ej disrupt design fellowship: group application
The EJ Disrupt Design Fellowship is a two-year design and collective leadership experience for Environmental Justice (EJ) Leaders. EJ Leaders work in self-formed core groups of 3-4 through a collaborative, iterative process to design, test, and scale climate justice solutions rooted in their community. Approximately 4-5 groups will be selected to participate in the 2024-2026 Fellowship cohort.
Focus Areas: Climate Justice, Environmental Health, Energy Democracy, and Just Transition
We strongly encourage applications from core groups working on Justice40; Cumulative Impacts/Mandatory Emissions Reduction; Challenging False Solutions and Carbon-Centric Narratives, and Designing Alternatives. We understand the EJ movement is a shifting landscape. If you are not working on one of these areas but meet the other selection criteria, we still encourage you to apply.
Applications are now open.
Info Session Slides
Watch one of the informational sessions to get answers to frequently asked questions and receive context from staff, alumni, and others about the innovative experience.
Fellowship Experience
The fellowship is a 2-year experience made up of five 4-6 month phases. Fellows will participate in a combination of virtual and in-person retreats, group coaching sessions, monitoring and evaluation processes, and other group prep work, which will take an estimated 40-75 hours per phase. We kindly request that your group apply only if all members can commit to participating in the full fellowship experience.
Who Should Apply?
We are seeking groups of 3-4 EJ leaders who are experienced, action and abundance-oriented, and ready to practice and embody collective leadership, empathy, and curiosity. If you are excited to disrupt design and committed to scaling climate justice solutions rooted in your community, this fellowship is for you.
We strongly encourage submissions from those with diverse lived experiences, such as BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, low-income, Indigenous and women leaders, place-based knowledge holders, elders, youth, builders, storytellers, and those coming from communities directly affected by the climate crisis.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
All Core Group members:
18 years or older
Based in the United States, Indigenous Communities within the boundaries of the US, or US-affiliated territories (Including Puerto Rico, Guam, The Northern Mariana Islands, American Samoa, or the Virgin Islands)
Have a baseline knowledge or orientation towards EJ
Can demonstrate ties to an EJ org, as a staff member, advisor, or board member.
Affiliated with a 501c3 or fiscal sponsor that can receive funds on your behalf and support/act as a community of practice for fellows during your participation in the fellowship.
Demonstrate self-awareness and experience in collaborative leadership and partnership across diverse lived experiences and social identities
Commitment to participating in all fellowship activities over 2 years
Qualities We Seek
INDIVIDUAL COMMITMENT TO COLLECTIVE LEADERSHIP:
You are ready to take on a challenge
You are open to giving and receiving feedback & have experience with conflict transformation
You are comfortable sharing leadership to move your Core Group’s shared vision forward
EXPERIENCE/READINESS TO DESIGN DISRUPTIVE NEW SOLUTIONS
You look at problems and solutions from a systemic, cross-sectoral perspective and critique traditional definitions of power/scale
You have experience experimenting with different solutions to determine what works
You are driven to incorporate aspects of risk, power & scale into your work
You are primed to test community solutions that can influence movement
MOVEMENT INFLUENCE & COMMUNITY ROOTS
You are trusted leaders with decision making authority and/or influence within the EJ movement
You are accountable to an EJ community
CORE GROUPS CURATED FOR DISRUPTION
Your group has worked together in the past and/or have a shared vision for what you want to work on together and how
Your group embraces intergenerational leadership
Your group represents multiple perspectives, organizations, and identities
You have a shared commitment to cheerleading, challenging, and coaching each other; centering joy; and embracing challenges that may emerge
Informational Sessions
Contact us
For more information, please contact Marouh Hussein, Director of Impact and Learning.
Email: husseinm@newschool.edu
Supported By:
The Tishman Environment and Design Center is committed to working with movement artists. Our creatives are central to our stories.