Black Futures Lab Offers Policy Fellowship, Prioritizes Wisconsin

The Black to the Future Public Policy Institute, a program of the Black to the Future Action Fund, is now accepting applications for its 2024-25 fellowship program. This policy advocacy and leadership training fellowship aims to equip community leaders with the necessary tools to transform Black communities into constituencies that wield independent, Black political power. The Institute places a special emphasis on candidates from priority states, with a keen interest in those hailing from Wisconsin. The Institute strongly encourages applications from Wisconsin residents, acknowledging the distinct challenges and unique opportunities the state presents for fostering and strengthening Black political power.

The Black Futures Lab, the organization behind the Institute, is dedicated to designing strategies that help imagine the alternatives Black communities deserve and building the capacity of Black-serving organizations to build Black political power. The lab focuses on closing the gap between these communities and the tools needed to build power. The Black to the Future Action Fund works to enact policies that improve the lives of Black people and ensure they have dignity, safety, and power.

The Institute concentrates on five key policy areas that directly impact Black communities: Democracy/Voting Rights, Families/Public Health and Healthcare, Economy/Economic Security, Structural Barriers, and Criminal/Legal issues. Fellows will learn to build a policy campaign from the ground up, engaging in research, gaining a deep understanding of the legislative process, exploring target issue areas, and developing essential skills for successful policy advocacy.

To be eligible for the Institute, applicants must be members of Black communities already involved in organized efforts to improve the lives of Black people. Black cisgender, transgender, non-binary, and genderqueer individuals, as well as Black migrants, formerly incarcerated individuals, and people with disabilities, are encouraged to apply. Applicants must apply as part of a team of 3 to 5 members, working in the same state and sponsored by the same organization. Priority will be given to individuals working in CA, GA, LA, NC, and WI, with other states considered on a case-by-case basis.

Sponsoring Organizations must demonstrate a commitment to impacting public policy to support and uplift Black communities. They are expected to provide operational support, guidance, and ensure their sponsored team has the time and resources to participate fully in the program and policy campaign. In return, Sponsoring Organizations will receive a monthly stipend of $500 for eight months to cover a portion of their fellow’s paid staff time. The stipend will be disbursed directly to the Sponsoring Organization, which must use the funds to support the fellow’s participation in the Institute.

The Institute will pair each team with a mentor who will act as a strategic advisor for their campaign, providing practical guidance and technical assistance. Mentors must identify as Black, have deep experience in policy making or the political process at the municipal or state level, and preferably be involved in efforts to improve the lives of Black communities. Mentors will receive a stipend to support their participation in regular monthly meetings over the course of 10 months, which will consist of an 8-month program and a 2-month policy planning period.

The Institute is free of charge for participants. In addition to the stipend provided to Sponsoring Organizations, the Institute offers a “loaner” program that includes equipment and internet access for participants who do not have access to a computer or internet. Increased organizational support may also be offered for participants creating and engaging in policy campaigns expected to commence in 2025.

Participation in each weekly live webinar session is mandatory, with sessions taking place every Tuesday from 1:00-2:45pm ET (10:00-11:45am PT), starting on September 17, 2024, and ending on April 22, 2025.

Applications must be submitted via the online application portal by June 5, 2024, at 8:00pm ET/5:00pm PT. Candidate interviews will take place from July 9 through July 11, 2024. The Institute is committed to supporting all fellows in their learning, with accommodations and support services handled on a case-by-case basis.

The Black to the Future Public Policy Institute offers a unique opportunity for Black community leaders, especially those in Wisconsin, to gain the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to drive meaningful policy change and build Black political power. By investing in these leaders and supporting their efforts to advocate for progressive solutions, the Institute and the Black Futures Lab are working towards a future where Black communities have the tools and the power to shape their own destinies.