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 and as a feminist. Kol Koleinu is open to teens of all (and no) denominations and affiliations.
• You will be in 10th, 11th, or 12th grade for the 2023-2024 academic year.
• You are committed to developing your Jewish feminist knowledge and activist skills.
• You are regularly available on our scheduled Sunday evenings (one Sunday a month) from 6:30-8:30 p.m. Eastern, Central & Pacific time (times may vary slightly for different time zones; see meeting dates below) and you can commit at least 5 hours per month outside of monthly fellowship calls.
• You want to learn, teach, and grow and be part of a supportive, fun, meaningful, kind community.
• Note: availability on the date of the first retreat is one among many factors we will consider, but you are still eligible to apply if you will not be available.

Length of Term

The position is for one academic year, starting in September continuing through May. 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 the greater Jewish teen community and beyond.

To this end, fellows are responsible for:

• Attending the monthly meetings (as detailed below)
• Attending two retreats: one in the fall and another in the spring
• Working in a small group to craft and present a lesson about a feminist topic to the rest of the group
• Working in a small group to create and implement an activism project that influences the greater Jewish teen community
• Being fully present and involved

Monthly Time Commitment

Participation requires an average commitment of about 7 hours per month (this includes the 2-hour monthly virtual meetings). There may be a couple hours more of a commitment between December and March when you will be developing your social change project.

2023 – 24 Schedule

August 27, 2023	Retreat Prep gathering
September 3-4	Fall Opening Retreat by cohort
Tuesday, September 19	1 hour cohort gathering
October 15, 2023	Cohort Gathering
November 12, 2023	Cohort Gathering
December 17, 2023	Mentor Match Day
December 17, 2023	Cohort Gathering
January 7, 2024	Cohort Gathering
January 21, 2024	1 hour cohort gathering
February 4, 2024	Gathering
March 3, 2024	Full Fellowship 1 hour gathering
March 3, 2024	Cohort Gathering
April 5-7, 2024 – Tentative	Spring Retreat
May 5, 2024	Closing Event

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 2-hour video-based meeting on the following dates. 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

Kol Koleinu fellows will be asked to pay a participation fee of $500. This price includes:

• Valuable leadership and activism experience within a community of young feminists.
• One-on-one mentorship by a hand-selected mentor.
• Room and board for two in-person gatherings. While cost of travel is not included, 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 to cover 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.

Application Essay Questions:

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. Tell us more about where you are on your Jewish and/or feminist journey. What has led you here? What are you most passionate about?
3. What will make you an excellent Kol Koleinu fellow? Please tell us about personal strengths, leadership skills, and/or leadership positions held. (Share ways you have influenced others either in formal leadership position or informal positions/platforms (e.g. on social media)
4. Within Kol Koleinu, fellows will develop a short-term social change project. What are 1-2 issues in your community related to social justice/feminism that you would like to create change around?

*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.