Rural Youth Empowerment Fellowship - Interest Form
Please use this form to get on the list to receive updates regarding the Rural Youth Empowerment Fellowship and an invitation to apply in the Fall.
The Equality NC Rural Youth Empowerment (RYE) Fellowship is a one-year leadership program offered by Equality NC, a state-wide non-profit organization serving LGBTQ+ North Carolinians. The RYE Fellowship is designed to empower young LGBTQ+ individuals from rural North Carolina to create change by executing self-designed projects that impact their communities. Over the course of the year, Fellows will develop a community-based social justice project, attend weekend-long leadership institutes, attend and engage in major ENC community events, participate in monthly cohort video conferences, receive mentoring from community leaders specializing in topics related to their self-selected projects, and receive fellowship grants to help offset costs associated with their project.
Eligibility Requirements:
1. You are between 18-28 years old
2. You live in North Carolina
3. You are able to dedicate 8-10 hours per month to the RYE Fellowship.
Priority will be given to candidates whose projects support populations with greatest needs, including LGBTQ people of color, the transgender community, youth, and those who are homeless, undocumented, and/or living with HIV. Examples of project focus areas may include, but are not limited to:
Access to healthcare, developing resources for rural communities (particularly Spanish-language resources), starting support/discussion groups, voting rights, field organizing, combating substance abuse, domestic violence, high incarceration rates, and the school-to-prison pipeline, environmental racism, engaging faith communities, organizing LGBTQ events (prides, film screenings, town hall meetings, etc.), K-12 school staff education, and advocating for inclusive policies and laws.