In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda seeks next generation of leaders for two-year paid fellowship opportunity

Next Generation Leadership Institute Fellowship application deadline extended to April 30, 2020

WASHINGTON — In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is seeking applicants for the Next Generation Leadership Institute, a paid two-year fellowship that serves as a formal pipeline for training young Black women, of all identities, from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) to become Reproductive Justice leaders. Because many campuses have been shut down due to COVID-19, the 2020-2022 Next Generation Leadership Institute Fellowship application period has been extended to April 30, 2020, to allow students more time to apply.

“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity to HBCU students to help cultivate the next generation of leaders in the Reproductive Justice movement,” said Marcela Howell, founder and president of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda. “In light of the additional challenges posed by the coronavirus outbreak and the impact it is having on the lives of Black women and families, it is more important than ever to invest in the lives of Black women, families and young people. The Next Generation Leadership Institute provides an opportunity to train young people in advocacy, community organizing and media while incorporating a strong foundation of Reproductive Justice values.

Through its inaugural 2018-2020 class, In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda has cultivated nine fearless student leaders from five HBCU’s across the nation, including Dillard University, Hampton University, LeMoyne-Owen College, Lincoln University (Pennsylvania) and Spelman College. During their tenure as Next Generation Leadership fellows, these students developed engaging campus forums on important policy issues, received strategic communication training, learned tips on how to mobilize on their campuses and participated in panel presentations at progressive conferences.

“We want the next generation of leaders to be inclusive of all Black women, LGBTQ and gender nonconforming people and people with disabilities and encourage them to apply,” said Howell.

Applications for the 2020-2022 class of The Next Generation Leadership Institute is available at http://bit.ly/NextGenRJapp and will be accepted now through April 30, 2020. Click here to learn more.

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In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda is a national Reproductive Justice organization focused on lifting up the voices of Black women at the national and regional levels in our ongoing policy fight to secure Reproductive Justice for all women and girls. In Our Own Voice focuses on abortion rights and access, contraceptive equity, and comprehensive sex education as key policy issues. As a Reproductive Justice organization, we approach these issues from a human rights perspective, incorporating the intersections of race, gender, class, sexual orientation and gender identity with the situational impacts of economics, politics and culture that make up the lived experiences of Black women in America.