From practice to power: learn how to build power in YOUR community!
About our program: Our 12 week Community Organizing Fellowship program is designed for young people (and those young at heart!) who want to learn how to build power with and alongside their peers and work together to make lasting change in their communities while building their own unique set of skills.
Community Organizing fellows are paid $15/hr and will learn the skills and knowledge needed to advocate for themselves and their community on behalf of issues they care about.
Fellows will get hands on experience through:
- weekly classes
- immersive DEIJ workshops
- voter registration
- voter mobilization shifts
- statewide networking opportunities
Check back to apply for the Summer 2023 fellowship!
Know someone that would be a good fit? Nominate them at the form below:
Want to know more? See our frequently asked questions below:
Who is this fellowship for?
- No prior experience necessary! We are looking for young people (or those young at heart) who want to make change in their community. Whether you’re in school, working, volunteering, or just looking for a new opportunity, this is for you!
- We’ll be hiring two fellows for the Summer 2022 Fellowship in each of the following communities; Billings, Bozeman, and Missoula
- All ages welcome! If you are in high school, we recommend starting with our High School Fellowship Program
- Must be based in the community you are applying in (Billings, Missoula, or Bozeman )
Is the fellowship a paid position?
YES! Fellows will be paid $15/hr for 10 hours a week over 12 weeks
What is the time commitment?
- The Community Organizing Fellowship runs from August 29th through November 18th, 2022. Fellows must be able to participate in all 12 weeks of the program and are expected to commit to 10 hours per week, including some weekend and evening commitments.
- Weekly classes will be held each Wednesday from 6-8pm.
- There will be mandatory DEI trainings on October 11th from 12-1pm, October 17th from 12-2pm, and October 24th from 12-2pm.
What does the class schedule look like?
Full class schedule coming soon
What does the fellowship entail?
- Commitment of 10 hours per week
- Attend weekly classes (may not miss more than 2 classes over the summer)
- Work with a supervisor to create and manage a personal work plan
- Attend Forward Montana and Forward Montana Foundation events as needed
- Conduct voter registration shifts in the field with your team
- Conduct Get Out the Vote shifts with your team (phone banking, door knocking, texting)
- Have FUN building community and young people power in your town/city!
What does the application process look like?
- The application is an online form (see the link at the top of this page!) that you’ll need to submit all at once. If you don’t have regular access to the internet, please let us know and we can provide a paper application.
- Your local field manager will review applications and reach out for a short interview/conversation via phone.
- Click this link to apply today!
Still have questions/want to know more?
Please reach out to your local field manager!
- Greg Lynch, Bozeman Field Manager: greg@forwardmontana.org
- Pari Kemmick, Billings Field Manager: pari@forwardmontana.org
- Jana Richter Missoula Field Manager: jana@forwardmontana.org
- Mandy Gerth, Flathead Field Manager: mandy@forwardmontana.org
Can’t commit to the fellowship but still want to be involved?
That’s OK! There are plenty of opportunities to get involved at Forward Montana. Check out our volunteer opportunities here!
How does the Fellowship compare to the Internship from previous years?
The biggest difference is the pay! Interns received a $1,000 stipend and Fellows will be paid hourly at $15/ hour. The classes will still be weekly with guest speakers but will be more focused on skill-building. Finally, Fellows should expect to take on more responsibility and independent projects based on their interest and organizational need.