Focus Roots Fellowships

Awarded on the basis of a competitive and juried application process, the Focus Roots Fellowships support stand-out student and young adult applicants with $10,000 grants to demonstrate clean energy innovation. The fellowships provide powerful opportunities for young leaders to build intergenerational mentor relationships with clean energy professionals, achieve tangible, replicable results in their communities, and report back through our Town Hall campaigns in our Civic Engagement program area.

Our vision for the summer and fall of 2009 is as follows:

Ten U.S. states, home to more than 30% of the country's population, lead the country in production and consumption of coal, America’s dirtiest fuel. In 2009, Focus the Nation will award fellowships to two rock star young leaders that are eager to launch their communities beyond coal. The fellowships will support innovative clean energy solutions implemented by social entrepreneurs between 18 and 29 years old.

This summer, with support from Nike, Climate Ride, Youth Noise and the Danish Embassy, Focus the Nation will select two Fellows and award one $10,000 grant in each of the following categories: Sport and Art. The Fellows will receive financial and operational support from Focus the Nation to implement their idea to move their community past coal, between the months of August and December 2009.

In addition, from September 26^th through 30^th, recipients will participate in Climate Ride and present their idea and/or initial progress to the other 200 riders. Then in December, with support from the Danish Embassy, the recipients will travel to Copenhagen, Denmark to present their projects to the international community participating in the COP15 climate treaty negotiations. This will be an unprecedented opportunity for the Fellows to bring their creativity and innovation to the local, national and international stage.

Why Sport and Art?

The Climate Movement has mountains to learn from the efficiency of athletics and the expression of art.

Sport and Art are both cultural vehicles rich in metaphor that bring communities together and lift people up. Both are time-tested tools in gathering people to commune in joy, commonality, challenge and beauty. However, the positive community aspects and outcomes of both Sport and Art are nothing if individual focus, training and mentorship do not exist.

The vehicles of Sport and Art challenge us, demand participation and inspire.