OVERVIEW

The Environmental Leadership Program's New England Fellowship is an innovative program designed to build the leadership capacity of the environmental field's most promising emerging practitioners.

We define emerging leaders as those who are relatively new to the environmental and social justice fields with approximately three to ten years of experience. We define "environmental" broadly to include public health, transportation policy and planning, economic development, and broad-based community organizing.

Each year, our Regional Networks select a new class of fellows to join ELP's community of environmental professionals from diverse backgrounds, sectors, and areas of expertise. The year-long program offers unique networking opportunities, intensive leadership and skills training, support, and time for personal and professional reflection. The Regional Fellowship provides an opportunity for talented individuals to have a unique and substantial impact on environmental progress in New England through collaboration with other emerging leaders.

Please click here to find out more about becoming a Regional Fellow.

Required Commitments
Applicants for the 2010 ELP Regional Fellowship Program must commit to participating in three overnight retreats, held over the course of the year. The 2010 retreats dates are: January 28-31, Arpil 24-26, and August 20-22. Additionally, fellows are encouraged to participate in networking events and public leadership opportunities while continuing their professional jobs or studies.

Tuition
The Regional Fellowship for Emerging Leaders is provided to participants through the generous sponsorship of foundations and donors to the Environmental Leadership Program.

Retreats
Retreats lie at the heart of the ELP Regional Fellowship Program. Through hands-on training, community-building activities, and participatory group discussions held at retreats, fellows learn the practical skills of public leadership, develop a strong peer network, and explore ways to achieve lifelong personal and professional goals. Retreats offer an array of training opportunities on topics including leadership development, diversity, strategic communications, and coalition building, which help fellows increase their effectiveness and professional expertise.

Fellows participate in discussions on the current state and future of environmental politics and practices; the role of all types of diversity in the environmental field; and the complexities of stimulating public dialogue, negotiating institutional politics, and building diverse coalitions. In addition, fellows engage in peer-learning sessions on current environmental issues, discussions with established environmental leaders, and conversations about leadership. Retreats also offer the opportunity for personal reflection and play a critical role in helping fellows form a collaborative and supportive peer network.

Personal Leadership Plans
Following the first retreat, each fellow drafts a personal leadership plan (PLP) to outline specific goals for their ELP participation and the activities they will conduct to meet them. The PLP helps fellows identify short and long-term personal and professionals goals and provides a written guide for their ELP experience.

Activity Fund
ELP Senior Fellows, individuals who have completed the Regional Fellowship Program, are eligible to apply for grants from the ELP Activity Fund to support collaborative leadership-building activities through specific projects. Senior Fellows are encouraged to pursue activities that enhance their public leadership skills, build community, and strive for tangible environmental outcomes. The Activity Fund offers fellows the opportunity to collaborate with others within the ELP community to expand their work beyond their specific area of expertise.

Optional Activities
In addition to the required elements of the Regional Fellowship Program, ELP fellows have the opportunity to participate in optional activities throughout the year. These activities vary from year to year, and may include: in-depth training workshops; distance-learning courses; individual consultation with trainers; discussion groups on particular topics; working with a peer mentor; and networking events or collaborations with other ELP fellows.

Regional Issues Forums
ELP sponsors Regional Issues Forums to provide a venue for dialogue on key environmental issues facing New England and create a platform to raise the visibility of emerging environmental leaders in the region. Regional fellows are encouraged to serve as speakers and lead the forums.

Senior Fellows Network
ELP considers the active one-year fellowship program as only the first phase of a lifecycle of support and participation in ELP. Once fellows complete the program, they become part of a dynamic group of Senior Fellows.

For further information, contact us at:

Environmental Leadership Program
New England Regional Network
617.785.8167
newengland(at)elpnet.org

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