FELLOWSHIP ANNOUNCEMENT TITLE: William Whitney Community Fellow LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA. DATE: Summer 2008 APPLICATIONS DUE: June 6, 2009 STIPEND: $1,500 POSITION SUMMARY: The William Whitney Community Fellowship at Mantua Cares provides an excellent professional development opportunity for talented junior and High school seniors pursuing careers as leaders in the field of community activism. The student will focus on community projects that will make a tangible contribution to the Mantua Cares mission. Working with a team of professional staff, the individual will apply practical research and advocacy skills and develop a network of professional contacts in their field of expertise. The individual will be an integral part of a dynamic organization comprised of experienced community activists and emerging leaders and will participate in a range of organizational functions including youth programming and Board of Directors meetings. This newly established fellowship honors the memory of William “Willow” Whitney who served the community of Mantua in West Philadelphia, including the Mantua Cares project. The program reflects his integrity, intellect, concern for humanity and commitment to hard work; we seek candidates who possess these qualities. ABOUT MANTUA CARES: Mantua Cares serves as a local resource for selfdevelopmental education and a community exchange of information. Mantua Cares represents, leads and unifies a diverse group of people who share a common goal for the educational development of the Mantua community. We seek to achieve this by providing leadership in educational and professional development through the promotion of sound technical advice, training and exchange of information. For more information, visit www.mantuacares.com FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM DETAILS AND REQUIREMENTS: The goals of the William Whitney Fellowship Program are to develop the next generation of community leaders and to generate work products that directly support the mission and goals of the organization. Advancements in community development will be especially important during the coming years due to the social and economic redevelopment of the Mantua Community. We need to develop the next generation of skilled leaders who can promote and implement practical community based initiatives that achieve measurable results for the Mantua Community. Focusing on an inclusive community based project, the Whitney Fellow will help shape community-oriented solutions to neighborhood challenges, educate civic leaders about the issues of the community, inform legislative and legal proceedings, and influence opinion leaders. The Whitney Fellow will directly support the goals of one or more of Mantua Cares campaigns. The project will fall within one of four categories: (1)
Managing our youth development initiatives; (2) Assisting community leaders in achieving their organizational goals through research or resources ; (3) Conserving Mantua’s heritage by protecting our historical landmarks; and (4) Advocating for the youth of Mantua. Projects might include analyses of statistics to employment, property values, public health and safety and other community priorities. The topics will change depending on the needs of the organization in any particular year. Fellows will publish articles in a community newsletter to various audiences, including the Adopt A Neighborhood For Development Board of Directors. For more information about the project areas for the 2008 Fellowship year, go to www.mantuacares.com/fellowship and view the application form. The 3-month Fellowship will be supported by a team of community staff and members of our Community Advisory Committee. Conducting a project under the guidance of community leaders will provide the Fellow with invaluable experience as they begin their career. Fellows also will engage in organizational activities including meetings of our Board of Directors; staff meetings and retreats. ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS • High School Junior or Senior (must be a Mantua Resident) • Dedication to community • High academic achievement • Proven leadership ability • Effective verbal and written communication skills • High degree of personal integrity • Exceptional interpersonal skills • Ability to work both autonomously and as a member of a team in a professional environment. APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS • Completed application form (found at www.mantuacares.com/fellowship.html) • Resume – Description of your work experience (both paid and volunteer) including an outline of each job/responsibilities, contact information for each employer, and dates of employment. • Letters of Recommendation – Two letters of recommendation are required. You may choose to have faculty members, current/former employers or mentors submit these letters. Letters should be sent directly from the recommenders and should be provided to all recommenders for guidance in writing recommendation letters. • Personal Statement – Please submit an original essay with your application. The essay should be 1-2 pages in length, no less than 11 point type, at least 1.5 line spacing, typed in Times New Roman font, and have at least 1 inch margins. Your essay should address the following: What are your short-term and long-term career goals? How will this fellowship assist you in accomplishing your goals? Why do you love the Mantua Community? What can serve as evidence of your leadership skills and ability?
William Whitney Fellowship Application Personal Information:
_____________________________________________________________________________ Last Name First Name Middle Initial _____________________________________________________________________________ Current Street Address Until what date will this address apply? _____________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip _____________________________________________________________________________ Permanent Address _____________________________________________________________________________ City State Zip _____________________________________________________________________________ Phone Email Address Website _____________________________________________________________________________ Preferred Method of Contact
Academic History:
_____________________________________________________________________________ Current/Most Recent School Name City State _____________________________________________________________________________ Degree Program GPA _____________________________________________________________________________ Specific Area of Emphasis/Concentration within Program _____________________________________________________________________________ Dates Attended Date of Graduation Honors and Awards:
Other Required Documentation: Resume – Description of your work experience (both paid and volunteer) including an outline of each job/responsibilities, contact information for each employer, and dates of employment. Letters of Recommendation – Two letters of recommendation are required. You may choose to have faculty members or current/former employers submit these letters. Letters should be sent directly from the recommenders. Letter of Recommendation Instruction form can be found at http://www.mantuacares.com/fellowship.html and should be provided to all recommenders for guidance in writing recommendation letters. Personal Statement – Please submit an original essay with your application. The essay should be 1-2 pages in length, no less than 11 point type, at least 1.5 line spacing, typed in Times New Roman font, and have at least 1 inch margins. Your essay should address the following: • What are your short-term and long-term career goals? • How will this fellowship assist you in accomplishing your goals? • Why do you love Mantua? • What can serve as evidence of your leadership skills and ability?
William Whitney Community Fellowship Letter of Recommendation
A potential candidate for the William Whitney Community Fellowship is requesting a letter of recommendation from you. Please submit a signed letter describing your relationship with the candidate and your candid appraisal of the applicant’s academic/community ability, dedication, responsibility, and any other characteristics you deem relevant. You may also wish to include how well you know the candidate and in what capacity. Mantua Cares seeks intelligent applicants who are dedicated to community based solutions. Successful candidates will also exhibit leadership skills as well as the ability to work both autonomously and as a member of a team. Additionally, each candidate must possess effective verbal and written communication skills, exceptional interpersonal skills, and a high degree of integrity. IMPORTANT: Please include the candidate’s full name in your letter as well as your name and contact information. Please send your signed letter, preferably on letterhead, electronically to fellowship@mantuacares.com, with the applicant’s full name in the subject line. If you prefer to mail the letter, please place it in a sealed envelope with your signature across the flap after sealing. Send to: Mantua Cares, William Whitney Community Fellowship, 631 N. 39 th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104 For more information on this fellowship program please visit our website at http://www.mantuacares.com/fellowship.html