 is offering the Barbara Jordan Fellowship to 10 potential future leaders.){kind=link}
Civil rights champion. Glass-ceiling-shatterer. LGBTQ+ icon. Barbara Jordan’s ground-breaking and illustrious career, spanning from educator, to lawyer, to politician, made her the first southern Black woman to enter several political offices that were previously occupied by white men including: the Texas Senate, the U.S. House of Representatives, and the role of acting governor of Texas. She was also the first LGBTQ+ woman in U.S. Congress. Under her leadership, more than 300 bills were passed, many of which still have a positive impact on people living in the U.S. today.
Inspired by Jordan’s legacy, the Community College of Philadelphia (CCP) is offering the Barbara Jordan Fellowship to 10 leaders who are looking to break ground in policy offices and broaden representation within political roles. This fellowship offers hands-on experience, mentorship and career development for working professionals and college students alike who have a passion for policy and a devotion to diversity.
“Legislative gains and advocacy [like Jordan’s] are the reason why Black women can vote today,” said Jasmine Sessoms, the Chief Engagement Officer at CCP, who has been developing this fellowship for 2.5 years. “We [Black and POC women] are still very underrepresented in this political space, so we created this fellowship program [to address that].”
The Barbara Jordan fellowship is for people of all walks of life who want to develop skills in policy making, advocacy and effective communication. This eight-week course, taught by several instructors, will provide students with training, mentors, resources and jobs related to public service, with the ultimate goal of creating future leaders that help their communities become more informed. The curriculum will be tailored to the 10 individuals who are sponsored by this year’s fellowship, with the objective of teaching them the skills they need to excel in the field.
This program falls under the umbrella of Center 1968, an initiative designed to bring more Black and POC women into non-partisan political spaces. With grants from Every Voice Every Vote sponsored by Brook J. Lenfest Foundation, the Barbara Jordan Fellowship offers opportunities for people who will inform Philadelphia residents about policy, and teach them what happens after their votes are counted.
A post from @center1968_ccp on Instagram announcing the fellowship states, “Those who are passionate about making a difference in legislative policy, [i]f you’re ready to take the next step in your career and become a policy powerhouse, this is your chance!”
Applications for the Barbara Jordan Fellowship can be found online at https://bit.ly/3YRflYE and will be accepted through Aug. 29 For more information on Center 1968, visit ccp.edu.
