Justice Advocacy Fellowship
WHAT is the Justice Advocacy Fellow program?
The Justice Advocacy Fellow program aims to nurture cohorts of students committed to advocating for social justice in our community. Every year, the Justice Advocacy Fellow program will admit a cohort of 20-30 students. We are committed to select a diverse group of students from different colleges and varied backgrounds, including students who have personal experiences with injustice.
For an entire academic year, Justice Advocacy Fellows (JAFs) will:
- Intern (8 hours/week) in a local organization (e.g., HEAL Utah, YWCA, UHPP, Better Utah, Voices for Utah Children) and engage in direct advocacy in healthcare, education, justice reform, homelessness, immigration, climate, or some other arena of social justice.
- Participate in a cohort reflection & discussion, where they will discuss the challenges and lessons of their own advocacy experiences with their peer advocates as well as guest social justice activists from across the country.
- JAFs will receive a $3000 scholarship.
WHO is eligible to apply?
The Justice Advocacy Fellow program is looking for UofU undergraduate students with diverse experiences who are interested in advocating for social justice; students who have experienced injustice in their lives are especially encouraged to apply. Previous advocacy experience is not required.
You may apply if you:
- are an undergraduate student enrolled in the University of Utah (all majors welcome)
- plan to be enrolled in both the fall and spring semesters next year (2024-2025)
- are available to participate in program events and interviews during the spring and summer of 2024. (See below for timeline details.)
HOW do I apply?
- Complete the Justice Advocacy Fellowship application. The 2024-2025 application is now closed. Stay tuned for the 2025-2026 application coming at the end of the 2024 year.
- Upload your resume
- For resume help, schedule an appointment with the internship advisor or email jacqueline.broida@utah.edu
- Upload an unofficial (free) U of U transcript
- To obtain your unofficial transcript:
- Log in to the Campus Information Services
- Click on the "Academic Records" tile on your Student Homepage
- Click on the "View Unofficial Transcript" link
- To obtain your unofficial transcript:
Do you have questions? Are you interested in participating in 2024-2025? Please reach out to us! (Contact information is below.)
What is the timeline for students admitted to the JAF program?
February 2024
- Fellows admitted to the program will be notified
March 2024
- Resume and cover letter workshop
- Identify agencies of interest
Summer 2024
- Interview worshop
- Interviews with agencies
August 2024
- Cohort meet and greet (food will be provided)
Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
You must register for the JAF seminar series, which includes two courses: SBS 4801 in fall semester (3 credits) and SBS 4802 in spring semester (3 credits), which are Community Engaged Learning (CEL) designated courses. These courses will cover your year-long advocacy internship, as well as the year-long cohort reflection and discussion. Read further to understand what you will learn and accomplish throughout the entire academic year in the advocacy internship and the cohort discussion.
Advocacy Internship
- Engage in 8 hours/week of direct advocacy work at your internship site (the entire academic year, for a total of 30 weeks)
- Learn different advocacy goals and strategies
- Receive individual supervision from your agency supervisor
- Learn how to maintain confidentiality of clients/patients/agency
- Learn how to document tasks completed during your internship
- Learn how to track if your internship activities align with the goals outlined in your internship contract, and how to make corrections if necessary
- Learn how to request and hold evaluation meetings with your internship supervisor
Cohort Reflection and Discussion
- Participate in cohort meetings twice a month
- Share your own advocacy experiences and learn about your peers’ experiences
- Learn about various Utah advocacy organizations, and their distinct goals, challenges, and strategies
- Meet with and talk to visiting social justice activists, and learn about advocacy work happening across the country
- Learn how to integrate your advocacy experiences into your resume and your future
school and career goals
Need Help?
Have questions about how the JAF program fits with your program of study?
Jacqueline Broida
Internships