Application deadline: Feb 20th 2026
The GLC Alumni Network is launching an international virtual fellowship program focused on active citizenship and building community power for social and environmental justice for 15 grassroots leaders from Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia. The program is focused on cross-continental learning, practice and reflection on community organizing between Central and Eastern Europe, and the US.
The fellowship is fully virtual and includes online training sessions, praxis groups and pairing with a US community organization and a mentor based on needs and interests, for an overall of 25 hours. It also gives you access to an alumni network of 450+ civil society professionals, activists and organizers from Central and Eastern Europe and the US.
Important dates
January 20th 2026
Launch of the call for applications
February 5th 2026, 16:00 CET
Info session Q&A
(Click for recording)
February 20th 2026, 23:59 CET
Application deadline
Profile of fellows
- Currently located or working in Albania, Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania or Slovakia
- Fluent in English
- Currently engaged in a civil society organization, informal group/collective or civic movement, progressive political party or movement
- Reliable access to internet
- Dedicated to social and environmental justice, including commitment to non-discrimination and equality
- Passionate about citizen democracy and people’s power and interested in addressing unjust power structures through concrete grassroots actions
Particularly encouraged to apply:
- Applicants belonging to and/or working with minority communities, including but not limited to ethnic and religious minorities, LGBTIQ+ people, migrants, people with disabilities, living in underserved and/or rural neighbourhoods, cities, areas
- Members or leaders in trade unions, tenants associations, neighbourhood associations or other collectives defending rights
Elements of the program
Info session, online application form, interviews with applicants (if deemed necessary)
5 sessions of 1.5 hours (late afternoon/evening), covering concepts of community organizing with European and US speakers and trainers
4 sessions of 1.5 hours (late afternoon/evening) for sharing about local context and reflection on how to use community organizing in practice; accountability for progress toward the group.
Individual work with mentor and taking part in virtual activities in community organizations in the US (expected min. 8 hours)
Final event to present results of the process and pitch campaign ideas or other plans for building community power
Engagement with peer activists and organizers in national alumni groups and international alumni community through virtual channels, offline events, complimentary projects, etc.
Calendar
What will you get
This virtual fellowship will be beneficial for you if you are interested to work directly with communities on grass-roots level and are interested in confronting unjust power structures. In this case the internship can give you:
- Knowledge of concepts and processes in building and sustaining people power
- Conceptual idea of social intervention, based on empowering people to challenge unjust power structures
- Practical tools to organize people and money
- Practical tools to build and maintain relationships, growing a base, empowering leaders, mapping power, designing and winning campaigns
- Forming part of a community of inspiration, practice and accountability
- Building relationships with people across countries and borders
- Expanding networking potential with people and organisations in Central and Eastern Europe and the US
- Guidance and support to design a concrete plan or a campaign with your local community
- Civic, professional and career growth
- Hope
Financial aspects
Participation in the program is free!
The program is made possible due to the volunteer commitment and the financial contribution of members and friends of the GLC Alumni Network. We run annual fundraising campaigns to secure funding for our activities and as a member of the community you will be invited and encouraged to contribute with a donation of your choice. Participation in these fundraising campaigns is optional.
Context
Emerging from labor and civil rights struggles, community organizing’s foundational idea is to empower marginalized groups by building collective power to challenge systemic inequities. Early models emphasized mobilizing local residents to address issues like housing discrimination, workers’ rights, and racial injustice. Over time, the practice evolved into a structured methodology to create lasting social change. Community organizing has played a pivotal role in landmark social movements, from the Civil Rights Movement in the US to contemporary campaigns for environmental justice and immigrant rights. Its strength lies in transforming individual grievances into collective action. By fostering solidarity and strategic pressure, organizing strives to shift power dynamics, making citizens active participants in decision-making and policy-making.
The fellowship is organized by the GLC Alumni Network: an informal network of people and organizations working to advance democracy, social and environmental justice. The network was formed around the Grates Lakes Consortiums Professional Fellows Program, which was operational between 2012 and 2025. The network currently relies on small funding from its own community members and individual donors. It is operated through a flexible institutional structure, with fiscal sponsorship in the US by World Affairs Council of Northwest Ohio, and in Europe through CO-PLAN in Albania, Pro European Network Association (PEN) in Bulgaria, Civil College Foundation (CCF) in Hungary, CeRe in Romania, Center for Community Organizing (CKO) in Slovakia.
Application deadline: Feb 20th 2026
For any questions, please reach out to the program coordinator Vladislav Petkov at v.petkov@proeuropean.net.