Youth Solutionists in Government Program

The Youth Solutionists in Government Fellowship (YSGF) is a 4-month virtual program based in the United States for individuals between the ages of 15 and 25, with the goal of bridging the gap between youth and climate policymaking spaces. Oftentimes, climate decision spaces do not include the visions and ideas of youth. Our goal is to transform that by ensuring that youth are empowered to participate in environmental governance on a local, state, and/or federal level. We provide capacity-building sessions to educate fellows on how to engage the government through our unique 3-step framework that is highlighted below.

The priority application deadline May 14 and the final application deadline is May 26, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. PST.

If you have any questions, please email programs@oneupaction.org. 

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Our 3-Step Framework

Outlined below are the 3 tracks of our fellowship that each fellow will trained on.

Build a Youth Climate Commission

Create a Climate Platform​

Utilize the Citizen Ballot Initiative​

Our fellowship will train and assist fellows in creating Youth Climate Commissions in their local communities. OneUpAction International was able to create the first ever Youth Climate Commission in the nation (located in LA County) and we are going to show you how to accomplish the same.
Participating in a fellowship can provide fellows with the necessary knowledge and tools to understand and address climate change issues in their local community. Fellows will learn how to develop a comprehensive climate platform that highlights the community’s struggles and suggests policies.
We will train fellows on how to write their own climate policies and policy suggestions on a local, statewide, or national level through a citizen ballot initiative. A citizen ballot initiative informs climate policy by mobilizing community members to support a proposed policy addressing climate change through the instrument of signatures and ballots.


Our 3-Step Framework

Outlined below are the 3 tracks of our fellowship that each fellow will trained on.

Build a Youth Climate Commission

Our fellowship will train and assist fellows in creating Youth Climate Commissions in their local communities. OneUpAction International was able to create the first ever Youth Climate Commission in the nation (located in LA County) and we are going to show you how to accomplish the same.

Create a Climate Platform​

Participating in a fellowship can provide fellows with the necessary knowledge and tools to understand and address climate change issues in their local community. Fellows will learn how to develop a comprehensive climate platform that highlights the community’s struggles and suggests policies.

Utilize the Citizen Ballot Initiative​

We will train fellows on how to write their own climate policies and policy suggestions on a local, statewide, or national level through a citizen ballot initiative. A citizen ballot initiative informs climate policy by mobilizing community members to support a proposed policy addressing climate change through the instrument of signatures and ballots.


What is the timeline of this fellowship?


We have designed a comprehensive fellowship program that offers participants invaluable training in each of the three tracks mentioned above during the first half of the fellowship period (June and July). In the second half of the fellowship period (August and September), our team of experienced mentors will provide guidance to fellows as they embark on developing their own unique project centered around one of the three tracks of our framework mentioned above.

For instance, our Youth Climate Commission track offers fellows the opportunity to apply their newfound knowledge towards building a Youth Climate Commission in their local area. Alternatively, our Climate Platform track provides fellows with the tools to create a climate platform that is tailored to their community’s specific needs. Finally, our Citizen Ballot Initiative track equips fellows with the skills necessary to create and mobilize support for a Citizen Ballot Initiative within their community.

At OneUpAction, we are passionate about empowering the next generation of leaders to tackle pressing social and environmental issues, and we are confident that our fellowship program will enable participants to make a meaningful impact in their communities and beyond.



June


July


August


September

The fellowship will commence with an opening ceremony and the educational, interactive zoom meetings will start to take place.

Meetings will happen on a weekly basis every Saturday

Fellows will be introduced to the 3 tracks and will receive an in-depth training on each of them. Guest speakers will come into the sessions.

Meetings will happen on a weekly basis every Saturday

Fellows will select a track that they will build a project around. They will receive guidance from mentors who will support them in building their projects.

Meetings will happen on a bi-weekly basis every other Saturday.

Fellows will continue to receive support on their projects. While they do not need to finish their projects by the end of this month, they need to make significant progress on their projects.
Meetings will happen on a bi-weekly basis every other Saturday.

June

The fellowship will commence with an opening ceremony and the educational, interactive zoom meetings will start to take place.

Meetings will happen on a weekly basis every Saturday


July

Fellows will be introduced to the 3 tracks and will receive an in-depth training on each of them. Guest speakers will come into the sessions.

Meetings will happen on a weekly basis every Saturday


August

Fellows will select a track that they will build a project around. They will receive guidance from mentors who will support them in building their projects.

Meetings will happen on a bi-weekly basis every other Saturday.

September

Fellows will continue to receive support on their projects. While they do not need to finish their projects by the end of this month, they need to make significant progress on their projects.
Meetings will happen on a bi-weekly basis every other Saturday.

Are you eligible for this fellowship?

 

In order to be eligible for this fellowship, you must be between the ages of 15 to 25 years old as of April 2023. Additionally, you must be living in the United States of America. You do not need to be a citizen of the United States of America to apply. We require that all applicants must reside in the U.S. during the time of fellowship.


What are the goals of the fellowship?

Bridge the Gap

Educate Youth

Empower Youth to Lead

There is a significant gap between young people and policymakers that we hope to bridge. Policymakers are making decisions about the future of the world without the people who will be living those futures being present in the room.
We aim to show youth how to navigate the intricacies of climate politics and formulate their own policy initiatives. Our Youth Solutionist Government Fellows will get the chance to learn about climate policymaking on a local, statewide, and federal level.
Our goal is to not only inform our fellows about the climate policymaking process but to also empower them to actively participate in influencing it. Our fellows will learn how to run for office, build local youth commissions, create climate platforms for campaigns, etc.


What are the goals of the fellowship?

Bridge the Gap

There is a significant gap between young people and policymakers that we hope to bridge. Policymakers are making decisions about the future of the world without the people who will be living those futures being present in the room.

Educate Youth

We aim to show youth how to navigate the intricacies of climate politics and formulate their own policy initiatives. Our Youth Solutionist Government Fellows will get the chance to learn about climate policymaking on a local, statewide, and federal level.

Empower Youth to Lead

Our goal is to not only inform our fellows about the climate policymaking process but to also empower them to actively participate in influencing it. Our fellows will learn how to run for office, build local youth commissions, create climate platforms for campaigns, etc.


What are the benefits of doing this fellowship?

  • Expand your network of environmentalists and meet climate activists throughout the nation
  • Learn from experts in the climate field, including those who work in politics, advocacy, and community-organizing
  • Recieve a certificate after a successful completion of the fellowship entitling you as a “Youth Solutionist in Government”
  • Receive internship credit if you are seeking it
  • Become connected with OneUpAction International’s Alumni Network 

Do I need to be a U.S. citizen in order to be eligible for this fellowship?

You do not need to be a U.S. citizen in order to be eligible for this fellowship. Because the fellow focuses on U.S. politics, we require all of our fellows to live in the U.S. during the first half of 2023.

I do not plan to run for office one day. Is this fellowship still for me?

You do not have to have plans to run for office in order to participate in our fellowship program! This fellowship is for anyone interested in advocating for youth participation in governmental processes. Running for office is not the only way to contribute to policymaking. If you are interested in getting more involved in local and national politics around climate change, this fellowship is for you!

Do I need to have experience in politics in order to be eligible for this fellowship?

You do not need to have previous experience in politics to be eligible for this fellowship. We look at each applicant holistically—including their passion, goals for the future, and experience. While we do consider the experience applicants have in climate action and politics, the fellowship is also intended for people who do not have previous experience in these fields.