Kol Koleinu Application Process

Learn more about the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship.

Eligibility

You are eligible to apply for the Kol Koleinu fellowship if:

  • You identify as Jewish, a feminist, female, nonbinary or trans. Kol Koleinu is open to teens of all (and no) denominations and affiliations. 
  • You will be in 9th, 10th, 11th, or 12th grade for the 2024-2025 academic year. 
  • You are committed to developing your Jewish feminist knowledge and activist skills. 
  • You are regularly available on our scheduled evenings: one Sunday a month at 6:30-8:30 p.m. Eastern, Central, or Pacific time and one Saturday or Sunday a month at 7 – 8 p.m. Eastern, Central, or Pacific time (times may vary slightly for different time zones; see meeting dates below).
  • You can commit at least 5 hours per month outside of monthly fellowship calls. 
  • You want to learn, teach, grow and be part of a supportive, fun, meaningful, kind community. 
  • Note: availability for the two retreats is required. We will provide an excused absence letter by request. 

Length of Term

The position is for one academic year, starting in September and continuing through April. Participants will meet virtually via online calls and messaging, with the exception of in-person retreats, as described below. 

Fellows will apply their knowledge, skills, and perspectives to teach one another and influence their local community and beyond. 

To this end, fellows are responsible for: 

  • Attending the monthly meetings (as detailed below) 
  • Attending two retreats: one in the fall (November 8-10, 2024) and another in the spring (April 4-6, 2025) 
  • Working in pairs to craft and present a lesson about a feminist topic to the rest of the group
  • Working in pairs with a mentor to create and implement an activism project that impacts your local community. 
  • Being fully present, active and involved 

Monthly Time Commitment

Participation requires an average commitment of about 8 hours per month (this includes the two-hour monthly virtual meetings and one-hour Teen Leader-led sessions which will involve learning together and mid-month bonding). The monthly time commitment might increase by a couple of hours between December and March as you develop your Capstone project. 

2024 – 25 Schedule
Date Approximate times Details 
Sunday, August 25, 2024  7:30 – 8:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. PT Kol Koleinu Family & Fellow Orientation  
Sunday, Sept 8, 2024  6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Opening Cohort Gathering  
Sunday, September 22, 2024  7 – 8 p.m. 1 hour Teen Leader led session  
Sunday, October 6, 2024  6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cohort Gathering  
Saturday, October 19, 2024  8 – 9 p.m. 1 hour Teen Leader led session  
November 8 – 10, 2024  In person Full program retreat  
Sunday, November 17, 2024  4:15 – 5 p.m. ET / 1:15 – 2 p.m. PT Mentor Match Day 45 min 
Sunday, December 8, 2024  6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Cohort Gathering  
Saturday, December 14, 2024  8 – 9 p.m.1 hour Teen Leader led session- Hanukkah party  
Sunday, January 5, 2025  6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Cohort Gathering  
Sunday, January 19, 2025  7 – 8 p.m.1 hour Teen Leader led session  
Sunday, February 2, 2025  6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Cohort Gathering  
Sunday, February 16, 2025  7 – 8 p.m.1 hour Teen Leader led session  
Sunday, March 2, 2025  6:30 – 8:30 p.m.Cohort Gathering  
Saturday, March 29, 2025  8:30 – 9:30 p.m. 1 hour Teen Leader led session- Purim Party  
April 4 – 6, 2025  In person Closing retreat by region  
Sunday, April 27, 2025  7 – 8:30 p.m. ET / 4 – 6:30 p.m. PT Closing Celebration  
Family & Fellow Orientation: Sunday, August 25, 2024

Kol Koleinu is a school-year-long commitment that requires full participation on Zoom gatherings, in-person retreats, gathering preparation, Capstone projects and mentor meetings. We expect Fellows to take responsibility throughout the year AND we want families/parents to understand the commitment. Each fellow and one parent/guardian must attend this call and will learn about the flow of the year, the expectations, and the beautiful community building that we will be creating from September through April. 

Virtual Meetings

Our monthly virtual meetings on Zoom are designed to allow participants to connect easily without taking time for travel. Our meetings will allow for meaningful conversation and interactive activities. You must be available to participate in a two-hour video-based meeting led by your cohort leader, and a one-hour video-based meeting led by your teen leaders. We understand that you may have to miss meetings occasionally. However, please note that if you have another regular commitment that conflicts with this time, you are not eligible for a fellowship position. 

Cost

Moving Traditions is investing $4,500 in every Kol Koleinu Fellow or in other words, Kol Koleinu will cost approximately $4,500 per participant. This includes the cost of two in-person retreats, staff time, curriculum development and mentor support.

Moving Traditions is committed to creating a more equitable program, and we need your help to ensure that every young person has the transformational experience of Kol Koleinu, regardless of ability to pay.  No one has ever or will ever be turned away because of cost, and no one is asked to produce any financial documents. Tuition is based on the sliding scale of $750 – $3000.* 

You can pay at one time or over two pay periods, one in May 2024 and one in August 2024. 

* All contributions over $750 are considered tax deductible and will support participants whose families cannot afford to give as significantly.  

This price includes: 

  • Valuable leadership and activism experience within a community of young feminists. 
  • Mentorship by a hand-selected mentor. 
  • Room and board for two in-person gatherings. A limited number of retreat travel stipends are available. 

*Please email us with any questions. We will happily work with you to ensure that price is not a barrier to participation. Stipends will be available for travel for those who require this. All other costs (lodging, food, etc.) will be covered by Moving Traditions. 

Next Steps

Please prepare responses to the following four essay questions before beginning your application. Answer these questions to the best of your ability. We want to know more about your leadership skills, background, experiences, and feminist interests.

In keeping with our values of wellbeing, justice, and caring connections, we recognize that different teens may express themselves better in different formats.

Participants may choose between two options to answer the following application questions: written or recorded (video or audio file). Please note that you will be asked the same questions in either format. You will be asked to paste your responses or upload your media file into the application form.

Applications are open. The answers to each question, if written, should be approximately 150-200 words (about 1 paragraph). Don’t worry if it is a bit longer or shorter.

Kol Koleinu Fellowship Application Essay Questions (for first-time fellows)
  1. Why are you interested in being a part of the Meyer-Gottesman Kol Koleinu Teen Feminist Fellowship? What do you hope to gain from Kol Koleinu? What skills do you hope to develop and/or improve upon?
  2. What will make you an excellent Kol Koleinu fellow? Please tell us about personal strengths and leadership skills.
  3. Tell us more about where you are on your Jewish, activist, and/or feminist journey. What has led you here? What are you most passionate about?
  4. Within Kol Koleinu, fellows will develop a short-term Capstone project. What are 1-2 issues in your local community around which you would like to create change?
  5. Is there anything else you would like us to know as we review your application? (optional)
Teen Leader Application Essay Questions (for fellows interested in returning for a 2nd year in a leadership position)
  1. What does the role of Teen Leader mean to you?
  2. What will make you an excellent Kol Koleinu Teen Leader? Please tell us about personal strengths and leadership skills that will positively influence the 24-25 cohort.
  3. Teen Leaders take on additional responsibilities within our monthly fellowship gatherings and at monthly Teen Leader led evenings, support the new first year fellows, and help the Kol Koleinu staff improve and enhance the fellowship. What types of programs would you like to plan? How would you add value to the fellowship?
  4. What is your availability the week of August 26, 2024 for a Teen Leader Virtual Kickoff? Please be as specific as possible with your availability so that we can plan accordingly. 
  5. Is there anything else you would like us to know as we review your application? (optional)

*Moving Traditions cares about teen wellbeing and recognizes that you may have competing priorities. If you need additional time to submit your Kol Koleinu application, please request an extension.

Become a Kol Koleinu Fellow

The 2024-25 application cycle is now open. Applications are due April 21.