Some of the most influential, and sometimes unknown, resources available for Carleton students are the fellowships offered by many campus offices. Each year the CCCE strengthens our community connections by extending the work of ACE projects and co-curricular programs into school break work opportunities. This past summer, we were able to offer a dozen civic engagement positions with stipends that were made possible by a committed network of Carleton alumni.
Fellowships are a way for community partner organizations to bridge gaps and build capacity during academic breaks, ensuring that projects get the time and attention they need to be successful. Simultaneously, they offer critical experiences for students developing visions for their future. Maya Kassahun, who participated in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Fellowship with the City of Northfield, approached her senior summer from this standpoint: “I’ve really been questioning what I want to do after my undergrad career ends. And I wanted to explore certain realms of civic engagement — particularly in the public sector, like city government.”
Her work built upon existing collaborations between public schools, colleges, and the City of Northfield to expand local diversity initiatives. In addition, she had the opportunity to conduct research for Northfield’s Racial Equity Action Plan and aid its implementation. Although Maya had previously taken ACE courses, the summer-long civic engagement fellowship offered a unique space to do the type of in-depth work that is not necessarily possible during a term. “I definitely feel I have a better understanding of Northfield — both in good and bad ways. There’s a lot of work to be done here, and of course in the larger state of Minnesota, but there’s also so many passionate, kind townspeople who earnestly want to change the fabric of Northfield,” she explained.
The eleven other students who had Community Engaged Fellowships spent their summers gaining experience in a range of vocations, from public poetry work to climate action planning and economic justice. A significant part of Carleton’s culture is grounded in a student body that is passionate about social justice, which creates the basis for initial engagement. Occasions for community involvement are paramount to creating a future generation of socially conscious and informed individuals, whether or not their summer opportunities lead to a future in that specific field. Maya said that ultimately, “I figured out that I don’t really want to pursue governmental jobs, it’s just not for me. But I also learned a lot about the impact cities have in their residents’ lives.”
There are numerous Alumni Funds that aid different branches of experiential learning opportunities for students. The Weitz Community Engagement Fellowships Fund, which supported Maya’s fellowship, was broadly designed to support capacity building for partners of the CCCE by providing stipends for student fellowships. This fund and many others are essential for college students who wish to undertake impactful summer work in a financially viable way. CCCE fellowships range from three to ten weeks, and students interested in making an impact over their winter or summer break should explore the Fellowships and Work page on our website. Additional funds for independent work can be found on Carleton’s Student Fellowship webpage.