Higher Education
The BRAID Fellowship equips a national network of undergraduate students to become interfaith bridgebuilders on their campuses and in their communities.
Apply by Nov. 9
The Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences (BRAID) Fellowship is an Interfaith America (IA) initiative focused on cultivating student leaders in interfaith and bridgebuilding work. In alignment with IA’s commitment to promote religious and civic pluralism as foundational principles for achieving “the common good,” the BRAID Fellowship seeks to develop a national network of undergraduate student leaders who will foster an ethos of respect, relationship building, and cooperation across difference in the U.S. Through IA’s pedagogic expertise and extensive networks, student fellows are equipped with the vital skills, training, education, and experience they need to become interfaith bridgebuilding leaders on their campuses and in their communities. Particularly in this time, the value of student leadership in promoting pluralism is more essential than ever.
Through the BRAID Fellowship, student fellows develop fundamental literacy in interfaith leadership and bridgebuilding, cultivate meaningful connections with peers and mentors from a variety of backgrounds and institutions, and gain confidence in engaging and working collaboratively across difference. A defining program feature of the BRAID Fellowship is that student fellows learn in community (through specialized training and education), from community (through interpersonal dialogue and engagement), and with community (through collaborative program development and facilitation). Principles of interfaith cooperation and bridgebuilding are intentionally embedded into the design of the BRAID fellowship and the curriculum of the program will focus on developing a high level of interfaith skills and capacities. As well, students will be matched with mentors from across the higher education sector with deep expertise in interfaith engagement. Each student fellow also works with an on-campus sponsor (staff or faculty member) who assists them in facilitating an interfaith bridgebuilding project.
The fellowship program begins with pre-work (to be completed online), followed by an opening leadership retreat in Atlanta, Georgia. Student fellows then attend monthly virtual meetings and trainings, and they apply their developing leadership skills by planning and facilitating interfaith bridgebuilding projects on their campuses. The BRAID Fellowship will also encourage narrative collaborations between the fellows and Interfaith America and offer a concluding set of sessions at IA’s annual Interfaith Leadership Summit in Chicago, IL.
The BRAID Fellowship is open to undergraduate students with at least one full academic year remaining in their program. International students are welcome to apply if they attend a U.S.-based institution and demonstrate a commitment to pursuing interfaith bridgebuilding work in the U.S.
Each student fellow receives a $1,000 campus project award and a $2,000 stipend for participating in the fellowship. Additionally, IA provides student fellows with two all-expenses paid in-person convenings (the opening leadership retreat and the Interfaith Leadership Summit/closing fellowship ceremony).
Throughout the implementation of the BRAID Fellowship, each student fellow is required to:
Through its grant and fellowship programs, Interfaith America is committed to supporting initiatives that meaningfully engage people with a range of religious, philosophical, or ideological perspectives as well as diverse racial and ethnic identities. As such, a diverse cohort of 20 student fellows representing colleges and universities across the nation will be selected to participate in the BRAID Fellowship. Diversity among religious, spiritual, and secular identities will be prioritized.
BRAID (Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences) Fellowship
The BRAID Fellowship equips a national network of undergraduate students to become interfaith bridgebuilders on their campuses and in their communities.
Please contact us with any questions about the BRAID (Bridgebuilders Relating Across Interfaith Differences) Fellowship.
Noa Nakao
Manager of Student Experience
Interfaith America
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