Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition (CCDC) launched a Fellowship program with two primary objectives in mind: to help build capacity for both our organization and Colorado’s larger disability community, and simultaneously, to support the growth of a diverse, highly skilled workforce.
The Fellowship program allows CCDC and community to actively embrace people with disabilities who are from communities of color and are also in the early stages of their careers. This Fellowship enables hired candidates to immerse themselves in a supportive environment wherein they will receive mentoring, gain real-world experience working toward equity for and with Coloradans who have disabilities, and assist CCDC with building our capacity. To that end, CCDC seeks to hire one full-time Fellow.
The Fellow will be hired to focus on one of the following areas:
- Communications and/or Marketing
- Grassroots community organizing
This is a two-year paid Fellowship and could become a permanent employment opportunity based on performance and funding. Preference will be given to Colorado candidates who are BIPOC Youth (defined as under 30). If applying from out-of-state, this may result in a contracted position rather than a typical “Fellowship” opportunity.
This is a very hands-on position that offers a variety of extraordinary opportunities for an individual interested in a career in social justice, nonprofits, disability and/or human rights, community organizing, communications, policy advocacy, and/or Medicaid. CCDC’s Fellowship program is a unique introduction to a professional career with consistent mentor support and accessibility as a priority.
Fellowship Benefits and Responsibilities:
- CCDC will expand our Fellows’ professional network in Colorado’s nonprofit sector.
- CCDC will provide ongoing, consistent nonprofit leadership and management training through mentorship, peer-coaching, and more in order to help this individual prepare to launch their professional career on disability justice issues, whether for CCDC or not.
- Educate the Fellow with collective learning opportunities that align with CCDC’s priorities, especially those that affect youth with disabilities and their families in Colorado. Fellows would participate in our efforts and accompany us in coalition work.
- Fellows will have an opportunity to be part of actual policymaking and serve on boards and councils representing the disability community.
- Young people with disabilities are rarely given culturally competent advocacy training or space to learn about their identity as a person with disabilities, to gain disability pride, and/or to explore who they are as people with disabilities. We will provide opportunities to gain this lens while also working to strengthen racial equity lenses/approaches. We would ask for our Fellows to build their own ideas in order to expand this cultural opportunity.
- Kids with disabilities often have no role models who represent them. CCDC supports policies and legislation that require diversity in teacher recruitment. Fellows would push awareness on this subject.
To apply for the Fellowship, contact ssecrest@ccdconline.org. Deadline for applications is January 9, 2022 by 11:59 pm.
