Civic Saturday Fellowship - Akron

Take some time to respond to the following questions to share about yourself and your interest in this program. If you are applying as part of a group, we ask that each person completes this form individually so we can collect necessary information. You are welcome to craft shared responses to the reflective questions, and submit them within each individual form. For open-ended questions, aim to write 250-300 words per response; after all, we’re eager to get to know you (all) through this process!

Alternatively, you could share your responses by video. Please respond to each question — the video should be no longer than 8-10 minutes. There is an option to upload the file on the application form.

Our team is ready and willing to support you in submitting an excellent application. Once you hit submit on your application, you won’t be able to edit your responses, so please proofread your answers thoroughly. If you have questions about your experience or eligibility, the commitment you’ll be making, the application process, or anything else, please email Rob Pabon at [email protected].

Key dates:
Civic Seminary – February 4-7

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone Number(Required)

If you are applying as a professional or community leader, what is the name of your organization or group?

What is your role?

Do any of the following reflect your organization’s or group’s field or focus?

If you are applying alongside another individual or partners, share their name(s) here.

Help us build a robust cohort.

We know that civic learning experiences are stronger when they are filled with people from different backgrounds and experiences. We collect demographic data to help us understand who we are reaching in an effort to be increasingly equitable and accessible. Please feel welcome to write in “prefer not to say” for any question below. Your personal information will stay private — we will never give, trade, or sell your individual details to anyone.

Home city(Required)

Let us know where you call home.

Home State(Required)

Let us know where you call home.

Community type(Required)

Select which population density best represents your community.

Urban

Rural

Suburban

Race and/or cultural identity(Required)

Please share your racial or ethnic identity. For example: mixed race; White; Asian; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Gender(Required)

Please share your gender identity. For example: female; nonbinary; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Pronouns(Required)

Please share the pronouns you use. For example: she/her; they/them; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Ideology(Required)

In a few words, share how you would describe your political ideology or way of relating to civic life. For example: left-of-center; conservative; etc. (or prefer not to say).

Age(Required)

Give us a sense of how many years you have under your belt.

Gen Z (1997-2012)

Millennials (1981-1996)

Gen X (1965-1980)

Boomers (1946-1964)

Silent (1928-1945)

Which neighborhood(s) do you work, live, and play in? Is this where you would like to introduce Civic Saturdays? If not, please share where you plan to organize gatherings.(Required)

Share about your interest in this program

Take some time to respond to the following questions to share about yourself and your interest in this program. For open-ended questions, aim to write 250-300 words per response; after all, we’re eager to get to know you through this process!

Have you watched or participated in a Civic Saturday?(Required)

If your initial answer is ‘no,’ pause here! Watch a Civic Saturday and return to the application. You can find many recordings on our YouTube channel; some hosted by CU, and some by past Fellows, which you can watch here.

Yes, I have

Not yet

In a few words, what was something that stuck with you?(Required)

Which of the following best describes how you are applying for the Civic Saturday Fellowship?(Required)

We are accepting applications from people who 1) will embed Fellowship work into their formal job or community leader duties, with enthusiasm and commitment from their organization or institution; and/or 2) apply as pairs or trios with shared dedication and capacity to take the work on together.

As a professional or community leader, representing an organization (I’ve got formal backing and my colleagues are in the know!)

As a professional or community leader (but I still need to talk with decision-makers about whether this could become part of our regular work)

As a self-organized group (we’re prepared to work together to bring Civic Saturdays to our community!)

As an individual, planning to collaborate with Civic Saturday Fellowship alumni

As an individual planning to learn and organize independently

Which of the following are your top priorities in applying for this program?(Required)

Check 1-2 options.

A meaningful personal recharge or professional development experience

Meeting other people who are passionate about citizenship

Exploring ideas about civics and democracy

Building or strengthening a platform to spread my civic ideas and passion

Experimenting with civic rituals to support my community through its struggles

Learning and tailoring the Civic Saturday model to and with my community

Other

Other:

Next up are a series of open-ended questions. Would you prefer to type or speak your answers?(Required)

You can choose to either type 250-300 words per answer — or share a video recording of you responding to the questions out loud. The video should be no longer than 8-10 minutes.

I'd like to type.

I'd like to upload a video.

Upload your recording.

Max. file size: 31 MB.

1. Tell us what powerful, responsible citizenship means and looks like to you.(Required)

2. How have you been a “catalyst” with/in your community — and what motivates you?(Required)

3. Describe the civic atmosphere in your community these days. What needs mending?(Required)

4. Speaking of “community,” who will you be organizing Civic Saturdays with/for? Be specific!(Required)

It’s important to enter into the Fellowship with a clear sense of who these gatherings are meant for — and existing or already-emerging relationships with some of the individuals and groups you’d like to engage. This will enable you to convene groups of 15+ people — which is what will help build meaning and momentum among those taking part.

5. Having experienced or watched a Civic Saturday, how would you make this model your own?(Required)

The heart of the Fellowship is hosting gatherings — however you create them! Civic Saturdays in Akron have taken a particular shape, but the beauty of Civic Saturday gatherings is that they are meant to be adapted and shaped to fit the needs and spirit of your own neighborhood/community. With nearly 300 Fellows across the country, there is a lot of creativity flowing! From picnics in the park to Zoom calls to musical or conversational library programs to gatherings in public squares, these experiences are taking lots of shapes. What is most likely to work in your neighborhood or community and be sustained over time?

6. How would your community benefit from this kind of gathering over time? What impacts are you hoping to create?(Required)

Consider: why is this a relevant and necessary undertaking right now?

7. Describe your experience creating and/or hosting community gatherings or events. What are some of your top priorities when bringing people together?(Required)

8. What challenges, if any, do you anticipate in developing, hosting, and sustaining Civic Saturday-inspired experiences in the coming months, and over time?(Required)

For example, do you see any big work initiatives or constraints, family commitments, or transitions that might affect your ability to engage in Fellowship-related work coming up?

9. Who do you see as potential partners in this work, whether your employer, local community organizations you are actively engaged with, another Civic Saturday Fellow, or simply friends?(Required)

Establishing Civic Saturdays as a meaningful community practice requires collaboration with others before, during, and after gatherings themselves. Your answer will give us a sense of how you can work with existing connections and build momentum after the initial training (Civic Seminary).

Civic Scripture

Civic Saturday, like a faith gathering, often revolves around discussing texts and how they highlight the moral choices and dilemmas we face as citizens today. Consider sharing a piece of text from American civic life (broadly defined — e.g. part of a speech, an article, a poem, a piece of art, etc.) that you think is particularly relevant to our time and to your community — and why it is meaningful to you. The text can be a partial selection of a larger piece.

Title and author

Selection of text

If you have chosen a particularly long text, please include the most relevant excerpt.

Meaning

Why is this text relevant to our time and to your community? Why is it meaningful?

Share more about your bigger picture

Help us get to know your background and the skills and relationships you’ll bring to this experience.

Please upload your resume to give us a sense of the experience and background you’d bring to serving as a Civic Saturday Fellow.

Max. file size: 31 MB.

Alternatively, briefly share 2-3 professional or community-based roles you’ve played that highlight your interest and preparedness for this Fellowship.

Making the commitment

The Civic Saturday Fellowship is a time commitment! If selected, you are committing to attending the full Civic Seminary and scheduled virtual meetings, and organizing two or more gatherings in your community over the course of six months.

Virtual meeting availability(Required)

We will meet on Zoom for orientation before Civic Seminary, as well as three times during the six month Fellowship. Please consider and select ALL times that work for you.

Tuesdays @ 4 pm Eastern

Wednesdays @ 12:30 pm Eastern

Wednesdays @ 5 pm Eastern

Wednesdays @ 6pm Eastern

Thursdays @ 2 pm Eastern

Thursdays @ 4 pm Eastern

Thursdays @ 7pm Eastern

How busy are you?(Required)

Help us get a realistic sense of your capacity for the work of organizing gatherings in the six months immediately after Civic Seminary. Being busy does not necessarily preclude you from participating in this program, so honesty is encouraged!

I will have a lot of free time.

I will have a few commitments, but will also have time to dedicate.

I feel busy every week, with lots on my plate.

I feel overwhelmed with the amount of activities I am committed to.

Almost there!

Just a few more questions to help round out your application.

How did you hear about us?(Required)

Civic Saturday Akron’s social media

An email from Civic Saturday Akron

From Citizen University directly

Another organization

An ad on social media

Other

Which organization?(Required)

Share a bit more… we want to know who to thank for connecting you with us!

Join our email list(Required)

Do you want to subscribe to the Citizen University newsletter? You’ll get an email from us about once a month with fresh ideas about citizenship, inspiring stories, and practical tools.

Yes, add me to the newsletter.

No, don't add me to the newsletter.

I’m already subscribed!

Anything else we should know?

Name

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