The County of Santa Clara Office of Immigrant Relations Extends the New Americans Fellowship, Allowing More Immigrants to Participate
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF.— The County of Santa Clara is now accepting applications for the New Americans Fellowship (NAF). Individuals with Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), U and T nonimmigrant visa, VAWA, Temporary Protected Status (TPS), asylees and refugees who live, work, or go to school in Santa Clara County are invited to apply. NAF is a 10-week leadership program that runs from June through August 2023 and offers a stipend of up to $10,000. The application is available at www.sccoir.org/naf and is due on February 10, 2023.
“The County of Santa Clara is committed to supporting and honoring the everyday contributions of our immigrant community by creating opportunities where immigrants can share their skills and talents to increase access and resources for the immigrant community,” said Deputy County Executive Dr. Rocío Luna. “We are excited about launching the 7th cohort of the New Americans Fellowship and work directly with immigrant students to highlight immigrant stories, contributions and ongoing needs.”
Fellows receive mentoring and career pipeline support from County leaders and departments. Participants gain transferable skills and professional development in the areas of research, policy analysis, public communication, group facilitation, and project management. They are trained to serve as community ambassadors to improve and expand immigrant integration.
“The New Americans Fellowship is an opportunity for DACA recipients and other immigrants to gain leadership and career experience within Santa Clara County. This fellowship offers more than technical skills – it supports networking with mentors and with other fellows who share similar experiences,” said Zélica Rodríguez-Deams, Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR) Director. “We have seen fellows earn gainful employment, offer important recommendations to improve County processes and programs, and learn about how the County comprehensively serves the immigrant community. More importantly, we have been inspired by the fellows as they continue to learn, grow, and succeed, while honoring their families’ sacrifice and perseverance.”
The Office of Immigrant Relations (OIR) is committed to building a welcoming, equitable, and just county that supports the full potential of all residents. Within the framework of Welcoming Communities, the County of Santa Clara created the New Americans Fellowship program for DACA recipients, U and T nonimmigrant visa holders, VAWA recipients, Temporary Protected Status (TPS) holders, asylees and refugees with skills and tools to serve as ambassadors of change and inclusion in the community.
About the Fellowship
- 10-week program between June 2023 – August 2023.
- Up to $10,000 stipend to cover living expenses.
- Fellows’ projects for the 10 weeks typically require full-time commitment.
- Fellows work on research and/or community engagement project focused on immigrant integration.
- Fellows are assigned to engage regularly and communicate with various County departments and County leaders during the fellowship.
- Mentoring departments and leading County staff provide mentorship support to fellows to understand the County’s SafetyNet programs and to apply an immigrant community lens to all projects.
- Fellows gain professional development experience in the context of County government.
- Fellows engage in developing research and policy recommendations.
How to Apply
- Complete the application at sccoir.org/naf (deadline to apply is February 10, 2023).
- Provide one letter of recommendation from an individual or organization you have worked or collaborated with that can offer insight on your public service activities and leadership skills (deadline to submit recommendation letter is February 10, 2023).
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ABOUT THE COUNTY OF SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA
The County of Santa Clara government serves a diverse, multi-cultural population of 1.9 million residents in Santa Clara County, Calif., making it more populous than 14 states in the U.S. The County provides essential services to its residents, including public health protection, environmental stewardship, medical services through the County of Santa Clara Health System, child and adult protection services, homelessness prevention and solutions, roads, park services, libraries, emergency response to disasters, protection of minority communities and those under threat, access to a fair criminal justice system, and many other public benefits.
Visit the County of Santa Clara at: https://www.sccgov.org
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Media Contacts: Sandy Vasquez, Office of Immigrant Relations, (408) 678-1428, [email protected]; María Leticia Gómez, Office of Communications and Public Affairs, [email protected], (408) 299-5119
Posted: January 6, 2023