JOI Fellowship FAQs

We hope these answer all of your questions. If not, please feel free to Contact Us.

For whom do I work?
JOI fellows work for social change organizations that engage in a wide range of organizing models – interfaith or broad-based organizations, labor unions, neighborhood organizations, community development corporations, issue-based organizations, and others. These organizations address a wide range of social justice issues – housing, children’s rights, anti-discrimination, immigrant rights, health care, to name just a few – but their work includes a common goal: to build power for people who are directly affected by the issues they address. JOI fellows find placement organizations through the JOI Matching process (see “Applying”), by finding organizing jobs on their own, and by coming to JOI with their current organizing job.

How does JOI choose placement organizations?
JOI looks for partner organizations that will provide excellent opportunities for the emerging organizers who participate in our fellowship to gain experience in community organizing. These criteria were developed to ensure that organizations that partner with JOI will provide a supportive and challenging working environment for their Fellow, and that, in turn, JOI’s training curriculum will be most relevant to their organizational needs.

Placement organizations must demonstrate that they meet at least three of the five following criteria:

The supervisor of the JOI Fellow has significant organizing experience and/or is currently an organizer and takes primary responsibility for the development of the Fellow as an organizer.
There is a demonstrated organizational commitment to organizing as a method used for social change.
The Fellow’s work has a significant component of in-person recruitment and training of leaders.
The Fellow plays a key role in a project or campaign the organization is undertaking.
The project or campaign the Fellow works on is something that builds towards a measurable social justice goal in the outside world.

What do you mean by “community organizing” and “social justice?”
Community organizing means developing leaders and bringing people together to form powerful organizations that allow people to act on their own behalf to make systemic changes in their lives. Community organizers are people who want to stir things up to motivate people to act for change, who embrace challenge, and who think strategically about power.

Working for social justice means to seek systems-level change, to address social problems at their roots. We believe that justice would mean having sustainable, enduing, and equitable solutions to issues such as the environment, health care, education, housing, employment, and many others.

The organizations where JOI fellows work vary in the methods they use in their quest for justice. While JOI emphasizes relationship building, leadership development and organization building, the organizations where the fellows work do this in a wide variety of ways. We do not think that any one method of organizing for justice is perfect or the right way. Rather, we think that exposure to a number of methods, and reflection on their effectiveness is a good way to learn how to effectively organize for justice. This work always needs to be refined and re-defined, especially as conditions and generations change.

What is the salary?
The salary varies. Some people have or find their own organizing jobs, and if accepted, join the program. In these cases, their salary is completely determined by them. For organizations that want referrals of applicants and hope to hire a JOI fellow, we will require that they pay a minimum of $24,000 per year plus individual health insurance. However, the actual terms of employment will be negotiated solely between the fellow and the organization. We will provide coaching on how to do this for anyone who requests it.

What are the learning sessions like?
Friday Sessions
These sessions are the “glue” of JOI’s program. In general, fellows learn together about social change, Jewish heritage, and community organizing. The sessions draw on both Jewish and non-Jewish texts, and connect fellows with JOI’s inspiring network of trainers (community organizers and Jewish leaders). In addition, they provide a space for fellows to discuss their work and provide and receive support on specific issues.

Typical JOI Friday Session:
8:40 Arrive, get settled, schmooze
9:00 Check-Ins on organizing work and Mussar practice (Jewish reflective Practice)
9:30 Case Study led by Co-Facilitator OR Open Space discussion OR Mussar Va’ad/Check-in
10:00 Training
12:00 Announcements, Evaluation, Key Learnings, Closing Song
12:30 Adjourn

The JOI years starts with a week-long Orientation retreat to build community within the group, and to orient the fellows to JOI and our approach to organizing and Jewish pluralistic community. We then meet for weekly, intensive training, reflection, and community building sessions. Additionally, there are 3 long weekend retreats throughout the year, as well as a group fundraising project. Group members on their own initiative establish other educational experiences and are welcomed into a wide variety of other community events. Please check out the JOI Curriculum.

How do I find an organizing job?
JOI will be able to refer you to some jobs through our matching process. We also encourage you to apply to jobs on your own or join the fellowship with a job you already have. All organizations, whether recruited by JOI or identified by prospective fellows, must go through the JOI Placement Application process.

Will JOI help me with my student loans?
JOI is committed to making the fellowship accessible to people from all class and economic backgrounds. Fellows have generally been able to defer loans since they are part of an educational program, but this ultimately depends on the requirements of the loaning institution.

Will JOI help me with my student loans?
You can find your own job or come into the program while in your current job. To do this, both you and the organization have to apply and be accepted to be part of the program. For more information on how potential placement organizations can apply, click here. If you are accepted as a finalist in JOI, and your organization does not meet our requirements, you are still eligible to participate in our matching process to try to find another placement.

Where do the JOI fellows work?
The group of JOI placements changes each year. In the past JOI fellows have worked at places such the following Greater Boston area organizations:

Allston Brighton Community Development Corporation
Boston Youth Organizing Project
Cambridge Economic Opportunity Committee
Community Action Agency of Somerville
The Citywide Educational Coalition
The Food Project
The Haitian Coalition (Somerville, MA)
Harvard Union of Technical and Clerical Workers
The Hotel and Restaurant Workers Union, Local 26
The Irish Immigration Center
The Jewish Labor Committee
Health Care for All
Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston (Boston, MA)
Keshet: making the Boston Jewish community welcoming to gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender Jews
Mass NARAL
Mass. Senior Action
Massachusetts AFL-CIO (Boston, MA)
MICAH: Metropolitan Interfaith Communities Acting for Hope
National Organization of Women, Boston chapter
Neighbor to Neighbor
Parents United for Child Care
ROCA, Inc (a youth organization in Chelsea, MA)
Rosie’s Place
Service Employees International Union, Local 509
State Health Care and Research Employees/AFSCME (Worcester Memorial Hospital Union, Worcester, MA)
Somerville Community Corporation
Stand for Children
The Tax Equity Alliance of Mass.
Twin Cities Community Development Corporation (in Fitchburg and Leominster, MA)
The Welcome Project (at the Mystic Public Housing Development in Somerville, MA)
The Workmen’s Circle
Young Democrats of Mass
United for a Fair Economy
United Interfaith Action
Youth Force, a program of Dorchester Bay Economic Development Corporation

How often does the group meet?
The JOI years starts with a week-long Orientation retreat to build community within the group, and to orient the fellows to JOI and our approach to organizing and Jewish pluralistic community. We then meet for weekly, intensive training, reflection, and community building sessions. Additionally, there are 3 long weekend retreats throughout the year, as well as a group fundraising project. Group members on their own initiative establish other educational experiences and are welcomed into a wide variety of other community events. Please check out the JOI Curriculum.

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What about other resources?
JOI connects every fellow to an alumnus of the program who serves as a peer mentor, or JOI Buddy, to the fellow. JOI also works to find other volunteer advisers, resource people and potential mentors for fellows. These are generally older community organizers, activists, non profit leaders, Jewish educators and others. Additionally, JOI works to help fellows connect to local opportunities for progressive and Jewish community, learning, and action.

What else do I have to do?
As organizers, Fellows need to learn recruitment skills: how to both identify the values and self-interest of others, and how to get people to act.

We require fellows to participate in recruitment, and challenge each Fellow to recruit 5 applicants to the Fellowship program for the coming year. This can be done through social, campus and professional networks.

As organizers and social justice leaders, Fellows also need to learn development skills and how to organize money. These skills are essential for anyone who wants to work for social change in the long term.

Each Fellow must raise at least $1,000 by the end of the Fellowship year. This can be done in any number of ways. In addition to writing letters to family and friends, Fellows have often joined together as a group to raise the required funds through house parties, events, and other innovative development methods.

What about the JOI alumni?
JOI also has a formal alumni mentor program, where we pair Boston-based alumni with current fellows to serve as coaches and mentors over the course of the fellows’ year. More informally, we have an active alumni network in Boston and beyond that can help orient current fellows to JOI, to the world and work of organizing and to the Boston community. A number of JOI alumni are available to tell you about the program before you apply, or to help you decide if JOI is right for you. Call the office for more information about how to contact them. JOI also networks to help our graduates find jobs in the world of social justice.

What if I am looking to make a longer than one year commitment to a job?
Some organizations are especially interested in fellows who would consider making an organizational commitment beyond the 1-year fellowship program. You are welcome to bring this up at the interview if the supervisor does not; many fellows and placements wait several months to see if it’s a good fit before discussing continued employment. A significant percentage of JOI fellows stay on in their jobs for another year or more, generally at a salary commensurate with other staff, and some organizations may be looking for this longer commitment.

Do I need a car?
Generally, a car is not required. However, organizing is not a desk job, and some jobs will prefer that their staff organizer be very mobile. If an organization requires a car, they will make this clear to potential employees early on in the process. Most organizations reimburse for mileage.

What if I’m not a U.S. citizen?
It is difficult, but not impossible, to join JOI if you are not a US citizen. In the past, JOI fellows have come from Bulgaria, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico and Israel. But it has been hard, and often expensive. For example, two former fellows had to pay a special US organization to work through the immigration bureaucracy to get a valid work visa. For more information, please contact the JOI office.

How “Jewish” do you have to be in JOI?
JOI embraces Jewish pluralism as a core value of our community. Our program is for people who identify as Jewish and who are looking for an opportunity to experience many approaches to Judaism – from traditional to secular — through their relationships with other fellows and the shared experience of the group.
In the words of a JOI Alum:

While JOI does incorporate a religious element, it does so in a way that respects the beliefs of all. In fact, it is up to the Fellows to choose how much religion should be incorporated into their fellowship. My JOI year featured a Fellow who didn’t believe in God and one that wanted to become a rabbi. Yet we got along and were able to craft Shabbat services that respected and made everyone feel comfortable.

Ultimately, JOI realizes that being Jewish has a different meaning for every person. Differing traditions and viewpoints are not only welcome, but encouraged. So, don’t worry. JOI has something to offer for every type of Jew. Oh, and I forgot to mention that it was one of the best and most meaningful experiences of my life.

–Aron Israelite
JOI 2004-2005