2019 COM M UNITY IN THE CAPITAL FELLOWS HIP PROGRAM

Overview

CITC Program Summary

This year’s fellowship program will provide mid and senior level staff with

opportunities to gain a broader national perspective on issues their

communities face locally, leadership skills to apply to their daily work, and

practical solutions to address the challenges their communities face.

Activities for engagement include:

Developing the advocacy strategy of their own organization and community to respond to current community needs

Growing in their understanding of social justice with a specific emphasis on racial, economic and gender justice

Cultivating ability to communicate on critical issues impacting AAPI communities at the local and federal level

Building strategic relationships with other community leaders from around the country

Engaging with federal agencies, elected officials and national advocacy organizations on behalf of their organizations and National CAPACD

National Coalition for Asian Pacific American Community

Development (National CAPACD) is a progressive coalition of over

100 local community based organizations that advocate for and

organize in Asian American and Pacific Islander neighborhoods. We

strengthen and mobilize our members to build power nationally and

further our vision of economic and social justice for all. The

Community in the Capital (CITC) fellowship program is a key

strategy through which we build national power. CITC is a rigorous

six-month program for staff to build their skills in advocacy and

communications, and increase their potential as AAPI social justice

leaders.

Through the CITC program, National CAPACD increases

the presence and visibility of Asian American Pacific Islander

(AAPI) community-based organizations and amplifies their

voice at both the local and national level. Over the past 11

years, National CAPACD has trained over 100 leaders from

across the country representing 50 different AAPI community

based organizations. Past graduates of the program have been

promoted to senior leadership roles within their organizations

or serve as policy makers at the federal or local level, or have

joined National CAPACD’s Board of Directors.

Program Objectives

During the six month fellowship program, CITC fellows will:

Gain skills in advocacy, including in person experience advocating for

policy at the federal level

Expand their critical thinking and professional communication skills

Participate in storytelling and storybanking to give voice to the families

and communities who are affected by policy in their local community

Connect with other leaders from local AAPI field

Program Training Topics

Through online learning opportunities and in-person meetings, the fellowship program will explore the following topics:

Leadership styles (effective leadership, self-awareness assessments,

understanding AAPI leadership styles, etc.)

Understanding AAPI communities and insight into the social, economic

and political issues facing the low-income AAPI communities

Utilizing strong asks to mobilize community leaders and speak to federal

and local policy makers

Preparing for Agency visits and Hill meetings including best practices in

using communication or data to amplify their voice

“One of my favorite experiences was being on the Hill with something to actually say and do, instead of just for show. I've seen plenty of advocacy days and academies that throw folks on the hill for the sake of

being there. CITC was different from that. We were chosen because of the knowledge and on the ground

experience we have. National CAPACD used that to tailor specific meetings and events for us, so we

could have the most impact in DC. On top of that they made sure we were fully trained and ready for

our Hill experience.”

[Jagpreet Singh Khakh, Chhaya CDC]

Who Should Apply

You are eligible to apply to the CITC fellowship if you:

Work at a National CAPACD member organization

Identify as Asian American of Pacific Islander

Have three or more years’ experience working in nonprofit or community based

organizations

Do work at the local level with low-income AAPI communities

Are interested in incorporating advocacy strategies into your existing work or taking

your current advocacy work to the next level!

What to Expect

In order to fully take advantage of all the CITC program offers, applicants should be aware that

participation in the program requires travel and a considerable time commitment to fully engage in

all planned activities.

Applicant must be able to commit to the entirety of the six month leadership program including:

Two in person convening meetings (see timeline below for more details)

Five online meetings

Completion of Community Action Program (CAP) Capstone

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Community Action Project (CAP)

All fellows will complete a Community Action Project (CAP) which will highlight a particular economic issue that affects their local

AAPI neighborhood. The CAP project will integrate communication and advocacy skills to raise further visibility on the issue the

fellow is currently working on within the organization. National CAPACD staff will be available during the duration of the

fellowship program to support fellows in conceptualizing and developing their project. Ultimately, each CAP project should be

driven by an individual fellow, with the goal of increasing visibility on their local issue at the national level. In May, fellows will

present their projects to stakeholders during Asian Pacific American Heritage month while attending Advocacy Institute in

Washington, D.C.

Examples of CAP projects are:

A video with interviews of community members documenting the need for equitable development

Visual representation of challenges within your community (i.e. a mural or some type of photo depiction)

Podcast set-up with conversations around displacement

A researched publication around economic empowerment in communities

Planning and organizing town hall to address a relevant and timely community concern

C I T C C O N V E N I N G S T I M E L I N E

2019 CITC Orientation and Communication Training: (Tentatively week of January 28-

31, 2019 in Oakland, CA)

Lodging: Includes four (4) nights’ stay in a shared hotel room with another CITC Fellow.

Travel Costs*: National CAPACD will provide a flat travel stipend to offset travel expenses based

on region that CITC fellow will be traveling from.

Meals: National CAPACD will provide two meals per day dependent on

programming. Remaining meals will be at the participating organizations’ expense

Full participation for the whole duration of the training is required.

Advocacy Institute (Tentatively week of May 20-24, 2019 in Washington, D.C.)

Lodging: Includes four (4) nights’ stay in a shared hotel room with another CITC Fellow. (Fellows from Hawaii have the option of staying an additional night)

Travel Costs*: National CAPACD will provide a flat travel stipend to offset travel

expenses based on region that CITC fellow will be traveling from.

Meals: National CAPACD will provide two meals per day dependent on

programming. Remaining meals will be at the participating organizations’ expense.

Full participation for the whole duration of the training is required.

* Please note that National CAPACD does not issue travel stipends to

individuals. Please coordinate with your organization to ensure that you are

properly reimbursed.

A P P L I C A T I O N P R O C E S S

Application Timeline

Application Deadline: Completed applications must be submitted to

CITC@nationalcapacd.org on Monday, October 1, 2018.

In October, applicants who make it to the final round will have an individual phone interview to

determine if the program is a good fit.

Program Notification: Accepted fellows will be notified by November.

Fellows will participate in a brief online orientation with all accepted CITC fellows in December.

Application Material

Completed CITC 2019 Fellowship Application

Supplemental Materials

Resume in PDF format

Personal Bio (200 words, written in third person) in Word format

First & Last Name

Organization:

Position:

City & State:

Paragraph 1: In this first paragraph, include your first and last name, job title, and

organization. Describe your current role and responsibilities of your position. Include a one-

sentence description of the organization.

Paragraph 2: Next, please provide a brief description of your previous experience. (2-3

sentences) Paragraph 3: Finally, include your educational experience, any boards you sit on,

and anything else you would like to share about yourself.

Contact Information Kelley Lou

Training and Capacity Building Manager Email: Kelley@nationalcapacd.org

Application Deadline: Monday, October 1, 2018

Program Notification: Accepted fellows will be notified by November 2018

2019 Advocacy Institute: (Tentatively week of May 20, 2019 in Washington, D.C.)

Final round applicants will have an individual phone interview in October 2018

2019 CITC Orientation and Communication Training: (Tentatively week of January 28, 2019 in Oakland, CA)

CITC 2019 Timeline

CITC 2019 Fellowship Application

First Name: Last Name: Date:

Work Phone: Cell phone: Email:

Organization:

Title: Years in Current Position: Years in Current Organization:

Work Address:

City: State: Zip:

Approval and Statement by Executive Director Please describe: 1) Why this staff member is a good candidate for the program; and 2) How the organization will

incorporate the prospective CITC fellows work into their organization’s goals (in 300 words or less).

Executive Director Signature of Approval

Name: Signature: Date:

Applicant Questionnaire Please respond to each of the following questions (in 500 words or less).

APPLICATION DEADLINE: National CAPACD encourages its members and allies to submit all application materials (including

resume, personal bio, and headshot) on Monday, October 1, 2018, in order to be considered for program participation. Incomplete or late applications will not be considered. Please send all materials to CITC@nationalcapacd.org.

1. Motivation: Please tell us what has influenced you to be involved in economic and social empowerment for low-income AAPI communities. Describe your experience working on issues in the AAPI community. In your current role, describe your major responsibilities within your organization and any current advocacy work you’re involved with.

2. Leadership: Define leadership in your own terms. What do you hope to achieve by participating in the Community in the Capital Fellowship Program? Why is this fellowship ideal for you at this time in your professional development, and how will participating in this program align with your long-term career goals?

3. Organizational Leadership: What are the strengths and weaknesses of your organization’s current advocacy work? How will your participation in this program impact your organization and your community?

4. Social Justice: Please describe how racial, economic and gender justice intersects with your current work.

5. Community Action Project (CAP) Ideas: Describe your ideas for a Community Action Project (CAP) to convey an economic justice or housing issue affecting your community. Please elaborate on who your intended audience is (i.e. community members, policy makers, general public, etc.) and include any forms of media you would like to use (i.e. photography, video podcast, etc.) to elevate your community’s voice.