Roots & Shoots Fellowships Roots & Shoots fellowship recipients work for one year as a full-time member of the national staff. Currently there are two fellowship positions, the Youth Leadership Fellowship, and the Graduate Fellowship. These fellowships are examples of how the Youth Leadership Initiative provides unique opportunities for outstanding young people to hone their communication, planning and group management skills. Some of the duties of the Roots & Shoots Fellows include: - Act as a Roots & Shoots spokesperson at events and conferences
- Recruit, train and mentor Youth Leadership Council members
- Develop annual youth campaigns
- Plan Youth Leadership Council gatherings
- Serve as youth advisor and liaison for all communications efforts
- Managing youth-based website content
To be eligible for a fellowship position you must have: - Graduated from High School
- Be able to live for one year in Arlington, VA and work in our national office
- Have demonstrated leadership skills through experience in Roots & Shoots and one of the Youth Leadership Councils. Roots & Shoots Fellows receive:
- A monthly salary and a housing stipend
- Paid travel to conferences and events across the United States
- Numerous opportunities to meet with Roots & Shoots groups both nationally and globally
Also, check out the Fellow's Blog to find out what the two Fellows have been up to lately!
Meet our 2007-2008 Roots & Shoots Youth Leadership Fellow: David Chase
David's work with Roots & Shoots began in sixth grade when his science teacher suggested he try out the school's R&S club. He immediately connected with Dr. Jane's philosophy that "every individual matters, every individual has a role to play, every individual makes a difference" and, in seventh grade, spearheaded a local "Green Hotels" campaign to help hotels become eco-friendly.
In ninth grade, David started a Roots & Shoots group at his high school. The first year the club had just a couple members, but it soon picked up speed and became active in the community; organizing a bi-annual Main Street cleanup, creating a sustainable garden, raising money for the Tchimpounga Youth Campaign and starting a school recycling program.
David, along with two other Roots & Shoots members, founded the New England Youth Leadership Council in 2005. Since its inception, the council has organized two regional summits, two Roots & Shoots Earth Day events at the Franklin Park Zoo and is currently creating a new regional peace campaign. "I am very proud of the New England Youth Leadership Council and what it has accomplished," David said. "I never thought it would have grown this much in such a short time."
Of all his experiences with Roots & Shoots, however, the one that stands out the most to David is the Youth Leadership Immersion trip to Tanzania last summer.
"It was an experience that defined who I am," he said. "It was amazing to be with 10 other youth leaders who shared my passions and my dreams."
While there, the youth leaders met local area Roots & Shoots groups.
"Although there was a difference in culture, the desire to make a difference was the same," David said.
David graduated from Sturgis Charter Public School in June and will be attending St. Mary's College in Maryland once his year with the Jane Goodall Institute is complete. Top of the Page
Meet our 2007-2008 Roots & Shoots Graduate Fellow: Shawn Sweeney  Shawn Sweeney is a recent graduate of the College of Wooster located in Wooster, Ohio where he studied psychology. Primates have always been an incredible passion for Shawn and after an awe inspiring visit from Dr. Jane in 2005, Shawn started and led the first ever C.O.W. group of Roots & Shoots. Along with other like minded groups on campus this R&S group sponsored many talks on campus on green living and environmental stewardship. In addition they successfully designed and created a "nature themed" sacred space on campus. This small indoor space was used by all students as a place for quiet and meditation. The room featured a full wall mural of a birch forest in honor of Dr. Jane.
During his Senior year at the College of Wooster Shawn completed an independent study project in conservation psychology with Dr. Susan Clayton on visitor perceptions of Zoo animals at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo and Zoo Atlanta. Since his graduation in 2006 Shawn has been continuing work in conservation psychology research with Dr. Kristen Lukas at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo. There he has completed a successful baseline evaluation of their conservation program as well as a project looking at visitor attitudes and knowledge and three types of informal museum displays featuring chimpanzees. Also since his graduation Shawn spent time working with the Public Research and Evaluation Team at the Wildlife Conservation Society working on a project looking at the significance and value of Zoos to our communities.
In September 2007, Shawn started with the Jane Goodall Institute as the first ever Graduate Leadership Fellow for Roots & Shoots. As the Graduate Leadership Fellow Shawn will work as a member of the national staff working on national campaigns, supporting youth leaders, our regions, and member groups, as well as acting as a liaison between R&S youth and administration. Shawn is also a member and JGI communications liaison for the College Leadership Council of Roots & Shoots.
Shawn can speak on many issues such as green campus initiatives, youth action for conservation, primates (especially chimpanzees), service learning, youth leadership, being a member of Roots & Shoots, zoos and conservation, conservation psychology, and humane education.
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