|
|

Civic Influencers Application

About Civic Influencers

Civic Influencers is a nonpartisan, nonprofit that activates young people’s civic power through organizing, learning, and advocacy. We use real-time data to draw attention to democracy power outages on campuses and in communities, and train young people to fight for youth voting rights and the policies they care about. We design youth-centered, data-driven civic action projects that remove barriers to voting and push decision makers to give young people a seat at the table. If you have any questions, please contact Audrey Ferguson, Co-Chief of Organizing, at audrey@civicinfluencers.org.

The 2024 Let Freedom Ride Program ™ 

Civic Influencers’ 2024 Virtual Freedom Summer will connect students (with iconic changemakers) to co-produce social media and other content that will educate and energize interest for civic engagement among both groups, and lead to higher voting rates among young people in tipping point races.

The 2024 Let Freedom Ride Program ™ is inspired by the 1964 Freedom Summer and does not attempt equivalence to the enormity of the sacrifice and contribution of those Civil Rights workers. Rather, we are imagining how we engage, educate, and inspire young people on college campuses, with our history, freedom movement and inheritance.

Instead of riding buses, community college students in LA, NYC, Cincinnati, Chicago and at various campuses across the country will together “ride/surf” the Internet and social media, create content to energize peers to register and vote, fight back against voter suppression, especially in states and districts with narrow margins of victory — where the students can use their voting power to fight for the freedoms they believe in from democracy and voting, to the environment, choice and justice in their lives.

The Civic Influencers’ Credo

I am concerned about issues that impact my people, community, and land. I am concerned about the state of democracy and want to be part of a national movement that is not afraid to stand up for our youth voting rights and lift up our voices. I want to grow and learn. I want to change the systems that have intentionally left people out of the democratic process. I am dedicated to putting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the forefront of my work. I understand that the time to act is now.

Are you ready to join the Civic Influencer Team?

We are thrilled that our Civic Influencers can serve multiple funded consecutive terms, that could include any or all of the planned terms. The upcoming terms are as follows: 

  1. Spring 24’: January 29th to May 3rd (14 weeks)
  2. Summer 24’: June 3rd to August 9th (10 weeks)
  3. Fall 24’: September 2nd to December 6th (14 weeks)

*All Civic Influencers have the opportunity to enroll in multiple terms and are strongly encouraged to do so. Multi-term candidates and Civic Influencers will be given priority advancement opportunities on successful completion of each term.

Stipends: $500 leadership stipend per term. 

Additional Program takeaways: Opportunity for growth and additional stipends • National and local networks • Coaching and mentoring from renowned experts • Social media & digital engagement training • Organizing and campaign training • Media opportunities and training •  Data analysis and visualization training • Public speaking and publishing opportunities and more.

Key deliverables to meet the requirements of the stipend:

  1. A minimum of three (3) democratic and voting engagement activities on campus and/or in the surrounding community throughout each term. These activities must take place before the last two weeks at the end of each term.
  2. One (1) systemic change project that leads to long-term change is also required each term, though could be spread over several terms.
  3. Civic Influencers will participate in data training to understand how advocacy and community change can be driven and recognized by the use of data. Tableau Bronze-level training and resources will be provided. Civic Influencers will complete Tableau’s Data Literacy for All eLearning track composed of 7 modules (5+ hours of training) completed at your own pace (this completes the Bronze-level training).
  4. Participate in a data-driven survey project that reports on current youth voting barriers and other democracy issues either in your community or on campus.
  5. Aid in the creation of video content for our communications department to help engage young people about civic engagements on the platforms they utilize.

You may also be eligible for academic credit. You can discuss this with your Statewide Organizer(s).

Failure to meet these deliverables may result in you being removed from Civic Influencers and becoming ineligible for a future stipend and future participation.

Duties and Responsibilities

  • Participate in our National Civic Influencers Orientation.
    • Support Civic Influencers through video testimonials and stories about why civic engagement is important.
  • Participate in monthly state-specific trainings, a national Diversity, Equity and Inclusion training and other trainings as determined.
  • Support Civic Influencers by participating in Civic Influencers Action Days either by signal boosting or creating unique engagements for your community or campus.
  • Create a Civic Influencers Action Plan in conjunction with your Statewide Organizer(s) for how you will organize in your community and on campus, which includes the following:
    • A minimum of three (3) activities to strengthen and protect youth voting rights; 
    • A systemic change project; 
    • A data-driven survey project that reports on current youth voting barriers and other democracy issues either in your community or on campus;  
    • A record of your activities in the Civic Influencers internal Activity Tracker; and
  • Complete Tableau’s Data Literacy for All eLearning track composed of 7 modules (~5 hours of training) completed at your own pace (this completes the Bronze-level training).
  • Schedule and consistently meet with your assigned State Organizer(s) via biweekly check-ins to troubleshoot your Civic Influencers Action Plan and receive additional support. 
  • Collaborate and partner with other Civic Influencers locally and/or nationwide, community partners, on-campus student organizations, administrators, and faculty members to complete aforementioned activities and at least one (1) systemic change project. 
  • Complete Civic Influencers Final Report. 

Please note, academic credit may be available at some institutions. Some institutions may provide financial support to youth and students for community engagement and we encourage you to apply.

Additional requirements:

  • You should be concerned about issues in your community and on campus.
  • You care about fairness and justice.
  • You should have a passion for engaging your peers in voting, the electoral process and strengthening democracy.
  • You should be committed to young people voting and increasing young people’s civic power. 
  • You should enjoy online organizing and gaining social media skills.
  • You should enjoy working with your peers in person and online as well.
  • You should be a self-starter who takes initiative and would enjoy developing and implementing a Civic Influencers Action Plan.
  • You should be enthusiastic about joining and being an active participant of a national team and movement to save and promote democracy.
  • You should integrate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) into all of your Civic Influencers activities and uphold our commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
  • You should embrace the agility and innovative spirit of start-up and campaign culture, and be willing to shift priorities based on urgent democracy needs on your campus and in your community. 
  • You should remain nonpartisan while doing Civic Influencers’ activities. 
  • You must have access to an electronic device (e.g., a computer or tablet) and a stable internet connection. (We may be able to help on a case-by-case basis. Please let us know your needs.)
  • You should not be enrolled in another paid student voting fellowship. All other fellowships/internships will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

BIYoC (Black, Indigenous, Youth of Color) • STEM majors • Creatives • Artists • Non-English first language speakers • First-generation • LGBTQ+ • Neurodiverse • People with disabilities 

Media Engagement & Journalism

Climate Change/Environmental Justice

Gun Violence

Reproductive Rights

Immigration