreciates their support.