Goldman Bridge Fellow at the American Jewish Committee

Cooperation among faith and ethnic groups is a vital ingredient to maintaining the strong, vibrant, democratic fabric of this country. A new generation of young leaders will determine the future of that democracy. This Fellowship is an effort on the part of the Jewish community to focus on building the skills and inspiration needed to engage in that work – within the Jewish community and as a catalyzing force outside of it.

AJC has engaged in groundbreaking interfaith and interethnic work since its founding in 1906 and this work continues to be a primary pillar of AJC’s mission. ACCESS, AJC’s new generation program, has also made advances in building bridges with other ethnic and religious communities to ensure the Jewish community remains a strong player in supporting and strengthening the basis of American pluralism in the future.

The AJC Goldman Bridge Fellowship is designed to significantly enhance ACCESS’s intergroup work among an emerging leadership cohort. Fellows will be expected to: 
• Strengthen the relationship with existing religious and ethnic partners, with a special focus on younger leaders of these communities, and identify new ones
• Consider dialogue strategies, including AJC’s community service engagement model, and implement the most effective one(s) locally 
• Develop and expand advocacy opportunities with partners
• Build the base of ACCESS members who can lead and participate in intergroup outreach
• Coordinate a Building Bridge campaign with other cities and national office

The ideal candidate will have a passion for making a difference in our world. The candidate will be committed to working hard and have demonstrated his or her ability to take initiative and follow-through. The candidate will also be a team player. And finally, the candidate will have a strong interest in community building within the Jewish community and between Jewish and non-Jewish communities.

Orientation: Fellows will participate in a 2-day orientation session at AJC headquarters in New York City at the beginning of the Fellowship year. The orientation will focus on skills and strategies that will be beneficial during the Fellowship year and in particular those related to interreligious dialogue, interethnic outreach, advocacy, recruitment and leadership development. The orientation program will also aim to familiarize the fellows with the policies, practices, and staff of AJC and ACCESS.

Mentorship: Mentorship will be an important part of this fellowship. Fellows will receive meaningful mentorship from senior AJC staff in the regional office as well as national staff, including AJC experts working on intergroup and interreligious relations.

Professional Development: Fellows will engage in periodic professional development workshops via conference calls and webinars featuring national staff experts to help the fellows hone their skills. The network of AJC experts will also be available at all times to provide invaluable support to the fellows during their fellowship year. The fellows will also be in frequent contact with each other to provide support and share skills.

Travel: The fellows will travel to AJC’s Global Forum in Washington, DC, in April, 2012 with the possibility of participating in other trips and conferences related to the fellows’ intergroup work

Location: Boston, Los Angeles, and Washington, DC, will each host one fellow. Fellows do not need to currently live in any of these cities to apply for the fellowship.

Duration: This is a one year fellowship with the possibility of extending to a second year. The fellowship will begin in August 2011 and conclude either in July 2012 or July 2013 if there is mutual agreement between the office and fellow to extend to a second year.

Stipend: Fellows will receive a $32,500/year stipend. An additional housing subsidy will be granted as necessary.

Religious Affiliation: While it is not necessary to adhere to any specific religious practice, a strong, demonstrated interested in Judaism and the Jewish community is a requirement.

AJC's Goldman Bridge Fellowship is made possible by a generous grant from The Joyce and Irving Goldman Family Foundation.

Application Schedule: All applications must be received by Monday, May 2nd. Interviews for the finalists will take place in late May. Candidates will be notified of final decisions no later than June 15th.

Application: Applications must be received by Monday, May 2nd. Applications must include all of the materials listed below. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. 
• Online application form
• Letter explaining your interest in this position and prior outreach experience to ethnic and religious communities and/or young leadership within the Jewish community
• Résumé

Please submit your complete application online athttp://ajcaccess.wufoo.com/forms/ajc-goldman-bridge-fellowship-application/. Once you begin your application, you will not be able to stop and save your work. Please have everything ready when you begin the online application form.