Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation 
Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights
2020 – 2021 Application
210 E. Genesee Street, Fayetteville NY  13066

Email to: Vanessa Johnson - griotwords@gmail.com 
Deadline: Open applications through December 1, 2020

WHAT ARE THE SOCIAL JUSTICE ISSUES IN TODAY’S WORLD THAT YOU ARE CONCERNED ABOUT?

Voting Rights?  The Detention and Deportation of Refugees and Immigrants?  Police Shootings of Unarmed Citizens? 
Climate Change? Do Black Lives Matter? 
Are Your Rights as a Young Woman Valued?

What Do You Stand For?
“Think for Yourself” - Matilda Joslyn Gage

Drawing on the life and legacy of Matilda Joslyn Gage, The Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights Program empowers and inspires young women identified women to become agents of change on the local, national, and global stage. High school-aged women interested in feminism, social justice, global connections, and community service are encouraged to apply. 

The 2020-2021 program year will be Virtual, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. We are excited to open up the program to young women-identified women from around the World. 
_______________________

Self - Empowerment Through Fundraising!
“The most effective way to DO It - is to DO It!” - Amelia Earhart

The Matilda Joslyn Gage Ambassador Program is funded through private donations, grants, an Ambassador fundraiser, and  an annual Ambassador program fee of $100.
_________________________

Educate Yourself!
“For me, EDUCATION was POWER!” - Michelle Obama

During the 2020-2021 program year, with 2020 being the Centennial of the 19th Amendment giving women in the United States the constitutional guarantee of the right to vote in the United States,
 Matilda Joslyn Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights will have the opportunity to: 

●	Become educated in the history of Matilda Joslyn Gage and her contributions to the Women’s Rights Movement

●	Learn about the History of Haudenosaunee Women and how their rights were the model for the U.S. Women’s Rights Movement

●	Understand the unspoken history and the struggle for their rights by U.S.  Women of Color

●	Be trained in Virtual Dialogue Facilitation and Facilitate
            Virtual Dialogues of your choosing between Gage Ambassadors 
_____________________
 
Take Action!
 “Never be afraid to make some noise and get in good trouble, necessary trouble” Civil Rights Activist John Lewis

●	Work with a team of Gage Ambassadors to Facilitate Virtual Social Justice Dialogues, open to the public, addressing issues that are important to you!

●	Train 5th-8th grade youth from Syracuse’s Griot Guides Program in Dialogue Facilitation, passing on your skills to a younger generation! Griot Guides are trained to learn and pass on the intergenerational Social Justice Stories of their communities. 

●	Have the opportunity to be invited to participate in State and National Virtual Programs where you will represent the Gage Ambassador Program and the Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation

●	Invite a woman that you respect to be a presenter at a Gage Ambassador’s Women in Business and S.T.E.A.M Virtual Salon, open to the public. Plan and Facilitate that Salon with a team of Gage Ambassadors.

●	Participate in a Virtual Women’s March Program in January 2021 (Ambassadors have the option to attend the March in person in Syracuse, if scheduled, or in your area - Practicing Distancing and wearing Masks).

●	Visit the Mohawk Nation, Virtually, at Akwesasne for a cultural immersion program in celebration of Gage’s recognition of the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Indigenous model as the highest form of civilization, and the position of Haudenosaunee women as a model for U.S. women.
_____________________

Think Globally!
 “Don’t think about making women fit the world - think about making the world fit women”.     Gloria Steinem

●	Plan, Facilitate, and Participate in Virtual Global Social Justice Dialogues with young women from International Countries and from around the United States. Learn about the rights and struggles of women Globally.

●	Write an article or reflection on one of the Gage Ambassador Dialogues for Social Justice that you attend, and have your work published on the Matilda Joslyn Gage website and in the Gage Foundation newsletter. These writings will be compiled and become an end-of-the-program-year publication.  The publication will be donated to libraries in the Gage Ambassador’s communities.
_____________________

The Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights Program will begin October 4, 2020 and end June 13, 2020. There are 20 local Upstate New York Ambassador positions, and 10 National and 10 Global positions. Our open enrollment program begins September  15th and ends December 1st.

Virtual meetings are held two Sundays a month from 3-5:00 pm.
Ambassadors are allowed three excused absences from meetings. 

The Application Process

The Girl Ambassador program is a diverse group, recruiting women-identified young women from a wide variety of ethnic, racial, religious, nationalities, urban, suburban, rural, and socio-economic identities.

 - Only two (2) Gage Ambassadors can represent their high school in any given year. There are a total of twenty (20) Gage Ambassador positions 
available to women-identified High School students from Onondaga County, NY.  There are an additional five (5) Ambassador positions open to women-identified High School students from outside of Onondaga County and five (5) Global positions. 

- Submit applications through December 1st, 2020 to Vanessa Johnson 
  griotwords@gmail.com.  Applications will be reviewed, notifications of
  Virtual interviews will be offered to the applicants that we feel are the
  most qualified. 

- You will be notified by email as to whether or not you are being offered
   a Virtual interview.  Information to sign up for dates and time slots for
   interviews will be sent in this notification email.   

- Up to three Gage Ambassadors, who are Mentors in the program, may
   sit in on the Virtual interviews, along with the Gage Ambassadors
   Program Director.

Applicant Information

Name:											

Age:		
										
Date of Birth:										

Mailing Address:										

City:							  Zip:					

E-mail:											

Home Phone Number or Parent Cell&Name:										
Your Cell Number:

School:				

School grade level Fall 2020:							

Have you applied to the Girl Ambassador Program before?(circle one) Yes/No

The Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights Program communicates through social media and uses closed group sites that are available to Ambassadors and their Parents.
Are you able to access and use these social media sites?  (circle one)
Group Me! - Yes/No
Facebook - Yes/No

Extracurricular and Community Involvement

The Matilda Joslyn Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights program is an intensive social justice and dialogue program. Ambassadors are expected to balance this program with their extracurricular activities and academics. Please list the extracurricular activities you are involved in below, with at least two to three sentences explaining the activity, and your involvement. Attach an additional sheet if necessary.

Essay Section

Please answer each question completely, and to the best of your ability. Type or neatly print your answers on separate pieces of paper and attach them to your application.                             

 - OR-

You may answer each question on a personal video. You should always face the camera. Be sure that the video is clear, and that your voice can always be heard. Answer the questions as completely as possible. Email your video to: Vanessa Johnson - griotwords@gmail.com

1. Who was Matilda Joslyn Gage?  What Social Justice Issue, that Gage
    championed during her lifetime most affects your life today?

2. What do you think the role of an Ambassador is?

3. What would you bring to the program in your role as an Ambassador, 
     if you are chosen?

4. What do you think is the most challenging issue facing women in the 
     United States today?

5.  What are some activities that you have participated in, that have 
      given you the opportunity to meet and interact with people from 
      diverse racial, ethnic, gender, religious, physical or mental challenges 
      or socio-economic backgrounds? 

      How have these interactions impacted on your life?

6.  Tell us about a woman or girl you respect as a Role Model and why?

Applicant’s Parental/Guardian Consent

Parents/Guardians Name:											
E-mails:		 	                   

Phone numbers:                                          Cell numbers:				

Mailing address:										

City: _					State: _			Zip:			

I have read the Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights program description to which my daughter is applying. To the best of my knowledge, ___________________________________ (child’s name) has a clear understanding of the program that she has applied for, and if selected, has my permission to participate.

-	I understand that the Gage Ambassadors Program is funded through donations, grants, and fundraisers, and that there is a $100 program fee for the year.  I understand that the program fee is payable by check to: The Matilda Joslyn Gage Foundation. I also understand that my daughter will take part in an on-line fundraiser to help support the Gage Ambassador Program.

If my daughter is chosen as an Ambassador, I am willing to attend periodic Virtual Parent Group Meetings.    I understand that the Parent Group will work with the Gage Ambassadors in an advisory capacity and in helping to organize and implement my youth’s fundraiser for the Gage Ambassadors for Human Rights Program.

-	I understand that the Gage Ambassadors communicate through  closed group Social Media Sites.

_____________________________________________________________  Date:__________
         Parent/Guardian Signature

Gage Ambassadors Applicant References

Name:					 

Occupation:						 

E-mail: _				Phone Number:					

Relationship to Applicant:								

Please have your reference letters emailed to: griotwords@gmail.com
Please have your reference include your full name in the reference letter.

Questions?  Matilda Joslyn Gage Center: 315-637-9511
                       Vanessa Johnson - Program Director: 315-289-6573