Text "VoteLove" to 866-533-1494 for Updates

UU the Vote 2022 Legacy Fellowship Program

As part of UU the Vote, the Unitarian Universalist Association is excited to announce the 2022 Legacy Fellowship to recognize and support the organizers within our faith community carrying on the legacy of organizing and activism. It is an opportunity to support the leadership of Young Adults and Black, Indigenous, and people of color who carry Unitarian Universalist values in their work and engage in a variety of tactics and strategies that advance electoral justice, build capacity in UUism to engage in justice campaigns, and/or build political power in BIPOC communities. 

The fellowship will recognize 6-8 fellows in one of our three Fellowship Tracks.

  1. Field & Community Organizing
  2. Communications & Narrative Strategy
  3. Art & Cultural Organizing


Fellows will be awarded $5,000 with an additional program budget of up to $1,500 to support their project. Projects directly related to the 2022 midterm elections are prioritized; however, projects that focus on base-building, skill and capacity development, and community resilience will be strongly considered. All of this work is essential to building a multiracial democracy. 

Fellowship Tracks

Applications will be accepted for projects relating to one or more of the categories below. We are accepting up to 2 Fellows for each category.

Field & Community Organizing

Projects in this category will engage strategies and tactics that help develop community leaders, base build, mobilize supporters, and build deeper political analysis among community members or organizational membership. These activities are not exclusive to but may include:

  • Facilitating caucus spaces
  • Mobilizing folx for an action
  • Planning outreach, GOTV, or voter registration events

Communications & Narrative Strategy

Projects in this category will engage strategies and tactics that amplify the stories, experiences, and analysis of YA and BIPOC folx as it relates to electoral justice, democracy, and political power.

These activities may include:

  • Blogging
  • Social media campaign
  • UU World Series
  • Live tweeting big events

Art & Cultural Organizing

Projects in this category will engage strategies and tactics that support the spiritual and creative needs of the community and well as use art and creative expression as a tool for political action.

These activities may include:

  • Banner drops, projections, and other public actions
  • Organizing spiritual nourishment spaces for activists and organizers
  • Training or facilitation spaces to support skill and knowledge around arts and cultural organizing with political movements

Application Process

UU leaders interested in the fellowship can apply between May 24, 2022 and June 15, 2022. Applications include:

  • Description of a concrete and time-specific project with clear outcomes in 2022
  • Recommendations from fellow Unitarian Universalists or frontline organization leaders
  • Short track record of engaging in electoral justice or other organizing efforts

Successful applicants will be invited to an interview with the Fellowship Committee. Finalists will be invited to a mandatory orientation in July 2022.

Timeline

  • Fellows will be notified by June 30, 2022
  • Fellowship project will begin July 1, 2022 and conclude November 31, 2022

Fellowship Commitment and Resourcing

  • In addition to the $5000 award, Fellows have access to up to $1500 for a program budget.
  • If needed, Fellows can request additional funds from the UU Funding Panel.
  • Fellows will participate in a monthly cohort convening (approximately 15 hours over six months).
  • Fellows will create two pieces of media (op-eds, blogs, videos, photo essay, etc.) during the course of fellowship.

Qualifying candidates must identify as Unitarian Universalist. Candidates must also be between 18-35 years old OR identify as Black, Indigenous, or person of color. Fellowship committee members, employees, Board Directors of UUA, UUSC, or other members of committees appointed by the UUA Board of Trustees or elected by the General Assembly are not permitted to apply. People with disabilities, who identity as LGBTQ+, or who have other marginalized identities are strongly encouraged to apply.