The Catamount Fellowship, led by the Institute for Community Prosperity, announced a call for community partners. The fellowship is designed to be a springboard for students preparing to lead social change upon graduation through innovation in movements, organizations, businesses and/or government. The program bridges research, theory, and social innovation frameworks with practical experience and insights from community partners and faculty mentors to guide students in effectively leveraging their skills and knowledge for positive social impact. The Institute is seeking community partners to guide students in effectively leveraging their skills and knowledge for positive social impact.

Program Overview:

The fellowship brings together a cohort of 10-12 aspiring changemakers. These are senior-level students from across academic disciplines who share a passion for a more just and equitable future for all. Students are selected based on their academic maturity and demonstrated interest in fostering community well-being. Participants are matched with a community partner and faculty mentor who will help inform and steward their research that addresses a systemic community-wide issue.  

Fellows become part of a dedicated cohort and interact with a larger community of changemakers interested in advancing their work and the work of their peers to achieve positive social impact. Working collectively, participants will develop the skills and tools needed to understand, navigate, and work in collaboration to address complex 21st-century challenges. 

Role of the Community Partner:

  • Identifying a systemic community-wide issue that your organization is involved in tackling, either directly or as part of a collaboration or coalition. The issue identified will be used during the application process (which opens August 1, 2023) to ensure selected student fellows have an aligned interest with the issue.
  • Meeting with the student fellow at various points throughout the program (late-September 2023 through April 2024) to answer questions, provoke deeper thinking and provide connections to resources that advance their learning. The frequency can be determined by yourself and the designated fellow and is anticipated to be no more than 4-8 hours per month. It is highly recommended that a regular meeting schedule is established at the onset of the fellowship.
  • Working with the student fellow as the lead, host a community conversation related to the research topic. The community conversation can happen anytime between November 2023 and the end of January 2024, and can be part of an existing event or gathering hosted either by your organization or a community partner.
  • Attending the welcome gathering in September (Date TBD)
  • (Optional) Contributing to the program delivery through an existing workshop or skill set within your organization that supports experiential learning and leadership within the cohort.

Apply to become a community partner and advance social change, click here.