About Western States Center: 

Based in the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States, Western States Center (WSC) works nationwide to strengthen inclusive democracy. For over 35 years, our work has advanced social, racial, and economic justice by convening, developing, organizing, and supporting the communities most affected by inequities. We’ve played a catalytic role, working with community partners to build people-centered movements, defend democracy, develop new leaders, and shift culture with our eyes on the prize of a society where all can live, love, and work free from bigotry and fear. Our Momentum program focuses on countering white nationalism to defend democracy, part of our broader work within four pillars: Movement Building, Leadership Development, Shifting Culture, and Defending Democracy. 

Fellowship Overview: 

This position is fully remote. 

Western States Center is pleased to open applications for the 2023 - 2024 Defending Democracy fellowship program. The program is designed for organizers to gain skills and experience to counter white nationalism and other movements of organized bigotry, build peer-to-peer relationships, and sharpen their visions of a democracy where all people can live, love, work, and worship free from fear.  

Fellows will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the white nationalist movement and its broader anti-democracy coalition—forces that seek to limit the rights of Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, LGBTQIA2S+ folks, women, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized communities. The ideal candidate will have a commitment to racial and gender justice, some experience in community organizing, and an interest in engaging in anti-hate work. Additionally, this year our team has specific project work in mind for fellows who have interest and/or experience in the following subject matter:   

Working within communities of color and with civic institutions like local government, schools, or libraries to protect inclusive democracy; development of educational materials that cater to multiple communities, potentially including multilingual materials; exploring the intersection between housing justice and anti-bigotry organizing; or supporting LGBTQIA2S+ organizers in responding to targeting from anti-democracy groups.  

During this year’s fellowship, fellows will be embedded within Western States Center’s programmatic work gaining hands-on experience in countering organized bigotry. Fellows’ work may include, for instance, supporting local community organizing against white nationalism, contributing to trainings for community and institutional leaders, drafting communications, and online monitoring of white nationalist and anti-democracy groups.  

Fellows will also have the opportunity to hear from and connect directly with national and local leaders in this work through a monthly lecture series.  

The fellowship will launch on Wednesday, September 13th, 2023, and will end on Wednesday, March 13th, 2024. 

Requirements: 

• • Priority will be given to applicants with affiliations to grassroots justice organizations within the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States region, but applications from across the U.S. are welcome.  
  • Ability to commit to weekly fellowship supervision meetings to be held on Wednesdays at 1pm-2pm PT / 4pm-5pm ET and the monthly lecture series, which will be held the second Tuesday of every month at 1pm-2pm PT / 4pm-5pm ET.  
  • Ability to commit to 12 hours of work for Western States Center per week during normal Pacific or Eastern Time business hours and scheduling these work hours ahead of time. 
  • A demonstrated commitment to racial and gender justice. 
  • Enthusiasm about creative approaches to countering white nationalism and approaches that build broad coalitions to deal with the white nationalist movement and defend democracy. 
  • Attention to detail and excitement about the nitty-gritty work of organizing and monitoring.  

Compensation: 

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 based on 12 hours of work per week for a total of $7,000 for the fellowship.  

Workload & Schedule Requirements:

Fellows will commit to 12 hours per week of fellowship engagement during WSC office hours, which are Monday-Thursday, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM Pacific time. Fellows will also attend weekly team meetings on Wednesdays from 1:00-2:00 PM Pacific, and monthly guest lectures which will be scheduled for Tuesday afternoons from 1:00-2:00 PM Pacific as our guest speakers are available. The fellowship will run from September 13th 2023 through March 13th 2024.

To Apply:

Please answer the questions in the form below, upload a resume, and provide a link to a work sample of your choice. Feel free to be creative. You may wish to share a blog or op-ed style writing sample, art or cultural work, research paper, organizing plan, petition text, digital organizing email, or something else! You may upload it into our TriNet system if it is not already online. Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis through August 6th 2023.