Submit your application

We’re thrilled you’re interested in the Civic Saturday Fellowship!

Before you start, please make sure you’ve read through the information about the program, watched or experienced a Civic Saturday gathering, and reviewed the list of application questions.

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!

Our team is ready and willing to support you in submitting an excellent application. 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].

Application deadline: May 17, 2024 at 11:59 Pacific Time

First Name(Required)

Last Name(Required)

Email(Required)

Phone Number(Required)

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

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

This year we are accepting applications from people who, 1) will embed their 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.

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

What is your title?(Required)

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.

Please share the name(s) of the alum(ni) you plan to collaborate with.(Required)

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)

Urban

Rural

Suburban

Select which population density best represents your community.

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)

Gen Z (1997-2012)

Millennials (1981-1996)

Gen X (1965-1980)

Boomers (1946-1964)

Silent (1928-1945)

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

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! Once you hit submit on your application, you won’t be able to edit your responses, so please proofread your answers thoroughly. Applications are final once submitted.

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

Yes, I have

Not yet

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.

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

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

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 struggling community

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

Other

Check 1-2 options.

Other:

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

I'd like to type.

I'd like to upload a video.

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.

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 involved in your community — and what motivates you?(Required)

3. Describe the civic atmosphere in your community these days. What issues need 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. How do you see your community benefitting from Civic Saturdays, or similar gatherings over time?(Required)

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

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

7. 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 anticipate any big work initiatives or constraints, family commitments, or transitions that might affect your ability to engage in Fellowship-related work?

8. Which of the following do you see as your primary areas for growth?(Required)

Talking about citizenship and democracy in ways that are clear, relevant, and inspiring to people in my community

Thinking outside the box and planning creatively

Finding effective outreach methods and networking strategies

Communicating across ideological or identity-based differences

Modeling and facilitating moral reflection

Public speaking

Building confidence as a civic catalyst and convener

Other

Check 1-3 options.

Other:

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).

Share a piece of 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. Please share 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 tell us 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.

If you’re applying in a professional or community leadership role, upload a letter of interest and support from your organization.(Required)

Max. file size: 31 MB.

This should come from someone in a leadership or supervisory role and affirms their interest and willingness to dedicate capacity (e.g. staff time, funding, supplies, etc.) to making Civic Saturday-like activities a part of programming or other offerings over the next 6-12 months.

Tell us about your ability to commit

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 in the six months following Seminary, with the intention to continue thereafter. We will be welcoming three cohorts of Civic Saturday Fellows into the fold this fall. Please share your preferences for participation (note that we seriously consider responses, and organize cohorts based on a number of factors).

August 6-9, 2024(Required)

First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

This will not work for my schedule

September 17-20, 2024(Required)

First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

This will not work for my schedule

October 15-18, 2024(Required)

First Choice

Second Choice

Third Choice

This will not work for my schedule

Virtual meeting availability(Required)

Tuesdays @ 1:30 pm Pacific / 4:30 pm Eastern

Wednesdays @ 12:30 pm Pacific / 3:30 pm Eastern

Wednesdays @ 4 pm Pacific / 7 pm Eastern

Thursdays @ 1 pm Pacific / 4 pm Eastern

Thursdays @ 3 pm Pacific / 6 pm Eastern

We will meet on Zoom for orientation before Civic Seminary, as well as three times during the six month Fellowship. Each call is approximately 90 minutes. Please consider your time zone and select ALL times that work for you.

Organizing Civic Saturdays takes brains, heart, and time. How busy are you?(Required)

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.

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!

Almost there!

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

How did you hear about us?(Required)

Citizen University’s social media

Citizen University’s email newsletter

Another organization

An ad on social media

Alumni of the program

Teacher/Colleague

Friend or family member

Google search

Other

Which organization?(Required)

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

Did anyone, such as another Civic Saturday Fellow, refer you to this program? If so, list them here.

Join our email list(Required)

Yes, add me to the newsletter.

No, don't add me to the newsletter.

I’m already subscribed!

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.

Anything else we should know?

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Submit your application

Help us build a robust cohort.

Share about your interest in this program

Share a piece of Civic Scripture

Share more about your bigger picture

Tell us about your ability to commit

Almost there!

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