For immediate release: Dec.14, 2018

Contact: Marisol Bello, [email protected]

Community Change launches leadership fellowship for formerly incarcerated women

Washington, D.C. – Community Change is launching the Women’s Gathering Initiative, a program that builds the leadership of formerly incarcerated women of color, or those directly impacted by incarceration and the criminal justice system.

This new initiative by Community Change seeks to develop these leaders into powerful community organizers.

The goal of the Women’s Fellowship is to equip women leaders with the tools they need to engage in strategic discussions and partnerships to shape policy decisions and establish how power is attained and wielded at home, work and their communities. Through training and political education sessions, the program aims to support justice-involved women so they can envision themselves out of their current realities and craft an agenda that is for and by them.

The Initiative is a 12-month program that provides a quarterly stipend. The Women’s Gathering Initiative represents the future of Community Change/Action as it turns its lens to building black and immigrant power, reinventing community organizing, advancing a governing agenda and creating an electoral powerhouse.

“This exciting new program will redefine how we organize and position women leaders to affect positive change in their communities,” says Aida M. Cuadrado Bozzo, Community Change organizer, who heads the program.

Ideal candidates identify as women of color and have organizing experience or are recognized leaders in their communities. To apply, candidates should complete the Community Change Women’s Fellowship application by Jan. 25 and include two letters of support from their organizations or members of their communities who can speak to their organizing and leadership experience. The application can be found at https://communitychange.org/real-people/fellowships/community-change-womens-fellowship/.

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Community Change is a national social justice organization that builds the power of low-income people of color to fight for a society where everyone can thrive.