We’re excited to announce that through Monday, June 26, we are accepting applications for two Civic Fellow positions.
The Civic Fellows Program is designed to equip recent college graduates for more effective, deliberative civic engagement through a year of service with the Mathews Center. This year’s placements will be in Montevallo, AL, and Marion, AL; the anticipated start date is September 1. To submit an application, visit mathewscenter.org/apply.
Below, our 2016 Fellows share what their year of service has meant to them. They will be greatly missed! Gabby and Laura will always have a special place in our hearts as our very first Civic Fellows. As we seek to prepare the next generation for active civic life, we consider it a privilege and a great pleasure to learn alongside them, and those who follow.
“Spending the past year as a Civic Fellow really helped round out my education after six years in the classroom. While I had the fortune of studying civic engagement in school, the Civic Fellows program allowed me to see theory put into practice. I was able to not only observe but actively participate in planning forums and programs that enhance community collaboration. I can’t think of a better (or more fun) way to get your hands dirty and gain experience in the nonprofit sector than the DMC’s Civic Fellows program. I believe the fellowship has not only allowed me to develop new skills and pursue my passions, it has also allowed me to get to know the people and places of Alabama, which will allow me to better serve our community in the future.” – Gabrielle Lamplugh, 2016-17 Civic Fellow
“The Civic Fellows program offers an unbeatable experience for recent graduates to enter into nonprofit work. Fellows interact with a broad group of community leaders, educators, and active citizens who are making a difference across Alabama. Named after a man who built a legacy that believes in the civic force and leadership of young Alabamians, the David Mathews Center for Civic Life works to foster community engagement and civic awareness at the local level. Fellows receive on-the-job training in media and deliberative practice as they engage in meaningful research, conduct interviews highlighting civic stories, host youth institutes, author issue guides and blogs, develop programmatic resources, and assist with conducting deliberative forums where communities talk through issues and implement ideas at the local level.” – Laura P. Vickery, 2016-17 Civic Fellow
The Civic Fellows program builds upon the successful immersive civic learning model of the Mathews Center’s Jean O’Connor-Snyder (JOIP) undergraduate internship program. Civic Fellows engage in shared learning on democratic practices, conduct research on public engagement, and support the DMC’s work to strengthen civic life in Alabama.