This year’s first Blueprints for Social Justice are in motion! A website for college students with disabilities... a diversity and ally education program... a sustainability initiative to prepare students for an internship in South Africa...

[ Explore fellows’ Blueprints for Social Justice ]

Introduce us to your friends, students, heroes...
Who are the innovative and promising young progressive leaders and activists in your life? Nominations play a crucial role in our fellowship search process. Anyone can nominate a fellow. Self-nominations are appropriate and encouraged.

[ Learn more and nominate a future fellow ]

Andrew Macurak is a 2007 fellow from the University of Pittsburg and a participant in YP4’s internship program for senior fellows. For his summer internship, Andrew will work as a program coordinator for Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group, a coalition of organizations representing low- to moderate-income communities and working for economic justice, equitable investment practices, and sufficient financial resources to revitalize communities throughout the Pittsburgh area.

Andrew writes, “YP4 has given me training that has increased my skill and confidence as a young professional. But more than anything, YP4 has tapped me into a network of young people who are passionate about social change and professionals who have made it their lives, and it is this momentum that has given me the encouragement and perspective to pursue my goal of a career in community development.”

Jeremy Bearer-Friend: Jeremy completed his first fellowship placement at the Greenlining Institute, where he was organizing students in support of tuition relief, and has since been working at Justice Now, organizing around issues of prison reform. In this video, Jeremy speaks about how he believes young people can be involved leading the progressive movement and how YP4 has opened the doors for him to take that step.

[ Watch the video ]

The Leadership Academy wants you!
Apply to YP4’s pinnacle leadership development program for new grads and young professionals. For 10 months you’ll get three all-expense-paid leadership development retreats, mentorship from an established movement leader in your area, one-on-one coaching, networking opportunities, support to attend conferences and more. You can even apply for a $30,000 paid fellowship. Applications are due May 16.

[ Learn more and apply! ]

Shouts out to YP4 and the Young Elected Officials Network. Plus, fellows organize for a women’s center, against Tasers on campus, and get elected to student government.

[ Read the news coverage ]

1Sky: Mother’s Day Call to Action
The 1Sky campaign would like to ask the YP4 family for your support in the Mother’s Day Call to Action. Climate change will have implications for all our work in the progressive movement and impact food, water and national security as well as our health, economy and society.

We all have families, younger brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews who will feel the effects of our carbon economy down the line. Please help us create a dramatic visual statement by sending in photos, artwork, and visuals of people and places that are important to you and will be impacted by climate change. Or help organize or participate in Mommy Meetups and Stroller Marches happening across the country.

Visit www.1sky.org or contact Carolynn or Ada, your YP4 family at 1Sky.

[ Find more upcoming events ]

The Young Elected Officials National Convening
Last week, YP4 sent a delegation of fellows and staff to attend the Young Elected Officials Network’s National Convening in Little Rock, Arkansas. The conference was attended by more than 120 young elected officials from across the country, including some recently elected YP4 fellows and graduates of the Front Line Leaders Academy. The young elected officials in attendance were trained in essential skills, from public speaking to fundraising, networked, and shared best practices as a community.

Young reporters: Rock the Trail
As young voters are coming out in record numbers, WireTap magazine is thrilled to partner up with Rock the Vote to support the work of five emerging reporters for Rock the Trail project.

The issues and voices of Rock the Trail reporters will be posted on RocktheVote.com, WireTapMag.org and BET.com, and will also be available for viewing on AT&T mobile phones and occasionally the WashingtonPost.com.

Rock the Trail reporters will be paid a $500 monthly stipend and supplied with a laptop, cell phone and video camera to rock the 2008 campaign trail. Rock the Trail reporters will work approximately 10–15 hours a week from May 15 to November 30. If you're a U.S. citizen between the ages of 18–29 and interested in reporting on one of the most exciting times in U.S. politics, complete your application by May 7!

[ Learn more and apply ]

GENIUS: Are all students safe at your school?
One-third of college students report being harassed or discriminated against on campus for not fitting expectations of masculinity or femininity. That’s according to GenderPAC’s GENIUS (Gender Equality National Index for Universities and Schools) Index.

[ Tell them what your school’s like ]

Cornell special summer school session about labor
Cornell University will host a special summer school session from June 8–13 for undergraduate and graduate students interested in working in the labor movement. The session is co-sponsored by the AFL-CIO Center for Strategic Research. Applications are being considered on a rolling basis; the final deadline is May 9.

[ Learn more ]

National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality
The twelfth annual National Black Religious Summit on Sexuality will be held July 9–11 at the Howard University School of Divinity. The National Black Church Initiative says, “This year’s theme is ‘The Dawn of a New Day,’ which is so appropriate during an election year when we have heard so much about change from the political parties. In the National Black Church Initiative, all that we have done throughout the past twelve years has prepared us to make major changes within our churches relating to issues of sexuality.”

If you’re a YP4 fellow who’s interested in going, contact your fellowship associate for possible financial support.

[ Learn more ]