Two years ago, UNCF launched the UNCF/Walton K-12 Social Entrepreneurship (USE) Fellowship Program, a new leadership and talent development initiative aimed at building a robust pipeline of high-achieving African Americans engaged in education reform in America. The program selects undergraduate students from private historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) to participate in a leadership development and paid intern placement program that partners with innovative K-12 educational social enterprises.
The UNCF/Walton K-12 Social Entrepreneurship Fellowship Program has four components:
- A leadership development boot camp which aims to build the fellow's content expertise as it relates to K-12 education reform, principles of business and non-profit management, project management, IT-related business productivity skills, workplace communication and many of the soft skills that students need to have a successful internship experience.
- A paid summer internship program that exposes fellows to professional careers at leading social entrepreneurial organizations working to advance K-12 education reform. Specifically, fellows are deployed as interns to organizations located in the District of Columbia, New York, Boston and other cities across the country. During their internships, they apply what they have learned, acquire new skills, gain an understanding of the professional needs of social change organizations and make meaningful contributions.
- Up to $5,000 in loan forgiveness assistance is available to fellows who complete the program and meet other conditions. Fellows who do not have student loans are eligible for scholarship assistance if they enroll in graduate degree programs to pursue a concentration in education or social entrepreneurship.
- Career placement assistance is provided to fellows who are interested in pursuing a career in K-12 education reform. During their senior year of college, fellows receive job readiness and career mapping assistance from their career coach and UNCF staff.
General Eligibility Requirements:
- Attendance at Bennett College, Dillard University, Johnson C. Smith University, Morehouse College, Spelman College or Xavier University of Louisiana as a junior
- At least a 3.0 grade point average on a 4.0 scale
- Must be African-American
- U.S. citizen or a permanent resident
The application deadline is December 16, 2011.
For additional information, contact 703-205-3460 or email USE
*To be eligible, you must commit to work two years for a social enterprise