LINCOLN UNIVERSITY, Pa. –Two Lincoln University students have completed the first semester in a two-year paid fellowship. Nina Clinton and Shalae Matthews are learning reproductive justice values as fellows with the Next Generation Leadership Institute in advocacy, community organizing, and media relations in reproductive justice values.
“The opportunity of being a fellow has been spectacular, said Matthews. “Being amongst like-minded women has motivated me to become more outspoken and involved on my campus.”
Matthews, a sophomore from Brooklyn, New York, studying health science, said she can “share ideas in a non-judgmental environment,” and plans to bring awareness of the issues she’s learning to other students.
“Applying to this fellowship was very important to me because I believe that in today’s society, people aren’t aware of how impactful their voice can be. I feel as though women go through the most trials and tribulations socially and physically, such as dealing with sexual health and getting assistance.”
Nina Clinton is a junior from Fairfield, California, studying mass communications.
This fellowship is an example of Lincoln University’s commitment to student success and continued investment in co-curricular opportunities.
Scholarships The fellowship is open to Black women of all identities from Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Because in-person opportunities have been diminished because of COVID-19, the Next Generation Leadership Institute redesigned the curriculum for an online model that guides the learning outcomes for the program’s key competencies: Reproductive Justice, advocacy, leadership, organizing, communications, and public policy. It includes a comprehensive reading list, interactive webinars, and guest speakers. The goal is to ensure that the fellows develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes they will need to flourish as Reproductive Justice leaders on their campuses and beyond.
Giovanteey Bishop of the Next Generation Leadership Institute said, “Nina Clinton and Shalae Matthews are phenomenal student leaders dedicated to empowering their peers, advancing Reproductive Justice, and ending gender and racial discrimination while promoting better health outcomes for Black Women.”
Crystal Faison, director of the Office of Internship Services assisted Matthews and Clinton with securing the fellowship. Investing in co-curricular expansion is one way Lincoln University shows its commitment to student success.
The Next Generation Leadership Institute team unveiled the newly designed curriculum to guide the learning outcomes for the 2020-2022 cohort of students. The curriculum will highlight the program's key competencies: Reproductive Justice, advocacy, leadership, organizing, communications, and public policy. It includes a comprehensive reading list, interactive webinars, and guest speakers. The goal is to ensure that the Next Generation Leadership Institute fellows develop the knowledge, skills, and attributes they will need to flourish as Reproductive Justice leaders on their campuses and beyond.
Through its recently graduated inaugural 2018-2020 class, the Next Generation Leadership Institute has already cultivated fearless student leaders from five HBCUs, including Lincoln University’s Jenai Patrick 2018-2020 fellow.
“I appreciated the Next Generation Leadership Institute fellowship because it gave me the chance to create community with Black women and inspire us to break barriers and achieve goals,” said Patrick.
During their tenure as Next Generation Leadership fellows, these students developed engaging campus forums on important policy issues, received strategic communication training, learned tips on how to mobilize on their campuses and participated in panel presentations at progressive conferences.
“As our nation takes steps toward fighting systemic racism, it is more important than ever to invest in the lives, leadership potential and power of young Black women, femmes and girls,” said Marcela Howell, president and CEO of In Our Own Voice: National Black Women’s Reproductive Justice Agenda, which supports the fellowship. “As colleges and universities struggle with reopening, we are continuing our commitment to this program because we believe that investing in the training of these young leaders is an important step in investing in the future of Black communities.”
