PUBLIC VOICES FELLOWSHIP
on Transformative Justice with The OpEd Project

We are pleased to announce a new partnership between The OpEd Project and Public Welfare Foundation to offer a Public Voices Fellowship on Transformative Justice.

This year-long experience will convene a cohort of up to 20 youth and adult criminal justice thought leaders, with a focus on people with backgrounds that have been historically underrepresented in the mainstream media. The Fellowship will provide support, leadership skills, and knowledge to ensure fellows’ ideas shape not only the field but also national and global discourse. The cohort will meet virtually for three sessions, and in-person for one session.

The Public Voices Fellowship on Transformative Justice is a collaboration of Public Welfare Foundation and The OpEd Project and is part of a broader initiative in partnership with The OpEd Project to change who writes history.

The curriculum explores leadership, power, and action. Fellows will explore how credibility works, how ideas spread, when and why minds change, and how ideas play out over time and space. The goal of this project is to bring new, diverse voices into the national and global conversation.

The program includes workshops and one-on-one coaching by leading journalists and editors. All participants must commit to publishing at least two written pieces of thought leadership during their fellowship. Participation in all convenings, continuously and in full, is required – applicants must save the dates and confirm their understanding of this commitment in order for their application to be considered.

The application process for the 2024-2025 Public Voices Fellowship on Transformative Justice is now open.

What’s it like? Watch a video of one fellowship cohort’s experience.

SELECTION

We seek leaders working to advance a new, transformative approach to justice that’s community-led, restorative, and racially just. Applicants should have a demonstrated desire and ability to contribute to public dialogue on justice reform. Areas of focus could include, but are not limited to, policy advocacy, organizing, leadership development, narrative change, and demonstration projects.

Fellows will be chosen through a competitive selection process. The fellowship is open to people at least 18 years old residing in the United States.

FELLOWSHIP DETAILS

  • Cohort of approximately 20 leaders

  • Year-long fellowship

  • Four discovery-based convenings designed to catalyze knowledge and produce ideas of public value (three virtual convenings and one, in-person convening).

  • Fellowship dates are as follows: Oct 2, 3 and 4 (12 – 3:30 pm ET via Zoom), December 12 and 13 (12 – 3:30 pm ET via Zoom), February 27 and 28 (12 – 3:30 pm ET via Zoom), May 8 (10 am – 5 pm ET, in-person, Washington, D.C.)

  • Dedicated editors (top journalists) provide regular, one-on-one support/editing/coaching

  • Access to weekly journalist office hours and monthly events with media insiders and experts

  • Travel and lodging stipends will be available to attend the in-person convening

EXPECTATIONS OF FELLOWS

  • Commitment to contribute to public discourse

  • Commitment to engage with and contribute to the fellowship cohort 

  • Commitment to participate in all four fellowship convenings in full and without exception

  • Commitment to writing a minimum of three opinion (op-ed) pieces

  • Alignment with and commitment to the spirit and mission of the fellowship  

Application

The application window has ended.