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Ford Fellows at the Picker Center for Executive Education at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs |
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Each year, a group of 20-24 emerging leaders from different regions of the world are selected to become Ford Fellows of the 92nd Street Y. The program includes a three-week residency in New York City (June 4-June 23, 2010) and ongoing communication before and after the residency via telephone and email. Fellows are expected to complete assignments prior to their residency to maximize the value of their fellowship experience and after their residency to evaluate its impact and success.
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| About the Program |
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| What To Expect |
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| Application Process |
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| About the Program |
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| Learning, Skill Building and Networking |
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| Fellows participate in an intensive immersion experience designed to address the challenges of community building in today's world. In partnership with the Picker Center for Executive Education at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs, the fellows attend classes, lectures and interactive workshops in nonprofit management, leadership, strategic planning, finance and budget, public relations, volunteer recruiting, governance, fundraising and global trends. The fellows also enjoy opportunities for small-group discussions about vision, strategy, and management issues particular to their organizations. In addition, the 92nd Street Y offers lectures and workshops on strengthening professional partnerships, building alliances and networks, honing presentation skills, improving grant writing, and diversity training. |
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| Vital counterparts to the classroom experience are the out-of-classroom visits to model nonprofits throughout New York City. In the past, fellows have visited non-profits focused on human rights, environmental sustainability, healthcare, microfinance, conflict resolution, youth education, homelessness, substance addiction, community building and more. We also tailor certain visits to complement and enhance each fellow's professional interests. |
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| A distinctive feature of the Ford Fellowship is that we encourage participating community leaders to push the boundaries of their notions of partnership. The fellows are encouraged to think creatively and boldly about building alliances with business, government, and other nonprofit organizations. Fellows have meetings with established academic, business, diplomatic representatives, and government leaders. In the past, fellows have enjoyed unique opportunities to meet privately with the CEO of one of the world's largest multi-national corporations; a former U.S. Secretary of the Treasury; well-regarded experts in global and current affairs; the head of an organization that strives to end homelessness in New York City; the principal of a model New York City public school committed to building a multicultural community of teachers, parents and students; and the director of a nonprofit supporting environmental sustainability and justice in the Bronx. |
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| The experience is further enhanced by the Fellows' residency at the 92nd Street Y, an institution founded in 1874 that has grown to serve over 300,000 people annually. At once a school, a lecture hall, a performance space and a place for gathering community, the 92nd Street Y is a nonprofit organization that is unique in the world and vital to the cultural life of New York City. As the world's first global Jewish community and cultural center, the 92nd Street Y serves people of all faiths, races, religions, nationalities, ethnicities, and socio-economic groups. Fellows have the opportunity to meet with 92nd Street Y staff experts, board members and community partners. |
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| Experiencing |
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| Specialized tours of New York City and an array of diverse ethnic, cultural, and community offerings enrich the fellows' American experience. In the past, fellows have experienced tours of Harlem, Manhattan, Queens, and Brooklyn through the lens of some of New York City's most well-known tour guides. In turn, Fellows showcase their home countries with cultural presentations. In addition, each fellow enjoys an evening in the home of a Jewish 92nd Street Y family as a guest for Shabbat dinner, a treasured facet of Jewish cultural heritage. Past fellows have regarded this intimate evening as an unprecedented opportunity to deepen cross-cultural interchange. Toward the end of the fellowship, fellows take an overnight trip to Ford Motor Company World Headquarters in Dearborn, Michigan, meet key Ford executives, and gain insight into the unique intersection of corporate and nonprofit interests and goals. |
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| Participating in a Global Network |
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| Before and after their residency at the 92nd Street Y, Fellows are in contact with 92nd Street Y staff and with one another. Through email communities, distance learning, electronic newsletters and announcements, and teleconferencing, Fellows become part of a global network of community leaders. Alumni independently organize cross-country conferences and workshops, and are continually developing means to share with one another ideas and best practices. |
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| What To Expect |
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The 92nd Street Y and Ford Motor Company have high expectations of participants in the Ford Motor Company International Fellowship of the 92nd Street Y. The minimum program requirements include the following: |
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| Assignments |
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| Fellows are obliged to complete written assignments and required reading prior to, during and following their residency in New York. |
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| Commitment While Participating in the Program |
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| Fellows must be active participants in all aspects of the program. The curriculum is rigorous, and Fellows may not exempt themselves from group activities. With so much to learn and experience, relaxation and time off are not the goals of the program. (Fellows who wish to do a good deal of tourist sightseeing, shopping or vacationing are strongly urged to arrive before June 4 or stay after June 25 at their own expense, as they will not have time to do so during the fellowship.) |
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| Commitment During the Program |
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| Fellows must be active participants in all aspects of the program. The curriculum is rigorous, and Fellows may not exempt themselves from group activities. With so much to learn and experience, relaxation and time off are not the goals of the program. (Fellows who wish to do a good deal of tourist sightseeing, shopping or vacationing are strongly urged to arrive before June 4 or stay after June 25 at their own expense, as they will not have time to do so during the fellowship.) |
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| The Ford Fellows Classroom |
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| The Ford Fellows classroom is a unique environment where fellows from around the world and distinguished scholars engage in a dramatic give-and-take of ideas. In order to protect this special environment and enable it to succeed, we ask all participants to put aside the normal distractions of life during classroom sessions. These "distractions" include: cell phones, PDAs (personal digital assistants such as Blackberrys), and video cameras. Of course, serious note-taking on your laptop computer is fine, but we ask that you do not divide your attention by engaging in emailing or instant messaging during the classroom conversation. If you anticipate emergency calls, please inform us, and we'll provide support, including a phone number that people can call if they need to reach you. We ask for the same level of respect during our non-academic sessions as well. |
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| Free Time |
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| The Ford Fellowship is truly an intensive non-profit management training program. It is for serious, dedicated leaders who are passionate about their professional growth and willing to work hard to achieve the next steps of their leadership development. The most successful participants are those who are able to commit themselves fully to a rigorous, focused training program. There is little free time during the fellowship. If you would like to schedule personal meetings while in New York City, please arrive early so that you can schedule these meetings before the fellowship program starts; or stay a day or two after the fellowship ends so that you can schedule your meetings after the program ends. |
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| Ongoing Commitment |
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| We expect Fellows to remain involved in the program as mentors for future Fellows and as participants in a growing global network of community leaders. |
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| Application Process |
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| Eligibility |
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| Applicants must be 21 years of age or older, though younger applicants should note that we are looking for candidates with several years of leadership experience, and most fellows are already mid-career accomplished professionals. We seek candidates from a variety of backgrounds with the aim of creating a diverse group of Fellows who will work well together and offer a wide array of views and experiences. Candidates should be emerging leaders addressing issues whose resolution can have a significant positive impact on their communities, on their countries and—collectively—on the world. Successful participants have a hunger for professional improvement and share a passion to learn from all experiences offered during the fellowship. |
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| Applicants must demonstrate fluency in English, have valid passports, and have access to a computer and the Internet. They may not be current recipients of other fellowships. |
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| Fees and Services Covered |
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| Airfare, accommodation, food, transportation, instruction, and other program-related expenses are included in the fellowship. Each participant receives a stipend upon arrival. |
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| Application Deadline |
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| The application deadline is October 9, 2009. |
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| Enrollment |
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| For more information about Ford Fellowship applications, call 212.415.5473, fax 212.415.5798, email or send mail to: |
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Ford Motor Company International Fellowship of the 92nd Street Y
92nd Street YM-YWHA
1395 Lexington Avenue
New York, NY 10128
USA : |
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