This program of Quaker Voice encourages the active engagement of fellowship holders in the legislative process through mentorship, skill development, and following citizen advocates in their work. In previous years, the program was called Young Quaker Voices.
Quaker Voice fellowship recipients are young adults ages 18-35 who live or study in the state of Washington (they do not need to be Quakers). Each fellowship holder joins a working group (criminal justice, economic justice or environmental stewardship). Within the scope of that group, the fellow chooses a focus issue, develops background materials, and tracks legislation, in partnership with a mentor who is already a Quaker Voice citizen advocate. Quaker Voice provides training for the fellowship holders on how bills become laws and what happens in a lobbying visit. The fellowship carries a $500 stipend.
You can watch the final reports of the Young Quaker Voices from previous sessions here:
- 2021 Presentation and discussion with young activists with Quaker Voice for Washington Public Policy, describing their work in the Washington legislative process. ~ Spring 2021 Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting
- 2022 Presentation and discussion with the Young Quaker Voices — April 2022 Pacific Northwest Quarterly Meeting.
This year’s program begins December 2, 2023, and ends April 30, 2024. Participants receive a stipend of $500. Applications being accepted until November 30. See below for more information.
Application and selection:
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- To apply, send this application form (110 KB PDF file) along with a short essay (100 – 200 words) about why you want to participate to the coordinator at .
- A committee of working group members, former program participants, and the legislative advocate, selects the participants. As part of the process, the committee finds a mentor from the relevant working group who can commit to mentoring each fellowship holder.
Expectations for the participants include:
- Attend all training, the Quaker Voice Annual Meeting, and Quaker Lobby Day.
- Attend the relevant working group meeting every month. Make a short report on legislative action in the area the participant is tracking at each meeting.
- Participate in a half-hour meeting at least monthly with the mentor. Raise questions with the mentor and legislative advocate as needed.
- Create one public outreach effort during the program. This might be a letter to the editor, op-ed piece, or social media post on their issue. it must be publicly available.
- Make a short verbal report on the experience to a wrap-up session that is open to all Quaker Voice activists.
- The program also hopes that participants will bring new people into Quaker Voice, particularly young adults. The participants might do this, for example, by bringing Quaker Lobby Day to their attention.
During the 2023-24 program, the Annual Meeting (December 2), Quaker Lobby Day (in January), and the report-out session (in April) are likely to be available both in person and virtually.