If YOU are an alumna/alumnus of a U.S. Embassy/U.S. government-sponsored exchange program and have an idea for a creative outreach event, a special activity or a unique program in your community in Canada, apply now for the Community Leadership Program (CLP), co-sponsored by the U.S. Embassy and Fulbright Canada. This is an opportunity to take action, to get involved, and to help make your community and the world a better place.

As an alumnus/alumna, you know that the mandate of the U.S. Embassy and Fulbright Canada is to foster mutual understanding between the people of the United States and the people of Canada. As ambassadors for your country and intellectual leaders in your fields, you are key to providing community leadership on environmental and social justice issues, as well as community development efforts. As such, the Embassy is pleased to announce a new partnership with Fulbright Canada in offering this unique Community Leadership Program grant opportunity across Canada. During this inaugural year of the CLP, we want to encourage you to apply for a grant award (valued up to $8,000USD) to undertake a project in your community.

You must apply in teams of at least three alumni (Canadians, Americans, and all USG exchange program alumni are eligible), including a project manager who must be a Canadian. All participants must currently be living in Canada. If you have a project idea, but don’t know other alumni in your region, please contact the Embassy’s Alumni Coordinators, or Jennifer Regan, Chief Program Officer at Fulbright Canada. The Embassy’s Alumni Coordinators and Jennifer will contact potential partners on your behalf and assist you in further developing your application.

You are also encouraged to include at least one community partner. In addition to bringing together alumni, the CLP aspires to bring together local universities, NGOs, and other community groups to plan and implement the project.

For purposes of the grant competition, we have divided Canada into six regions: Atlantic Canada (NL, NS, NB, and PEI), Ontario, Québec, the prairies (MB, SK, and AB), British Columbia, and the North (YT, NWT, and NU). We are aiming to grant at least one award in each region.

We encourage you to submit a Community Leadership Program Project Application. The proposals will be reviewed by a joint U.S. Embassy-Fulbright Canada committee. Proposals will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

1. The potential for positive impact on the community, particularly among youth;
2. The degree of alumni, community, and partner engagement;
3. Creativity in achieving program mandate;
4. Cost effectiveness.

EXAMPLES of possible project proposals include:

• Training workshops on topics such as leadership, teamwork building, entrepreneurship, financial literacy, or the value of international exchange for youth audiences;
• A literacy program for new Canadians;
• A community building project (similar to a Habitat for Humanity project);

If you would like to participate in the project in your region, but would prefer to be involved in a project led by another alumna/alumnus, you may sign up as a “volunteer alumni team member” by completing the CLP application for volunteers. The Canadian alumna/alumnus who proposes the project will be the project manager and will be responsible for managing the funds and the efforts of the other alumni partners and those alumni who have volunteered to be part of the program.

Projects will not be approved that:

• Request funding for individual professional development;
• Finance overhead expenses for existing institutions.

Please see the CLP Terms & Conditions for more details. Applications must be submitted online to CLP@fulbright.ca and must be received by December 15, 2010. If you have any questions, please contact Fulbright Canada at CLP@fulbright.ca.