MARGO OKAZAWA-REY SOCIAL JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP
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DEADLINE: Noon, March 15, 2009
Program Background and Purpose
Asian American Studies has a tradition of community engagement and working towards a more just society. As such, the Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies (IDAAS) at the Claremont Colleges established a community engagement fellowship program for students, the Margo Okazawa-Rey Social Justice Fellowship. The Fellowship is designed to encourage outstanding students to implement community-based projects that integrate social justice, multi-racial solidarity, and feminism.
The program honors Margo Okazawa-Rey's outstanding work towards social justice. Okazawa-Rey is among the first generation of mixed-race children born to a Japanese “war bride” and an African-American soldier. She was born in Japan and raised there until the age of 10, with Japanese as her first language. She is interested in others whose lives are inextricably linked to the US military. With an Ed.D. in education from Harvard University, she currently is Professor in the PhD Program, School of Human and Organizational Development at Fielding Graduate University, and Professor Emerita at San Francisco State University. In the 1970s, she was a member of the Combahee River Collective, a black feminist group that developed the theory of intersectionality as a basis for feminist praxis. Her work examines the connections between militarism, economic globalization and impacts on women of color. Since the spring of 2005 she has been Feminist Research Consultant at the Women's Centre for Legal Aid and Counseling in East Jerusalem, Palestine. She is the author of “Amerasian Children of GI Town: A Legacy of US Militarism in South Korea,” and, with Gwyn Kirk, co-editor of Women's Lives: Multicultural Perspectives (5th ed., 2009). Her latest publication, co-edited with Julia Sudbury, Activist Scholarship: Antiracism, Feminism, and Social Change, will be available in spring 2009.
The Fellowship is intended to enable individuals to undertake a social justice project in any context, although work pursued in Asian and Pacific Islander communities will be prioritized. The project may involve working with an existing organization or may involve initiating a new effort beside a marginalized community. Projects may focus on any social issue such as reproductive health, AIDS education, sex-trafficking, peace education, and affordable housing. Students are encouraged to conceptualize their projects in ways that make the connections between domestic issues and international/transnational events, trends, and forces.
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Stipend
The project is provided with a pre-tax stipend of $2,000 upon completion of the project and requirements. The stipend is considered taxable income. In the case of several students working on one project, the stipend will be divided evenly among the students. For summer 2009, one project will be funded. (Note: We invite students to explore receiving ½ course credit and/or summer research stipend at their home college in conjunction with the project.)
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Requirements
In order to receive the stipend, Fellows must:
1) complete the proposed project by August 15
2) participate in the project for at least eight (8) weeks during the summer
3) participate in a pre-project meeting and a post-project meeting with IDAAS’ Community Engagement committee
4) organize a public event to present on the project by October 15 following the summer project
5) turn in community partner’s evaluation of their work by October 15 following the summer project
6) turn in a three-page, double space, reflective essay on the project by October 15 following the summer project
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Eligibility
All currently enrolled Claremont College undergraduates are eligible to apply, including seniors wishing to work the summer immediately following their graduation. Preference is given to IDAAS majors and minors. However, applicants are encouraged from any major field of study and from a wide variety of service experiences; they need only demonstrate an understanding of social justice, multi-racial solidarity, and feminism. This is a project-based fellowship. Therefore, several students may propose a project.
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Application
A complete application includes:
1) COVER PAGE: Include your name, local address and local phone number, cell phone, permanent address and phone number, email address, social security number, year of graduation, majors(s), minor(s), college, date of birth, name of community partner; community partner contact person’s name, address, phone, and email, and how long have you worked with the community partner.
2) PROJECT TITLE and SUMMARY: 50-word project summary
3) PROJECT PROPOSAL: One page, single space, project proposal with the community need(s) being addressed; the work your prose to undertake; timeframe; budget on how you intend to use the funds; your personal and educational goals in pursuing this project; your relationship with the community partner.
4) RESUME: A condensed one page resume
5) SHORT ESSAY RESPONSES: Please respond to each of the following essay questions. Confine your answer to 500 words or fewer per essay. If multiple students are proposing one project, each participant must submit responses to these questions.
A) Describe a defining a moment in your understanding of social justice, multiracial solidarity, and/or feminism. How do you define social justice, multiracial solidarity, and feminism?
B) Leadership takes many forms. Paulo Freire spoke of social change agents as individuals who are optimistic, curious, open, and compassionate, and believe in the breathtaking potential of communities. What do you think are essential characteristics of a social change agent? Tell a story about yourself that shows how you practice one of these characteristics.
C) The project must be based on reciprocal, mutually beneficial relationships with the community partner. What are potential ethical issues in working with and learning from a community partner? How do you propose to address these issues?
6) LETTER OF SUPPORT: One letter of support from the agency with which you will be working. This letter should specify the need that will be addressed, the extent of the support that will be available to you from the agency, and their understanding of your project. This may be submitted via fax or email.
Deadline
March 27th at 12:00 pm. Please turn in a hard copy to IDAAS office AND send a copy to idaas@pomona.edu
Contact Us
Further information is available at:
Intercollegiate Department of Asian American Studies
Lincoln Building 1118, Pomona College
647 North College Way,
Claremont, California 91711
Email: idaas@pomona.edu
Web: www.idaas.org
Phone: (909) 607-9508
Fax: (909) 621-8349