Thank you for applying to the BBYO Community Engagement Fellowship.
Following high school graduation, members of AZA and BBG arrive on campus with leadership skills and passion for the Jewish community that is unparalleled by the majority of their peers. This spring, BBYO marks its 90th anniversary and more than a decade of independence as we celebrate our organization’s record-breaking reach of Jewish teens worldwide. As a result, college campuses across North America are now regularly inundated with talented Jewish students who are passionate about Jewish life and have the skills to build Jewish communities in unique, strategic and appealing ways.
In an effort to address a growing desire from BBYO alumni, motivated and proactive in their quest to connect, explore and participate in communal life, BBYO is proud to offer the BBYO Community Engagement Fellowship. The BBYO Community Engagement Fellowship is a bold way to harness the energy and skill-sets of AZA and BBG alumni to bolster Jewish life across multiple platforms that intersect across the college experience.
Responsibilities
BBYO Community Engagement Fellows will be a team of AZA and BBG alumni that will:
(1) collaborate to connect graduating Jewish high school students with the right Jewish opportunities on the campuses of their choosing
(2) create opportunities for BBYO alumni to connect with each other on campus and remain connected to BBYO
(3) connect BBYO alumni to Jewish experiences offered by the greater community throughout their college years
Partnerships
Fellows will work with Hillel and other existing Jewish campus outlets (ie: Jewish Greek Life, AIPAC, etc) and their peers to engage other alumni, as well as those Jewish students that may not be participating in organized Jewish activity on campus, in social and meaningful experiences. Partnerships are not required for every engagement activity, but are encouraged to deepen the experience and possibilities for continued Jewish involvement on campus.
Placements
Each fellow will work on his/her local campus to engage BBYO alumni and other Jewish students. Summer employment is also guaranteed through BBYO summer experiences, BBYO passport travel and other Jewish camps (provided that the Fellow is deemed to have been successful). Leadership roles for BBYO delegations on immersive experiences like Birthright Israel and March of the Living may also be available. Specialty roles at BBYO’s International Convention are also guaranteed.
Compensation
Each semester, a stipend will be awarded to each Fellow. Academic credit can be earned in relevant areas of study as academic trajectories relate to the focus of the Fellowship specifically. Salary for summer employment is in addition to the academic-year stipend. Scholarships to attend Jewish communal gatherings and professional development experiences are also available from the Fellowship.
Now in its third year, some of BBYO's strongest recent alumni will join this yearlong program as campus engagement point people across North America. Capitalizing on the leadership skills gained during their time in AZA and BBG, each Fellow will create engagement opportunities that will meaningfully connect BBYO alumni, and their friends, to Jewish movements and gatherings across North America.