ELP is accepting fellowship applicants

The Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), a nonprofit organization that seeks to transform public understanding of environmental issues by training and supporting visionary, action-oriented leaders, is accepting applications for the ELP Fellowship Class of 2002-04. The program provides training and project support to 25 talented individuals each year from nonprofits, business, government, and higher education.

The ELP Fellowship is an innovative national program designed to build the leadership capacity of the environmental field’s most promising emerging professionals who are relatively new to the environmental field. The three-year fellowship offers unique networking opportunities, intensive leadership and skills training, project seed money, technical assistance, and mentoring. Fellows receive a $2,000 participation stipend; travel and accommodations for four training retreats; access to funding for capacity-building leadership activities; and national recognition through the program.

The fellowship targets newly established environmental practitioners eager to connect their specialized work to larger environmental and social concerns. While applicants need not be young in age, they should be relatively new to the environmental field with approximately three to 10 years of professional or post-undergraduate experience.

Participants will be evaluated on the basis of their past accomplishments, promise for future leadership, and potential as interdisciplinary thinkers and effective communicators. Successful applicants will be able to articulate a clear understanding of how their specialized work fits into complex social, economic, and environmental issues.

Applicants are evaluated on the basis of the accomplishments, background, and professional progress as shown in their resume or C.V.; the recommendations of colleagues who have worked closely with the applicant; and the clarity, breadth, and thoughtfulness of responses to the narrative questions in the fellowship application.

Applications should be mailed to the ELP Fellowship Office, P.O. Box 446, Haydenville, MA, 01039, and must be postmarked by Oct. 1.

Applications are available at http://www.elpnet.org. For more information, call (413) 268-0035 or visit the Web site.