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Breakthrough Institute Seeks Nation's Top
Young Writers & Thought Leaders for 2009 Fellowship Program

Note: the 2009 fellowship program is currently full.

Posted 12/16/08 -- The Breakthrough Institute is seeking up to ten of the country's top young writers and thought leaders for a paid Fellowship in Summer 2009 as part of its young leaders initiative, Breakthrough Generation. Fellowships are highly competitive -- in 2008, 10 percent of applicants were accepted -- and involve cutting-edge writing, research, and analysis on energy/climate, national security, the economy, health care, and other issues. Previous Breakthrough Fellows have published in the Harvard Law & Policy Review, San Francisco Chronicle, Baltimore Sun, Huffington Post, and Alternet.

In 2009, Fellows have a unique opportunity to be closely involved with the Breakthrough Institute. Over the next year, Breakthrough will work to seize today's historic moment to establish a new era of progressive governance that prioritizes major, long-term government investments in clean energy technology innovation, as well as a new social contract. But major obstacles lie ahead, including severe economic recession and an unpredictable global landscape. To seize the moment, our leaders will need bold ideas backed by sharp thinking and clear analysis.

The Breakthrough Institute has a history of reinventing older political paradigms with big ideas. In 2002, Breakthrough co-founded the Apollo Alliance and the new Apollo project for clean energy, which President-elect Obama recently announced is his number one priority alongside stabilizing the economy. We succeed by tapping cutting-edge progressive thinking, sharp analysis, and superb communication to create and advance ideas capable of achieving the broad social and ecological transformations America and the world need.

Fellowships pay $300 per week and are awarded to individuals aged 18-25 who will be closely involved with Breakthrough's high-level work. Activities and projects include writing short articles and op-eds, researching and writing policy white papers, and conducting interviews with the nation's top political and policy experts. Fellows will work 40 hours per week for ten weeks during Summer 2009 from Breakthrough's central office in Oakland, CA.

Breakthrough believes effective political movements emerge out of strong communities, and Fellows will be encouraged to join a special three-day camping retreat during the summer, as well as other social events. Selected Fellows are expected to attend a two-day introduction summit during a weekend in late April or early May, 2009, for which all travel expenses will be covered.

To apply, submit a cover letter, resume or CV, and three writing samples to fellowship@thebreakthrough.org. Applications are due by 5:00PM PST on March 15th, 2009. Writing samples should include at least one oped-style piece and one research paper (these do not have to be published). Personal recommendations are welcomed but not required. For more information, contact Teryn Norris, teryn -at- thebreakthrough.org.

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See the 2008 Breakthrough Generation Fellows:

Breakthrough Generation Fellows 2008