Rochester Urban Fellowship Program
- Rochester Urban Fellowship Program Application for Summer 2009
- Rochester Urban Fellowship Alumni Listing
Who?
Undergraduate students attending a Rochester-area college, and natives of the Rochester area who are attending college elsewhere, are encouraged to apply to the Rochester Urban Fellowship Program, a unique ten-week summer program. Fellows receive stipends of $2,000 for their work with community based organizations and agencies in the Rochester community. The Rochester Urban Fellowship Program is sponsored by University of Rochester and Leadership Rochester and is made possible through grants from the Kauffman Foundation, Rochester Area Community Foundation, City of Rochester, and NY State Senator Joseph Robach.
What?
The Urban Fellows Summer Program emphasizes civic engagement, promotes learning about urban issues, and encourages a celebration and appreciation for cross-cultural issues and urban life. The components of the program include:
Summer Fellowships
Students will be placed in a four-day a week paid fellowship in agencies located in the City of Rochester. Fellowship placements will be in a variety of fields that include health care, education, public safety, women's issues, economic development, youth, faith-based activity, and housing. While student interest will be considered, placements will be based on the needs of the community in both profit and nonprofit settings. Projects that previous Fellows have undertaken include business recruitment and marketing plan creation for neighborhood commercial development; working on neighborhood issues alongside a City Councilperson; a study of end of life issues at an inner-city health facility; development and delivery of services for runaway and homeless teens; an arts program at a juvenile residential facility; and researching health care needs and the disparities in African American communities.
Urban Issues Workshops
Students will work four days at their fellowship site in the City, and will attend daylong seminars mid-week designed to allow Fellows to learn about history, politics, demographics, and the sociology of urban systems in the area. Seminars are led by University of Rochester faculty along with visiting lecturers. Each workshop day will have an experiential component that includes off-site visits, conversations with community leaders, and group discussions regarding the strengths and challenges facing the Rochester area.
Community/Cultural Based Activities
Students will be invited and encouraged to participate in the cultural events and activities of the City, including neighborhood festivals, neighborhood association meetings, and other recreational and cultural events. Many of these gatherings will include weekend and evening participation. Some events will be mandatory.
End of Summer Institute
Students will develop a paper based on their research and experiences and present their work at the end of the summer symposia. They will prepare their presentations with supervision from staff or faculty. All community and college participants will be invited for this end of the year celebration and set of presentations.
Where?
The Rochester Urban Fellowship Program is hosted at the University of Rochester. Students are provided with campus housing and group transportation during the ten-week period. It is strongly recommended that students live on the University of Rochester campus; however allowances will be made if students request to live at home.
How?
College students interested in the Rochester Urban Fellowship Program should submit a completed application with two letters of recommendation by Friday, March 13, 2009.