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2017 Summer fellows pose in front of a mural in San Francisco's Mission District
2017 summer fellows pose in front of a mural in San Francisco's Mission District

Summer Fellowship

The Othering & Belonging Institute Summer Fellowship is a three-month-long, part-time, 20-hour per week paid internship—compensation is awarded based on educational degree. The fellowship runs from mid-May to mid-August, and takes place at the Othering & Belonging Institute office on the UC Berkeley campus, where all summer fellows are expected to work from. Additionally, fellows will be oriented to Othering & Belonging Institute's research methods and frameworks and will receive mentorship in research and the development of writing policy memos and reports. Fellows will be given opportunities to explore pressing community, national, and global social justice issues through workshops, local events and direct engagements with advocates working in the field. All traditional, non-traditional, and international students who are studying in the US (with valid work permits) from community colleges through doctoral degree programs are welcome to apply. All accepted applicants must arrange and cover the expenses of their travel and housing accommodations. Learn more about the summer fellowship program here.

Summer Fellowship for Teachers on Race and Housing in the Bay Area

This teacher fellowship centers around the theme of race and housing in the Bay Area. Launched in 2020, this program examines the region’s histories of racial dispossession and housing, the geographies they have created, and current policy and organizing work around housing justice. We invite K-12 teachers to join us as we delve into resources and materials developed by the Othering & Belonging Institute and others, hear from prominent local activists and community leaders, and craft meaningful curriculum to facilitate students’ understanding of these issues and engagement with how their communities fit into the broader regional and national picture. Read more about this fellowship.

Toward Belonging Creative Fellow

OBI's Europe-based Toward Belonging program launched a Creative Fellowship program for 2021 to explore and develop innovative ideas that use a design and systems approach to challenges which present barriers to belonging in Europe. The program looks for ideas that help further belonging by analyzing its challenges, displaying empathy and connection with all , and offering creative and achievable solutions. Learn more about this program.

Social Inclusion Policy Fellowship

The Social Inclusion Policy Fellowship is a two week fully paid fellowship program administered by the Our Three Winners Foundation in partnership with the Othering & Belonging Institute and the Islamophobia Research & Documentation Project. The fellowship engages current and future policymakers and raises awareness about harmful stereotypes and narratives  around communities of color, with a focus on Islamophobia. The goal is to see more equitable policies and government interventions through this initiative. Topics covered during the fellowship include implicit bias, the social construction of targeted groups and implications in policy; policy priorities in the scope of social constructions; how bias enters into the policy-making process; unlearning bias with lessons on de-biasing for equitable policies; and rooting proactive and reactive policy alternatives in equity. The fellowship was launching in over the 2019 summer. Read about the inaugural program in our news summary. To learn more or apply to the program visit the Our Three Winners Foundation website.

Racial Equity Fellowship

The Racial Equity Fellowship is a semester-long, paid, part-time (10 hours per week) research experience designed to support UC Berkeley undergraduates who are pursuing futures in civic leadership to challenge anti-Black racism, the barriers to inclusion, and to advance the prospects for a fair and inclusive society. The fellowship runs from January to May. Fellows receive trainings and mentorship on multidisciplinary and policy-oriented research. Fellows are expected to conduct online research and to produce public-facing materials in a timely manner. Fellows are expected to carry out their work on intersectional issues; support research; draft materials for public education and literature reviews; and contribute to report writings and discussion papers. The fellowship takes place at the UC Berkeley campus and runs according to the UC Berkeley academic calendar. Eligibility: UC Berkeley sophomore, junior, or senior undergraduate students. Applications can be submitted during the months of November and December each year.

Coblentz Fellowship

The Coblentz Fellowship is a semester-long program that provides students with a unique opportunity to develop important legal skills, build professional networks, and learn about substantive areas of law through Berkeley Law's cutting-edge research centers. The fellowship supports research that engages in innovative, policy-relevant research and activities in areas of social justice and civil rights. Each year, six student fellows are selected to work for a scholar in one of Berkeley Law’s civil rights research centers, including the Othering & Belonging Institute. Fellows support ongoing or new research efforts being conducted by the center in which they are placed. Fellows can elect to work for their selected center in either the Fall or Spring semester. Fellows work between 4 and 8 hours per week, depending on the needs of their selected center and the fellow's availability. Fellows are expected to produce a brief report at the end of the semester describing the goals, scope, and outcomes of the assigned project. The Coblentz Fellowship can be taken as a paid fellowship ($2,583 for the semester) or for credit, but not for both. The number of units awarded will depend on the number of hours worked. This determination, as well as start dates, will be made by each selected student prior to each appointment. Eligibility: Berkeley Law JD students (rising 2Ls and 3Ls only), and LLM, JSD, and PhD students in Jurisprudence & Social Policy who are enrolled in the academic year at the time their applications are submitted. Application can be submitted over the months of June and July each year.