photo: Carl Wilkens Fellows representing all classes at One Million Bones in June 2013. What you might not know is that I LOVE facilitating, and I LOVE being a community organizer. Before I joined i-ACT in 2007, I worked with American students, Thai villagers and NGIs (non-governmental individuals part of a network empowering the Assembly of the Poor) in Thailand. I was an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer Coordinator with the “I Have a Dream” Foundation-Oregon, I was part of the Northwest Leadership Corps, and I coordinated the Portland Coalition for Genocide Awareness. I’ve facilitated individuals, small and large groups, organizations, and coalitions to identify their vision, mission, and pathways forward.
Last year when I started conversations with the Carl Wilkens Fellowship Advisory Board about collaborating with i-ACT to launch future classes, I was in heaven. I felt my heart jump out of my chest. Since last June when we formalized our partnership, my mind has been swirling with ideas and possibilities. I now have the privilege to facilitate a new Class of Fellows. To grow their leaderships skills and strengthen the movement to end mass atrocities and genocide.
I’m proud and excited to announce we are now accepting applications for a 2014 Class of Carl Wilkens Fellows. The online application and information can be found at www.carlwilkensfellowship.org
A little more about the Fellowship:
The Carl Wilkens Fellowship is a selective year-long, part-time program that aims to give a diverse set of individuals at every level of experience the tools and resources to build sustained political will to end genocide. We’ve designed the program to accommodate the schedules of working professionals as well as community members who have families, are active in other organizations, and have other commitments.
Fellows will receive leadership training, conflict and advocacy education, organizing tools and resources, and one-on-one and group advising. The year-long Fellowship program includes six main components: 2 retreats; regular training and networking calls; one-on-one, peer, and group advising; participation in national campaigns; political and social networking; skills, tools and resources to continue work in the anti-genocide movement following the inaugural fellowship year.
The Fellowship is named in honor of Carl Wilkens, a self-described “ordinary” man and the only American who chose to remain in Rwanda during the 1994 genocide. He is credited with saving hundreds of lives. Mr. Wilkens is emblematic of the program’s theme: ordinary individuals can make an extraordinary difference when they choose to engage.