Fellowships for convening community collaborations

 ** Application for the 2023 fellowship is closed. Please check back to apply for the 2024 fellowship **

The New Mexico Coalition to Enhance Working Lands (NMCEWL) along with the support of the Quivira Coalition, Holistic Management International, Western Landowners Alliance, and many other partner organizations, are pleased to announce a call for applications for our first ever cohort of fellows. We aim to support and grow a community of individuals from around the state of Colorado who seek to enhance collaborative agricultural or conservation efforts on working lands.

We believe that the best people to address the needs of their communities are the ones who live, work, and lead in them. We also believe that all of us, from all backgrounds and experiences, have much to learn and to teach about how to promote diverse and equitable working relationships.

The 2024 Fellowship will be awarded to up to 15 people. Fellows are passionate about grassroots leadership in agriculture or conservation in their region and who want to see greater breadth of participation in designing and implementing agricultural and conservation resiliency on the ground. 

Fellows will work with each other and a diverse group of mentors from across the state. They will learn about and take part in the following:  managing conservation and agriculture projects; facilitating with community cross-culturally; navigating land tenure dynamics; getting projects funded; and shaping the ways communities across the state steward land. 

The fellowship will run from March through November. Fellows will meet for a two day in-person gathering four times over the course of the fellowship (March, April, June, and September), and will meet virtually monthly for one full day, which will include trainings, team building, and project development. 

• Fellows travel and lodging expenses will be covered.
• Fellows will receive a small stipend to offset the time spent during the program. 
• Fellows with feasible action plans will receive a small stipend to help make a small project a reality.
• Fellows will be invited to join and help guide NMCEWL into the future. 

We will prioritize applicants who come from historically underrepresented or economically low-resource communities and other marginalized identities, with at least 50% of fellowships being awarded to these individuals. We specifically encourage the application of Tribal, Latinx, Chicanx, Hispanic, Black/African American, Asian, Pacific Islander, and/or LGBTQ+. However, qualified applicants from any background with a strong application will also be considered. The selection process will take into account representation from a variety of work backgrounds, including but not limited to government and tribal agencies, farmers and ranchers, relevant retailers, conservation district supervisors, extension agents, nonprofit workers, and educators.

• Fellows should be prepared to commit to the entire scope of the fellowship. 
  
• Fellows can come from any professional background. The fellowship is not limited to individuals who are already agriculture or conservation professionals. 
  
• Fellows should have a deep commitment to their community and to conservation, agriculture, or both.