What is DiverseCity Fellows?
DiverseCity Fellows is a year-long fellowship program for rising city-building leaders from across the Toronto region. 25 Fellows selected from across the Toronto region will embark upon experiential learning across three themes that comprise city-building: leadership, diversity and civic awareness. Through partnerships with Toronto region institutions, Fellows will have an opportunity to practically apply their learnings to a city-building project.
What will the program do?
Expand networks: By the end of the year, Fellows will have built strong relationships with their peers. Likewise, through face-to-face meetings with senior leaders, Fellows will create networks with the regions “movers and shakers”
Strengthen institutions: In partnership with various institutions, Fellows will work in groups to conceive and execute a project that will have lasting impact on the institution and the Toronto region
Broaden our imaginations: As part of the DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto leadership project, Fellows offers a glimpse into what leadership in a diverse city could look like.
How will the Fellows be selected?
The DiverseCity Fellows for 2009 will be drawn from a pool of applicants and selected based on the following criteria:
Leadership Potential: Record of leadership and/or notable achievement and contributions through work, volunteer, academic or community life.
Creativity: Exhibited creative thinking and/or approaches in addressing community challenges
Diversity: Demonstrated commitment to understanding the benefits of diversity in leadership
A passion for Toronto: A commitment to contribute to the health and prosperity of the city, a desire to take leadership role in the Greater Toronto Area in the future
Applications will be reviewed by a selection panel comprised of city-building leaders representing the non-profit, private and public sectors. Shortlisted applicants will then be interviewed and the 2009 Fellows will be contacted by mid-December.
Who is eligible for the DiverseCity Fellows program?
Residents of the Toronto region who meet the criteria listed above are eligible for the program. DiverseCity Fellows strives to be inclusive of the Toronto region’s diverse population and the 25 Fellows will aim to reflect this diversity.
Is there an age limit for the Fellows?
No, there is no age limit for the Fellows. We recognize that due to a number of factors (i.e. parenting, recent immigration) individuals develop their city-building leadership potential at different stages of life.
What will the Fellows do?
The Fellows will meet over the course of 12 months and attend 8 full day workshops, 2 evening events, 1 overnight retreat. These learnings will be applied to a city-building project Fellows will develop in teams of 3-5 and in partnership with a Toronto region institution. DiverseCity Fellows will participate in leadership, diversity and civic awareness workshops as well as visit various sites across the Toronto region to gain a better understanding of how the region works. Fellows will also meet with a range of city-building leaders representing labour, academia, business and non-for-profit sectors.
What is the City-Building Project?
In groups of three to five and in partnership with supporting institutions, Fellows will use their learnings and tools from workshop sessions to develop and implement a city-building project. This project should address and have a positive impact in an issue area facing the Toronto region. Issue areas may include but are not limited to: a prosperous Toronto region, civics and citizen engagement, public education, arts and culture, environment and public spaces.
Who runs the DiverseCity Fellows program?
DiverseCity Fellows is part of DiverseCity: The Greater Toronto Leadership Project, an initiative of the Toronto City Summit Alliance and Maytree.
When will the DiverseCity Fellows program begin?
DiverseCity Fellows 2009 will run from January 2009 to December 2009. Applications for DiverseCity Fellows will be accepted from Monday October 20 to Thursday November 13, 2008 at 5pm.
