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Women NC

Advancing gender equality in North Carolina

2015 Fellowship

The Priority Theme of the 59th United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is “Beijing +20”, whereby:

“The Commission will undertake a review of progress made in the implementation of the Beijing Declaration & the Platform for Action, 20 years after its adoption at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995 {held in Beijing}.”

WomenNC proudly awarded seven North Carolina university students from Duke University, Meredith College, NC State University, and University of North Carolina (UNC), at Chapel Hill as 2015 WomenNC Fellows.  These Fellows not only excel academically, with impressive track records of community and collegiate service, but many have global experiences that will enhance their local-to-global-to-local WomenNC connection.

Click to view the 2015 Fellows’ Biographies

From October through February, WomenNC’s 2015 Fellows focus on their fellowship research topic, as it pertains to the United Nations 59th CSW Theme ( Beijing +20 ) and in conjunction with issues challenging women in North Carolina.  Their intensive research includes partnering with regional North Carolina organizations exhibiting “best-practice and solution-based models”, and investigate the extent that these same challenges occur nationally and globally.  Fellows participate in six leadership development team workshops, and work with volunteer WomenNC mentors and alumni fellows throughout their research process.

The Fellows present their findings to our local community (February 19, 2015 Annual Fellowship Forum).  Their fellowship experience culminates in a local-to-global panel presentation and week-long participation at the United Nations’ 59th CSW Conference in New York, March 2015.

After returning to North Carolina, they will share their experiences and insights in numerous Global-to-Local community forums (listed below).

SUMMARY: WomenNC 2015 Fellows Research Topics:
  • Women in the Military: Family Support & Respect in the Workplace
  • Women and Labor: Evolution of Global Hospitality Housekeeping Work
  • Women in the Prison System: Mechanisms for Re-Entry
  • All Lives Matter: Preventing Suicide of Trans* Youth
  • Effects of Sexual Education as a Means to Prevent Sexual Assault
  • Women and Health: Funding & Supporting Reproductive Health Clinics
  • Women Leaders and the Media: Journey to the Top
DETAILED INFORMATION – Local-to-Global-to-Local*
     Local-to-Global Events & Announcements (Prior to CSW)
 Global-to-Local Fellows’ U.N. REFLECTIONS at North Carolina Community Forums
  • April 9, 2015, 5:45-8:30pm – WomenNC 2015 Fellows CSW Reflections &  Announcement of the 4th Annual Carolyn King Scholarship Award
     (FedEx Global Education Center, UNC-Chapel Hill)
    Invitation Flier: 2015 WomenNC Fellows UN Reflections Forum April 9th
  • April 13, 2015 6pm – Fellow Justine Schnitzler Presents at Women of Welch Village Event, NC State University
  • April 14, 2015 1:30-3pm, Meredith College Forum: Cross Cultural & Societal Challenges Click for Details
  • April 18, 2015, 6pm – 2015 Fellows Featured at United Nations Association (UNA), Wake Chapter Dinner, Click for Details
  • April 21, 2015, 9:15am-2pm  – Women’s Advocacy Day, Click for Details
  • April 22, 2015 – Fellow Liv Alvarado, Presents at Meredith College Graduate Research Seminar
  • April 2015 – Fellow Josh King Presents at Duke’s Center for Trauma in Children – LGBTQ
  • April 2015 – Fellow Dana Raphael Presents at Alpha Phi Sorority at Duke University
  • May, 2015 – Fellow Dina Shehata Presents at Davis Drive High School, Cary, NC

Please contact us if your organization would like a WomenNC Fellow to share their experiences and insights about their research and participation at the United Nations at info@womennc.org or call 919-744-4778 .

The 2015 Fellowship Applicant pool was the largest and most qualified group received in the six years of WNC’s Fellowship Program.  Likewise, it was an extremely challenging process to thoroughly review and select the final team of Fellows to lead WomenNC to CSW in 2015.

WomenNC is excited to embark on our sixth year of awarding Fellowships to North Carolina college and university students (23 Fellows since 2010) and to provide the opportunity to:

  • Investigate and engage in local issues and programs concerning women and girls
  • Partner with regional solution-based organizations
  • Gain leadership and public speaking skills
  • Present findings at the UN CSW Conference in New York (1 week, early March 2015)
  • Be exposed to global issues and interact with people from 180+ countries at CSW
  • Share research and experience with local community and organizations