Right to Democracy has launched a new two-year fellowship aimed at addressing the intersection of climate change, political disenfranchisement, and colonial legacies in the United States territories. The initiative, called the Environmental Democracy Fellowship, will support leaders from Puerto Rico, Guam, the United States Virgin Islands, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands as they develop collaborative projects with local environmental organizations.
The territories, home to approximately 3.6 million people, are among the most vulnerable communities in the United States when it comes to climate change. Despite this, residents lack meaningful federal political representation and are often excluded from regional and international decision-making spaces. These barriers have made it more difficult for territorial governments and community-based groups to implement effective climate adaptation and mitigation strategies.
“This internship seeks to support community leaders and organizations to amplify their voices and confront the challenges that arise from the intersection of climate change and colonialism,” said Adi Martínez-Román, co-director of Right to Democracy and a native of Puerto Rico. “We are facing some of the most severe consequences of the climate crisis, but often run into a political system that is undemocratic, lacks transparency, and does not respond to our needs.”
The program will fund one fellow from each territory, who will work on projects with a shared interterritorial focus. Fellows will design strategies that leverage local networks to push for systemic change and environmental justice both locally and across territorial lines.
Right to Democracy is currently accepting letters of intent from individuals and organizations based in the territories with demonstrated or emerging leadership in environmental justice and climate activism. Applicants should outline their interests, experience, and qualifications. Selected candidates will be invited to submit a more detailed proposal focused on collaborative strategies that address environmental justice, climate action, democracy, and colonialism. The deadline to submit letters of intent is May 30, with the first cohort of fellows expected to be announced mid-summer.
“There are already many organizations and communities doing excellent work in our territories,” said Neil Weare, co-director of Right to Democracy and raised in Guam. “We’re excited to launch a project that will provide tools and support to expand those efforts—both within the United States and in international spaces.”
More information about the fellowship is available at Right to Democracy’s website. Letters of intent and résumés and questions should be sent by email by May 30.
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