civic health Fellowship
Step into the forefront of civic action.
As a healthcare provider, you hold a unique position of trust in American society, making you pivotal in engaging your patients in registering to vote.
The Vot-ER Civic Health Fellowship equips healthcare providers like you with the training, resources, and collaborative space needed to lead campaigns that mobilize patients towards civic engagement. Join a vibrant community of healthcare professionals dedicated to fostering a healthier democracy through proactive patient involvement in civic initiatives.
Fellowship Highlights
Guided by top-tier instructors in community organizing, you will emerge with a profound understanding of civic involvement, health equity concerns, and effective community mobilization techniques. Over eight months, from April to November, you will be trained and equipped to ignite change in your community through voter engagement.
ORGANIZING 101
Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Srdja Popovic and health organizing leader Pedja Stojicic teach tried-and-true organizing tactics that can be used inside and outside of the healthcare system.
TEAMWORK
Work alongside a team of your colleagues to turn your workplace or professional association into a center of voter registration and civic engagement.
NARRATIVE-BUILDING WORKSHOPS
Your story is an incredibly powerful mobilizing tool. Learn how to craft your “public narrative”—what makes you who you are and why you do this work—and how to share it with colleagues, organizational leadership, and the media.
CIVIC ENGAGEMENT PROJECT
Collaborate with healthcare peers to launch a local civic access project at your health institution or school. Past participants have used this space to workshop pitches to hospital leadership, partner with faculty to integrate voter access into the medical school curricula, and more.
Instructors
Srdja Popovic
Founder And Executive Director, Center For Applied Nonviolent Actions And Strategies
Srdja Popovic (he/him) is the Founder and Executive director of the Center for Applied Nonviolent Actions and Strategies (CANVAS), a non-profit organization based in Belgrade, Serbia that aims to teach the use of nonviolence to make a change. Apart from being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize in 2012, Popovic is the author of the recent book Blueprint for Revolution.
Dr. Pedja Stojicic
Executive Lead, People Power Health
Dr. Pedja Stojicic (he/him) is passionate about enabling health leaders to use community organizing practices to advocate for equitable health and well-being. He currently serves as an executive lead for People Power Health. Dr. Stojicic is also an instructor for the DrPh Program at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. Dr. Stojicic completed a fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School studying Leadership and Organizing with prof. Marshall Ganz and later worked as a member of Ganz’s HKS Teaching Team.
Leah ford
Chief of Staff, Vot-ER
Leah Ford (they/them) is the Chief of Staff at Vot-ER. Leah began their organizing journey working on a ballot initiative campaign and leading issue advocacy campaigns around reproductive health/rights in Tennessee. Most recently, Leah served as the Campaign Manager for a state legislative candidate who made healthcare access a central part of her platform, helping her to secure a strong primary win. In 2021, Leah was honored to be named as a member of the Memphis Flyer’s 20 Under 30.
Brian Archie
Co-Chair, Create A Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative
Brian Archie (he/him) is co-chair and change agent for the Create a Healthier Niagara Falls Collaborative. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Human Rights Commission for the city of Niagara Falls, works in patient financial services at Niagara Falls Memorial Medical Center and is pursuing his bachelor’s degree in Business with a focus in Project Management. Brian was born and raised in Niagara Falls, and currently lives in the North End/Highland area.
Program Details
Application Deadline
The 2024 Fellowship application period has closed.
Faculty
Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Srdja Popovic and health organizing leader Pedja Stojicic are the primary Fellowship instructors, along with a group of all-star guest presenters.
Teams
This fellowship requires individuals to be part of a team. Each member of a team should apply separately, and there will be a space in the application for you to list your team members. If you need assistance recruiting a team, please note that in your application and the Vot-ER team will reach out to you.
Schedule
Sessions meet online approximately three times a month on Wednesdays from 6-7:30 pm Eastern from April to November 2024.
The total time commitment is 5-10 hours per month, including attending lectures, small group work, and collaborating on team projects.
Investment
Our generous sponsors cover most costs; program fees cover the remainder. Vot-ER is committed to equity, offering sliding-scale fees for Fellows. Financial aid is available upon request, and no one is turned away due to cost. We encourage those with academic or institutional support or CME to seek full program coverage.
The program investment sliding scale is as follows:
FAQs
Nope! Just come ready to learn and collaborate.
You can indicate on your application that you need financial assistance. Last year we didn’t turn anyone away because of the cost, and we expect that everyone who needs help will receive an appropriate discount.
If you have additional questions about financial assistance, please email Leah Ford, Vot-ER Chief of Staff, at leah@vot-er.org
Nobel Peace Prize-nominated activist Srdja Popovic and health organizing leader Pedja Stojicic teach the course, along with a group of all-star guest speakers.
All healthcare professionals are eligible for the Civic Health Fellowship, including:
We’ve heard from past fellows that this program has connected them to the community of like-minded professionals that they’ve long sought.
Plus, you’ll leave the course with:
E-mail Leah Ford at leah@vot-er.org and we’ll get back to you right away!
Social workers, nurses, residents, and interns: $200 ($100 if already active in Vot-ER)