Learning Together – Interfaith Youth Fellowships

The Interfaith Center of New York is Pleased to Announce the 2015

Learning Together

Interfaith Youth Fellowships

A unique opportunity for New York high school students
to collaborate with their diverse peers, and contribute to public
discussions of religious diversity in schools.

Are you . . .

A student at a public, private, or faith-based high school?

Religious, secular, spiritual, or anything in between?

Eager to learn from your peers in diverse faith communities?

Interested in exploring the role of religion in New York schools?

Would you like to . . .

Develop your critical thinking, research, and writing skills?

Make your voice heard on social issues, by publishing an original essay online?

Meet new friends from diverse communities?

Earn a $200 stipend for your unique con­tributions to the Interfaith Center of New York’s work?

 We invite you to apply for a fellowship!

Applications are due by March 15th.
See below for more information, then apply at
https://interfaithcenter.org/youth-fellowships.

Did you know that . . .

• NYC public schools currently close for major Christian and Jewish holidays,  and will soon start closing for major Muslim holidays and the Asian Lunar New Year, but not for Diwali or many other holidays?
• A 2007 survey found that 58% of Sikh students in New York schools reported being bullied at school on account of their religious identity?
• Dozens of congregations hold prayer services each weekend in New York public school buildings – and nearly all are Protestant churches?
• A 2010 survey found that 63% of Americans think it’s unconstitu­tion­al to teach about world religions in a public school? (And by the way, did you know they’re wrong?)

In order to create truly inclusive schools for students of every faith trad­ition, and none at all, New York’s high school students need to make their voices heard on these important issues. Join your peers in the Learning Together Interfaith Youth Fellowship Program, and share your experiences of religious diver­sity in school. Let your elected officials, educators, religious leaders, and other New Yorkers know what you think!

Learning Together Fellows will collaborate to explore religious diversity issues in New York schools, and develop their research, writing, and critical thinking skills. By the end of the program, each fellow will publish an orig­inal opin­ion essay, blog post, or personal reflection in a leading online forum for dis­cuss­ions of re­ligion and education.

Fellows will participate in six training sessions (to be scheduled in April, May, and June) and do a modest amount of independ­ent research and writ­ing. They’ll have an opportunity to:

• Develop research, writing, and critical thinking skills that will serve them well in college and beyond.
• Contribute to American civic life, by making their voices heard on an important social issue.
• Build relationships with their peers in diverse religious communities, and learn  from each other’s experiences.
• Receive a $200 stipend for their important contributions to the Interfaith Center of New York’s work.

 A project of the Interfaith Center of New York, with support from the Open Society Foundations Youth Initiative.