Urban Leaders Fellowship Program

Next American City is currently seeking candidates for our Urban Leaders Fellowship Program, a unique opportunity to write about the development of our nation’s cities. The 9-month, part-time fellowship comes with a $10,000 stipend.

Through substantial contribution to our print magazine and website, as well as a presence in other media outlets throughout the country, our fellows will conduct new research and in-depth reportage on the issues at the forefront of urban change. In addition to diversifying and expanding the editorial content of our publications, our primary goal is to have a long-term, positive impact on the cities and urban communities covered.

We will be looking for candidates with related published writing, as well as passionate urban thinkers, activists and professionals working in city-related professions – law, urban planning, social work, real estate development, education, and others. Candidates must have a demonstrated area of interest or expertise that they would like to further develop through an Urban Leaders Fellowship.

Fellows will work closely with Next American City editors to develop a geographic or topical focus of their choosing and determine how the fellow will pursue writing about it. Each fellow will conduct significant research in this focus area with the purpose of developing a unique perspective and voice of authority on that topic and further developing their area of expertise. Some examples of potential areas of focus include Rebuilding the Gulf Coast, Rustbelt Recovery, Channeling Growth in the Southwest, Entrepreneurship, Affordable Housing, Education, Technology and Cities, The Economic Crisis (foreclosures, gas prices, inflation and their effects on cities), The New Federal Agenda and so on.

Fellows are expected to write at least two, 2,500-word feature stories for our print magazine, as well as several web features and blog posts each month. He or she will coordinate a corresponding multimedia project incorporating video and audio for the web and broadcast. Fellows must also work to develop substantive, pragmatic solutions for his or her region of focus through the placement of op-eds in major newspapers, participation in relevant events, conferences, panel discussions and radio appearances.

Fellows will be required to make periodic visits to our Philadelphia office to meet with our editors and staff, but will otherwise operate out of their location of focus. Approved travel-related expenses will be covered.

The Urban Leaders Fellowship represent a part-time commitment; we anticipate chosen candidates will be engaged in other pursuits in their field while taking on the fellowship and encourage connections between the fellowship and other related activities.

For detailed information about the Urban Leaders Fellowship Program, please download the program outline.

Please review our FAQs for additional information.

Application:

We are currently accepting applications for Fall 2008 and Winter 2009 terms.

Click here to download the application form.

Prospective candidates must complete the application form and submit the following materials: a cover letter, CV/résumé listing professional writing and/or relevant experience and published works, three professional references, and three writing samples. Applicants must also submit an essay of no more than 1,500 words identifying his or her interest in the fellowship and possible regional and topical foci for the term with Next American City.

Completed application packages will be accepted via mail, email, or fax:

(Please note: All materials must fit on 8 ½” x 11” pages. Emailed applications must be in PDF format.)

Deadline:

All materials for the Fall 2008 term must be received by Monday September 15th, 2008. Fellow will be selected by the end of September and expected to start November 1, 2008 (end date July 2009).

For the Winter 2009 term, all application materials must be received by Monday December 1, 2008. Fellow will be selected mid-September and expected to start February 1, 2009 (end date October 2009).