According to the release, the grassroots fellowship program "is more than just a strategy to win an election. It's about strengthening our democracy by bringing more people into the political process.Fellows will be trained in the basic principles of community organizing and placed in communities all over the nation for a minimum of six weeks, starting in June."
In highly personalized language, the message announcing the fellowship to supporters recalled Obama's own early days as a community organizer in Chicago:
When I was a young man, I was inspired by the Civil Rights Movement and the
idea of people working at a grassroots level to bring about change. I got my
chance on the South Side of Chicago, as a community organizer, and it was the
transformative experience of my career.It allowed me to put my values to work and to see that real change comes not from the top-down, but from the bottom-up, when ordinary people come together around a common purpose. The experience changed the course of my life -- and I want to share that kind of opportunity with you.
That's why we're introducing a program that's going to train a new generation of leaders -- not only to help us win this election, but to help strengthen our democracy in communities across the country.If you apply and are selected, you'll be trained in the basic organizing principles that this campaign and our movement for change are built on. You will be assigned to a community where you'll organize supporters. Assignments will begin in June, and you'll be required to work a minimum of six weeks over the summer.
This program is designed to give you real world organizing experience that will have a concrete impact on this election.
Although the chosen fellows would undoubtedly be deployed strategically to aid the Obama campaign up through the convention, the fellowship -- as opposed to regular volunteer drives -- recognizes that the impact Obama has had in motivating young voters' passions must be matched by training, experience, and long-term vision that could outlast his own candidacy and this election.
His interest in developing training opportunities for young people also pre-dated his candidacy. As the Senator argued in THE BLACK COLLEGIAN's interview with him shortly before he entered the race (see U.S. Senator Barack Obama on Black Student Political Clout):
One of the things I think is important, not just [for] elected officials but
older folks generally, [is giving] young people the opportunity to get involved.
So, for example, I’ve set up a range of internships in my office. I do a
training program for young people who are interested in politics. I think that
in every institution, whether it’s a law firm or church or what have you, making
sure that young people are given entree and opportunity to exert their
leadership – and to do substantive work, not just licking envelopes or fetching
coffee – I think that’s critical. In the African-American community in
particular, I think sometimes we have a tendency for our leadership to be very
protective of their turf and not invite young people in until it’s way too late.
The earlier we’re grooming young people and giving them leadership
opportunities, and pushing them up front, the better.
To learn more about the Obama Organizing Fellowship -- and to apply or refer a friend -- see :
http://my.barackobama.com/fellows
