2025 Defending Democracy Fellowship

Western States Center is pleased to open applications for the 2025 Defending Democracy fellowship program, our eighth such fellowship class since 2018. The program is designed for organizers to gain tools to counter white nationalism and other movements of organized bigotry, build peer-to-peer relationships, and sharpen their visions of a democracy where all people can live, love, work, and worship free from fear.  

Fellows will have the opportunity to deepen their understanding of the white nationalist movement and its broader anti-democracy coalition—forces that seek to limit the rights of Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color, queer and trans folks, women, immigrants, refugees, and other marginalized communities. The ideal candidate will have a commitment to racial and gender justice, some experience in community organizing, and an interest in engaging in anti-hate work. Additionally, this year our team has specific project work in mind for fellows who have interest and/or experience in the following subject matter: Working with music and cultural venue owners and workers to protect inclusive spaces; working with or within school communities to protect inclusive democracy and advance racial and gender justice; organizing for LGBTQ liberation and inclusive events; housing justice for those impacted by homelessness. 

During this year’s fellowship, fellows will be embedded within Western States Center’s programmatic work gaining hands-on experience in countering organized bigotry through our Momentum program, as well as WSC’s efforts to shift culture and strengthen pro-democracy movements through our Culture Lab program. Fellows’ work may include, for instance, supporting local community organizing against white nationalism, engaging musicians and artists in our work to counter authoritarianism, contributing to trainings for community and institutional leaders, drafting communications, and online monitoring of white nationalist and anti-democracy groups.  

Fellows will also have the opportunity to hear from and connect directly with national and local leaders in this work through a monthly guest speaker series, including engagement with our Common Good program staff. 

The fellowship will launch on Tuesday, April 15th, 2025, and end on Tuesday, November 18th, 2025.   

Requirements: 

• Priority will be given to applicants with affiliations to grassroots justice organizations within the Pacific Northwest and Mountain States region, but applications from across the U.S. and from people unaffiliated with an organization are welcome. 
• Ability to commit to weekly fellowship supervision meetings to be held on Tuesdays at 1pm-2pm PT / 4pm-5pm ET and the monthly lecture series, which will be every month on Wednesdays or Thursdays at 1pm-2pm PT / 4pm-5pm ET.
• Ability to commit to 10 hours of work for Western States Center per week during normal Pacific or Eastern Time business hours.  
• A demonstrated commitment to racial and gender justice. 

Enthusiasm about creative approaches to countering white nationalism and approaches that build broad coalitions to deal with the white nationalist movement and defend democracy. 

Attention to detail and excitement about the nitty-gritty work of organizing and monitoring.  

Compensation: 

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend of $1,000 based on 10 hours of work per week for a total of $7,000 for the fellowship.  

Fellows will also receive waived registration and travel support to participate in WSC’s Activists Mobilizing for Power (AMP) conference in Portland in fall 2025. 

To apply: 

Please submit your resume and a work sample of your choice along with the answers to application questions through this form. The application deadline is Friday, March 7th.