Bella Abzug Advocacy Fellowship

Bella Abzug—feminist activist, lawyer and former U.S. Congresswoman—exercised her unique leadership in the courts, the streets, the halls of Congress and the United Nations. Comfortable and effective in all these arenas, Bella was known for her outspokenness, her willingness to take risks and her commitment to the disenfranchised in society. An inspiration to countless women and men, she moved seamlessly between the worlds of community activism and government institutions, always maintaining her integrity. Known for her fiery and up-front style, she was skilled at generating real solutions and workable compromises for social change. A pioneer of the women’s liberation movement in the 1970s, Bella was one of the earliest American women leaders to understand the global nature of women’s issues. Her aim was nothing less than to transform society, worldwide.

The Bella Abzug Advocacy Fellowship will offer an opportunity for young women who embody Bella’s spirit and vision to develop their advocacy skills and enhance their local to global understanding. The one-year internship will be based at the Women’s Environment and Development Organization (WEDO) in New York. Founded by Bella Abzug and Mim Kelber in 1990, WEDO is an international advocacy organization that seeks to increase the power of women worldwide as policymakers to achieve economic and social justice, a healthy and peaceful planet, and human rights for all.

The Bella Abzug Advocacy Fellow will be a young feminist activist who has demonstrated leadership skills in advocating and organizing for women’s rights. She will bring passion, originality and dedication to her work, as well as an understanding of the connections between peace, justice, and human rights and the links between local and global issues.

The WEDO Fellowship program seeks to strengthen the individual’s capacity to advance women’s perspectives through coordinated activism at the national and international levels. She will become familiar with WEDO’s advocacy in global policymaking processes and will carry WEDO’s work forward by promoting an understanding in the U.S. of how global policies affect local policies and vice versa.

During the Fellowship, she will conduct research on U.S. foreign policy issues, participate in national and international meetings, contribute to WEDO publications, and network with other U.S. organizations. The Bella Advocacy Fellow will work in all program areas to expand WEDO’s U.S. constituency and foster a progressive U.S. foreign policy.

The one year Fellowship Program begins September 2003, and includes compensation of $25,000 (gross) plus health insurance. She is responsible for securing her own travel to and housing in New York.

Application Process

All candidates must be U.S. citizens. Successful candidates will have:

· a BA or MA in a relevant field (such as political science, sociology, public policy, economics, or women’s studies);

· experience interning/working with a women’s organization or peace and justice group, particularly racially and economically diverse groups;

· proven leadership experience as a feminist organizer/activist on peace and social justice issues;

· contacts with organizations and networks in the U.S. working on women’s rights;

· knowledge of and interest in international issues, with a strong commitment to promoting the linkages between local and global issues; and

strong writing, speaking, organizational and interpersonal skills.

To apply for the Bella Abzug Advocacy Fellowship, please send a resume and cover letter (only!) to jobs@wedo.org with the phrase “Bella Fellowship application” in the subject line.

The DEADLINE for applications is July 15, 2003.

Applicants who are selected for the second round will be contacted by July 25 and asked to submit letters of recommendation and writing samples by August 1. Please do NOT submit any materials beyond the cover letter and resume during the first round.

A Selection Committee, co-chaired by Bella’s daughters Liz and Eve Abzug, will make the final selection by August 15.

For more information about WEDO, please see www.wedo.org.