Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs: News

Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs

Program Overview

The Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs is a nine-month, full-time graduate-level program that introduces participants to all aspects of public affairs. The Program combines experiential learning, close interaction with key decision-makers in the civic community, and development in analytical, group governance, and communication skills. Coro’s methodology is based on the idea that experiential learning is immediate and lasting. Learn more about the Coro experience by watching this 2 minute video about the Fellows Program created by a Coro graduate.

The Fellows Program is founded on Coro’s unique curriculum of core leadership skills, paired with real-world experiences that rely on the city as the classroom. Unconventional by traditional academic standards, the Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs is rigorous and demanding. Fellows learn to:

Recognize the competing agendas at play in decision-making and learn to build consensus among multiple interests
Listen to and communicate with members of diverse ethnic and racial communities and economic sectors
Analyze individuals, organizations, and communities in terms of their resources, constituencies, and goals
Understand the subtleties of group process and how to maximize results in group decision-making

Cited by Princeton Review as one of the top ten fellowships in the country, the Fellows Program familiarizes diverse young individuals to all facets of the public affairs arena through field assignments, weekly seminars, group and individual projects, and focus weeks:

Field Placements

Each Fellow works in a series of individually tailored assignments with a government agency, political campaign, business, labor union, non-profit organization, and an independent placement. Fellows learn how organizations are structured, how they function and how they fit into the political, social and economic fabric of a community.

Seminars

Skill-based seminars may delve into negotiation, facilitation, consensus building, public speaking or project management. Fellows are also introduced to a variety of tools that will help them think more clearly and effectively, free of assumption and pre-judgment.

Interviews

Fellows have the opportunity to conduct interviews with prominent leaders in the various public affairs sectors. These interviews take place behind closed doors with the intention of gaining a better understanding of the public affairs arena. This confidence allows the interviewee to speak more freely and give the Fellows a more accurate portrayal of what is really going on.

Focus Weeks

Focus weeks allow Fellows to explore a variety of civic issues and their role in our democratic system through interviews with individuals of different–and often conflicting–viewpoints, site visits, assignments and interaction with practitioners in the field. Fellows may explore such topics as state and federal government, agriculture, public finance, media, international affairs and education.

Applying to the Fellows Program

Coro seeks bright, self-motivated individuals with a demonstrated commitment to ethical, effective leadership and civic engagement. A bachelor’s degree or equivalent is required and post-graduate academic study or work experience may be helpful. Fellows come from all academic disciplines, careers, and racial, ethnic, and socio-economic backgrounds.

Based on a review of applications, written essays, and letters of recommendation, Coro will invite finalists to attend Selection Day, a daylong assessment in March. Candidates will be notified of their selection in the spring and 68 Fellows will be placed in one of five Coro Centers in Los Angeles, New York, Pittsburgh, San Francisco, or St. Louis.

Completed applications are due by FRIDAY, JANUARY 22nd, 2010. In order to apply for the program you must first fill out a pre-application. To fill out the pre-application click here. Once you have completed the pre-application you can begin the application process. Applications will be submitted online, and please follow all instructions during this process. Once you have a username and password you can access the application by clicking here.

Please note – the following application materials must be submitted through the online application: