Planned Parenthood Announces Grassroots Training Opportunity for Youth Activists, Will Train the Future of Progressive Movement

Paid “Summer of Defiance” Fellowships Will Be Available in

Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Virginia, Texas, and Washington

WASHINGTON, DC – Applications have opened for a paid summer fellowship through Planned Parenthood Generation Action and activist training academy Change Corps for young people looking to develop grassroots organizing and campaign-building skills. Up to 70 young leaders, ages 18-25, will undergo a four-week immersion course where they’ll learn how to engage their elected representatives and communities on a host of progressive issues. The program will run from July 5 to August 4 and will be available in Alaska, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Michigan, Montana, Virginia, Texas, and Washington. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis.

Upon completing the fellowship, participants will have the opportunity to join their local Planned Parenthood Generation Action group on college campuses, sign on to become a Planned Parenthood Defender, join local community action teams, or seek a career in organizing.

Statement from, Erin Carhart, Youth Organizing Programs Manager, Planned Parenthood Action Fund:

Young people truly understand what’s at stake if we let attacks on equality and justice go unchallenged. They’re showing up to fight for immigrant and refugee rights; they’re showing up to fight for reproductive rights, they’re showing up to fight for racial justice, and we know young people will be on the front lines of the next big fight. Planned Parenthood is committed to empowering young activists to harness the power of grassroots organizing. This partnership with Change Corps will ensure that the future leaders of the progressive movement have the support, tools, and skills they need to mobilize their communities for change.

Planned Parenthood Generation Action, a project of Planned Parenthood Action Fund, is committed to building a robust, national network of young leaders and arming them with the tools needed to create change through a range of national campaigns, conferences, and leadership opportunities. Through Generation Action and its network of more than 275 campus groups, young organizers and activists across the country organize events on their campuses and in their communities to mobilize advocates for reproductive freedom.

###

Planned Parenthood Action Fund is an independent, nonpartisan, not-for-profit membership organization formed as the advocacy and political arm of Planned Parenthood Federation of America. The Action Fund engages in educational and electoral activity, including voter education, grassroots organizing, and legislative advocacy.