You might wonder how this will all roll out! Well, the Fellowship is planned to sit neatly within the J. William Fulbright Educational Exchange Program, the daddy of all U.S. international exchange programs established back in 1961. It’s all about embracing the philosophy of nonviolent civil rights movements with the aim of furthering the understanding of these powerful movements, and using them as tools to help our policymakers steer our country forward.
So, you’d think this might be a small program, right? Well, think again! While the exact number of fellowships has been left to the discretion of the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, who are in charge of running the program, the hope is to fund at least 25 fellowships every year.
But this isn’t just for the Ivy league graduates. In an effort to create an equitable opportunity, the Bureau will seek out candidates from a variety of educational institutions, with a special focus on minority-serving institutions, including historically Black colleges and universities.
Now, what means the world to a young, blooming professional? Experience, of course! Each lucky John Lewis Fellow will be able to arrange an international placement with an organization of their choice – preferably a non-governmental or academic institution. This opportunity also comes with a work plan that’s reviewed and approved by the Bureau, making sure the fellows gain the most valuable experience as they step into the domain of nonviolent civil rights movements.
But this isn’t just a one-way street! All fellows will share their learned wisdom. Every fellow will present their experiences and findings at a fellowship summit, allowing a fruitful exchange of ideas and experiences, thus giving others the chance to learn from their explorations.
Now, there’s always a question of who’s footing the bill? Thankfully, the Act’s funding is to come from the Mutual Educational and Cultural Exchange Act, which will cover all reasonable costs, including travel and living expenses during the fellowship.
What’s next for our potentially transformational Act? For now, it has been read twice by the Senate and sits with the Committee on Foreign Relations awaiting their judgement. Should it clear this stage, it proceeds to the House before hopefully making its journey to the president.
This initiative surely carries a shared significance for many Americans as the legacy of John Lewis has been weighed in the balance and found to be ripe for commemoration. For those seeking to make a career in the field of nonviolent civil rights movements, this ambitious program, which combines education and hands-on experience in partner nations around the world, certainly is the silver lining.
In the long run, the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship doesn’t just fund some jolly jaunts overseas. It invests in our own rich heritage of diversity and resilience, and crucially, continues the work of those like Lewis himself – empowering communities and individuals by protecting, uplifting and establishing civil rights around the globe. Now, isn’t that a story worth telling?
