GLA Fellows Application

Grassroots Leadership Academy

1. What issues are you most passionate about in your community? (required)

2. What issues are you most passionate about in your community? (required)

3. How could you make a difference in these issues with additional training from the Fellows program? (required)

4. Are you currently active in any community organizations or groups? If so, please describe your role and contributions. (required)

5. Are you currently active in any community organizations or groups? If so, please describe your role and contributions. (required)

6. What do you hope to gain from participating in the Fellows program? (required)

7. How will you apply the skills and knowledge learned from the Fellows program to your community? (required)

8. Do you confirm your availability to complete all the program’s sessions, including the trip to Washington D.C.? (required)

Yes

9. Do you confirm your commitment to fulfilling the expectations of the program (organizing a Day of Action, social event, registering 10 voters for mail-in ballots, completing all sessions and assignments, etc.)? (required)

Yes

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Application

About Us:

The Grassroots Leadership Academy is honored to introduce the Fellows program to Pennsylvania – GLA’s foremost initiative for alumni engagement. The Fellows program equips graduates with the essential skills and knowledge to foster meaningful transformation within their communities.

As a GLA Fellow, you will gain exclusive access to our top-tier and most requested courses, including Public Speaking, Media Training, Event Organization, and Recruitment Best Practices. Typically reserved for AFP Foundation (AFPF) Staff, we have opened these courses for our esteemed GLA alumni in Pennsylvania.

As part of the program, you will have the unique opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. and meet with GLA and Americans for Prosperity Foundation Leadership. Here you connect with Policy Champions addressing Pennsylvania’s most pressing issues and receive exclusive tours of our nation’s Capital. Upon selection to the Fellows program, you will be awarded a scholarship that will cover all associated travel expenses, enabling participants to focus solely on the invaluable experience.

If you are ready to elevate your grassroots involvement and take the next step in your leadership journey, the Fellows program is the place for you. Together, we can transcend divisive politics and eliminate barriers to opportunity.

What is the Goal of the Fellows Program?

We envision the Fellows program driving the grassroots movement in Pennsylvania by inspiring communities to embrace individual freedom and mutual benefit, and rally support for the state's most pressing issues. Our goal is to cultivate an enduring network of trained GLA alumni who are equipped to effect change, influence policy decisions, and foster opportunity for all Pennsylvanians.

Who Is Eligible for the Fellows Program?

All Grassroots Leadership Academy graduates are welcome to apply for the Fellows program. Eligible graduates are those who have completed a GLA session or full GLA certification. If you would like to check your alumni status, please contact the Director of Alumni Relations, Lyda Stokes, at [email protected].

What Education & Training Should I Expect to Learn from the Fellows program?

The Fellows program empowers our graduates to be catalysts for change through exclusive GLA training, and arms them with the resources to take action within their communities. Courses encompass GLA’s most sought-after trainings including:

- Public Speaking & Media Training Bootcamp

A comprehensive program designed by our seasoned public speaking team with over a century of combined experience in activism, education, communication, and policy. You will be empowered with strategic insights to champion individual liberty and promote free-market opportunities effectively. Expect to depart with a robust personal narrative, a nuanced understanding of key issues from a liberty perspective, and the confidence to engage with media, amplifying Pennsylvania’s voice of liberty.

- Best Practices for Recruitment

This course will equip you with the tools to pinpoint and mobilize liberty-minded individuals for community initiatives. You will be immersed in proven recruitment strategies and gain practical insights from established tactics. By the end of the course, you will have the expertise to build a thriving grassroots movement in Pennsylvania, driving bottom-up change by recruiting aligned individuals for Days of Action, social events, and beyond.

- Best Practices for Event Planning

Step into the exciting realm of event planning and learn how to create engaging community events that inspire action. This course offers a deep dive into the nuances of event organization and delivers reliable strategies to apply to your next event. Expect to walk away with the skills to adeptly orchestrate local events – From Days of Action to social gatherings – that drive a dynamic grassroots movement.

- How To Organize a Day of Action

This is the practical, hands-on course where you bring your community together for a day of collective effort and impact. You will learn the step-by-step process to plan and execute a successful Day of Action, rallying support for the issues that matter most. This course represents the culmination of your learning. This course allows you to apply your public speaking, recruitment, and event planning skills to create a Day of Action that empowers and mobilizes the citizens of Pennsylvanians.

Pennsylvania Fellows Program Dates:

September 16: Welcome & Introductions
October 14: Public Speaking Bootcamp (Part I)
November 11 (Veterans Day): Public Speaking Bootcamp (Part II)
December 9: Holiday Celebration
January 13: Best Practices for Recruitment
February 10: Best Practices for Event Planning
March 9: How to Organize a Day of Action
April 13: Media Training and Communication Strategy
May 18: Graduation Ceremony in Washington, D.C.

What are the Travel Expectations for the Fellows Program?

Fellows will be expected to attend all sessions in person unless otherwise approved by Lyda Stokes, Director of Alumni Engagement. In addition to trainings sessions, all participants are expected to travel to Washington D.C.

What are the financial obligations associated with the Fellows Program?

Upon selection to the Fellows program, you will be awarded a scholarship that will cover all associated travel expenses for the trip to D.C., enabling participants to focus solely on the invaluable experience. All travel, excluding the D.C. trip, (travel to the in-person session within the state) will be assumed by the Fellow.

What are the Fellows Program Expectations?

Fellows are expected to complete all sessions and fulfill all assignment requirements. Graduates will leave the program having completed the following:

Lifelong Learning (Continuing Education)

- Attend all courses in person unless previously approved by Lyda Stokes, Director of Alumni Engagement.

Community Engagement & Advocacy (Recruitment)

- Spearhead the organization of a Day of Action and a social event, which may include casual meetups like happy hours, educational lunch and learns, or meet and greet events with policy champions and their constituents.

- Facilitate greater civic participation by registering at least 10 voters for Mail-In Ballots.

- Identify individuals in your community who could benefit from GLA training, employment opportunities or want to get join the grassroots movement.

Media & Communication (Brand Ambassador)

- Articulate and share your personal narrative through various platforms, showcasing your unique connection to the grassroots movement.

- Participate in Press Walks, enhancing your media engagement skills and public visibility.

*To qualify for the D.C. trip, participants must successfully complete all courses and homework assignments.