Rural LGBTQ+ Power & Belonging Fellowship
We are no longer accepting applications to join this year’s fellowship cohorts.
Out in the Open is moving us closer to a vision of an increased sense of belonging for LGBTQ+ people in the rural communities we call home by hosting three cohorts of the Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging (RLPB) Fellowship. Fellowships are intended to cultivate interconnectedness and are a step towards building a powerful network of mutuality, safety, belonging, and positive social and cultural change. Our experiences in the rural communities we call home tell stories of interdependence and reliance on each other. This is in contrast to national narratives that we are divided. We believe that rural LGBTQ+ people have a central role to play in moving all people and our communities towards a collectively liberated and connected future, and away from divisive culture wars that are sparked against our shared needs and interests.
The Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging Fellowship is for LGBTQ+ identified people living openly with this identity and living rurally north and west of Portland/Brunswick and outside of urban areas of Bangor, Augusta, and Waterville in Wabanaki territory/Maine. Priority will be given to people who are not current students or faculty members at local colleges and universities.
There are three cohorts happening in 2024, and applications for all three cohorts are open now through March 29, 2024.
Applicants will be notified of their participation by Monday April 8, and required to accept their spot by Monday April 15.
Fellowship participants will receive a $1500 stipend.
Support to cover the costs of dependent (elders, children, pets) care and transportation is also available.
Each participant will have an additional $500 allotted to them to use when planning and carrying out their event/project.
OITO can support four possible application formats: Google form, mail-in form, live Zoom discussion with OITO staff, online audio file submission. If you have access needs that are unmet by these formats, please get in touch with us to coordinate a format that will work.
There are two fellowship types: Community Safety Network (one group of 8 people) and Creative Arts and Social Practice (two groups of 8 people per group).
You can apply to both if you are feeling drawn to each possibility.
What we talk about and do within the fellowship gatherings will primarily be informed by participants’ input, needs, and interests.
Each cohort is an ongoing group experience, so we’re also looking for people who are interested in building relationships within the cohort as well as working independently.
Each cohort will have resources and information shared to a password-protected webpage.
All participants will sign a written agreement, which underlines the contributions and requirements OITO staff and cohort participants will adhere to throughout the fellowship timeline.
Check out examples of the written agreements here: Creative Arts and Social Practice draft written agreement, Community Safety Network draft written agreement
There will be a gathering in the fall with participants of all Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging fellowship participants and collaborators, to celebrate, share, and cultivate community among the fellowship participants.
Consider joining an upcoming Info Session via Zoom to go over the information about the fellowship program and application process, meet other potential applicants, and get to know Out in the Open staff members who are facilitating the program. Sign up can be found here: Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging Info Session Sign Up
Community Safety Network
A Collaborative Learning and Resource Building Cohort to Promote Community-based Responses to Needs for Care, Crisis Support, and Instances of Harm
Creative Arts & Social Practice
Exploring Community Organizing and Community Building Through Art, Cultural Work, and Socially Engaged Practices
Nuts and Bolts
Important details for all applicants
-
Who is eligible to participate?
The Rural LGBTQ+ Power and Belonging Fellowship is for LGBTQ+ identified people living openly with this identity and living rurally north and west of Portland/Brunswick and outside of urban areas of Bangor, Augusta, and Waterville in Wabanaki territory/Maine.
We especially encourage applications from people who are 55+ years old, BIPOC, working class/poor, trans women and femmes, and/or living with a disability.
Priority will be given to people who are not current students or faculty members at local colleges and universities.
-
When is this happening?
OITO will accept applications between Thursday January 25 and Friday March 29.
Deadline has been updated to Sunday March 31 at 11:59pm)
Applicants will be notified by Monday April 8 and will need to to confirm their participation by Monday April 15.
Each cohort will meet monthly from June through November 2024. The Community Safety Network cohort will meet twice virtually in April and May
At this time, there will not be other fellowships offered in 2024.
This may be the last wave of cohorts in this area, or we may continue on in 2025, but at this time we truly do not know. If you are interested in funding this continued work, please reach out to our executive director, HB (HB@WeAreOutintheOpen.org)
-
Will participants pay or be paid?
Fellowship participants will receive a $1500 stipend, distributed in 4 payments between June and November.
Each participant will have an additional $500 allotted to them to use when planning and carrying out their event/project.
Out in the Open can offer financial transportation support, a dependent care stipend, and all meals and lodging during Fellowship gatherings will be provided.
Infants-in-arms are welcome throughout.
-
Where will it be?
Monthly gatherings will be at a location convenient to the most people participating, and will be within Penobscot Territory/Waldo, Hancock, and Penobscot Counties.
The two-night Creative Arts and Social Practice retreat will be held in Washington County, and the Community Safety Network retreat will be held in Waldo County. Retreat location details will be shared with participants when the group is confirmed.
-
What COVID safety precautions are being taken?
COVID safety precautions will vary depending on the length of gathering and whether it is indoors or held outside.
Out in the Open is drafting an updated COVID policy for our events and programs. In the past we have utilized layered protection and relied on active communication between event organizers and participants about COVID test results.
Layered protection includes masking indoors and testing a couple of days ahead of events and the day of, and after the event has ended.
-
What is the time commitment?
Each cohort will meet monthly from June through November 2024. The Community Safety Network cohort will meet twice virtually in April and May
In addition to 2-5 hours/month of independent, self-directed time, the time commitment required for pilot cohort gatherings will include:
Creative Arts and Social Practice: A 2-night retreat in June, and 2-3 hours per month of in-person time.
Community Safety Network: Day-long retreat in June, and 2-3 hours/month of in person gathering.
Application Information
The application will open on Thursday, January 25, and close Friday, March 29 (updated date!) Sunday March 31 at 11:59 pm.
The application is available in 4 formats: online Google form, mail-in paper form, Zoom discussion or interview, online. audio file submission.
Click “Apply here” to access the Google form, which include instructions for mailing in a printed form, submitting audio files, and for coordinating a discussion/interview.
Applicants will be notified of their participation by Monday, April 8 and have until Monday April 15 to confirm that they’re accepting their spot in the fellowship cohort.
Applicants are encouraged to take the opportunity to share openly about their ideas, identity & lived experiences with Out in the Open in the application process.
Do you have another question that isn’t covered here?
Consider joining an upcoming information session, held virtually once or twice a month: Info Session Sign Up.
If you can’t make an info session, reach out to us and we’ll be happy to discuss! Grace@WeAreOutintheOpen.org, 207.808.0623