Deadline: August 11, 2026
Applications are open for the City Bureau Civic Information Fellowship 2026. The City Bureau’s Civic Information Fellowship is a paid, six-month, two-phase program for Chicagoans who want to grow their skills in community engagement, civic participation and journalism. With support from City Bureau staff, fellows will use these skills to design and implement group projects that help improve their neighbors’ access to information. Their work prioritizes the South and West sides of Chicago.
Fellows attend weekly learning and co-working sessions to build their skills. Fellows work individually and in teams to deeply understand the information needs of their communities, gather information, build relationships over time, and tell compelling stories about civic issues.
City Bureau emphasizes racial equity and community engagement, and participants can expect to have critical conversations about how people create, receive and share information; and how they participate in civic life. All participants are encouraged to think creatively about how to strengthen the local information ecosystems in Chicago’s communities of color.
Program Phases
The fellowship is split into two phases.
- Phase 1: Fellows focus on spending as much time in their communities as possible to fully understand what information their community needs and design a project that meets that need. Fellows will commit to 12 hours of work per week for 14 weeks and will be paid a $5,000 stipend in 2-week increments.
- Phase 2: Fellows who successfully complete Phase 1 will be invited to continue their work in this stage. With designs in place, organisers will focus on putting your information needs projects into action. Fellows will commit to eight hours a week for 10 weeks and will be paid a $2,800 stipend in 2-week increments.
Eligibility
- No specific professional experience is required. If you are excited to grow skill to keep your community informed they encourage you to apply.
- They look for people who have a demonstrated interest in civic issues and engagement, community organizing, public policy or journalism through personal projects, previous training, school and internships. If you are a chronically inquisitive person passionate about storytelling, building community and finding creative ways to connect people with critical information, this opportunity is for you. Former fellows are welcome to apply.
- Applicants must be living in or around Chicago to participate, as they do significant in-person engagement and community work in the city. They do not offer a remote-only option. The time commitments are mandatory and repeated absences will put your ability to complete the fellowship at risk.
- They highly value lived and professional experience on the South and West sides as well as active or experienced Chicago Documenters. You must have reliable transportation to and from their Bronzeville office, and throughout South and West Side neighborhoods to complete your weekly assignments. You must also be authorized to work in the United States.
Application
Applications for the fall fellowship cycle are due 11:59 p.m. CST on Aug. 11. No late submissions will be accepted. They recommend saving your answers in a separate file and using a word counter to keep your answers concise.
For more information, visit City Bureau Civic Information Fellowship.
