Ambassadors for Civic Engagement (ACE) Fellowship

photo of 2022-2023 ACE Fellows at HCEF program

Unique opportunity to research the newly-launched Pittsburgh Police Care program

The Ambassadors for Civic Engagement (ACE) Fellowship provides an opportunity for graduate students to apply their education and skills to contribute to and improve the quality of life of people living in the Pittsburgh region through a long-term experiential fellowship with a community partner that works in public policy, governance, community organizing and activism, or philanthropy. 

The Hear Foundation is the first and only nonprofit in Pittsburgh dedicated exclusively to collaborating with community leaders, Pittsburgh Police, residents, and the city to create a safe, thriving community for all. The graduate-level ACE Fellows will be an active part of the community-engaged learning and research that will surround a newly-launched “Pittsburgh Police Care” program, this will involve a level of community activism and working hand in hand with local law enforcement and grassroots organizations. The objective is to expand Zone 1, a relationship–based policing initiative, to all five other Pittsburgh Police Zones. The desired outcome is to strengthen community-police relationships by transitioning police from reactive to proactive policing strategies and by establishing ongoing collaborative problem-solving between the public and law enforcement.

Apply

The application window is open until Saturday, May 18. Start your application today.

2024-2025 Community Partner

The Institute of Politics, Elsie Hillman Civic Forum has partnered with the Hear Foundation this year.

Project Mentor

Cynthia HainesCynthia Haines
President and CEO
The Hear Foundation

Project Deliverables 

  1. Develop a report on policy changes recommended based on the Pittsburgh Police Care program
  2. Attend monthly committee meetings and write an interim report on activities undertaken
  3. Provide updates on the Hear Foundation website, social media, and assist in marketing strategies  

Fellows will also Assist officers in marketing strategies that involve door hangers, distribution of flyers, and social media posts. Other duties include research on residents' needs/wants, as well as setting up strategies to maintain resident/police engagement by organizing coffee with cops, outlining stakeholder mapping by zone, and designing engagement strategies for resident-based fundraising activities through local businesses and sponsors.

When is this fellowship offered?

It's offered every academic year, and in 2024-25, the fellowship will last from September 2024 through April 2025.

Meet the 2023-2024 ACE Fellows

Click here to meet our most recent ACE Fellows and learn about their project.

Benefits

  • Earn $15 per hour for 15 hours per week, September 2024 through April 2025
  • Connect with and be mentored by community leaders
  • Gain skills and experience in project management and community engagement 
     

Program Learning Objectives

By the end of this program, ACE Fellows will be able to:

  • Explain the components of their community organization from a historical, economical, and political perspective, including its mission and role within the community
  • Explain how the community partner works with other institutions and organizations
  • Apply project management skills through the implementation of a project
  • Explain what issues their project addresses and how their project will impact the community served through discussion, written materials, and final presentation
  • Analyze and synthesize diverse sources of information

Program Commitments

  • 8-month program 
  • 15 hours per week doing project work
  • Team meetings with Elsie Forum staff to discuss the project and experiences
  • Weekly meetings with mentor from partnering organization
  • Co-create deliverables with the community partner

Eligibility 

Any full-time, graduate student pursuing any degree, and can commit to the timeframe of September 2024 through April 2025.

Qualifications for the 2024-25 Project

The successful candidate should possess the following:

  • Research experience: familiarity with qualitative research preferred
  • Interest in community engagement
  • Effective communication skills, both written and oral
  • Must adhere to policies within the IOP and the University of Pittsburgh
  • Child Protection Clearances (CPC's) are mandatory for this position. The Institute of Politics (IOP) will pay for CPCs for all successful candidates. 

Application Requirements

  • Students apply online via Talent Center, and participation is awarded on a competitive basis
  • Students must upload a current resume
  • In the "writing sample" slot of the talent center application, please upload a 2-page maximum, double-spaced essay that addresses the following:
    • Explain how you believe you can contribute to the Hear Foundation and their project.
    • Identify your skills and experience as related to the defined qualifications for this project
    • Why are you passionate about this project?
    • What do you hope to gain by participating in this fellowship?
    • What are your post-graduation plans? 
  • In the "other" slot of the talent center application, please upload your unofficial transcript.

Selection Process

This program follows a two-staged review process. First, a committee will review each applicant's written materials and will recommend applicants for an interview. Second, those recommended for an interview are contacted to schedule face-to-face interviews with the committee. After the interviews, the committee deliberates and selects the finalists. The program has two available positions this year.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I be doing if I am selected as an Elsie ACE?

Graduate students will work as a team with a community partner to address a specific organizational, policy, or community issue. The Elsie Forum will work closely with the selected community agency to outline the mentoring responsibilities of the host organization, define student responsibilities and time commitment for the project, and identify the training goals. The activities while on site will depend heavily on the selected community partner.

Past ACE Placements