World Pulse celebrating 4th Annual ‘Voices of Our Future’

World Pulse is just weeks away from launching our fourth annual Voices of Our Future training program program. We are eager to hear everyone’s voices! If you haven’t already, I encourage you to sign up to participate either as an Applicant or as a Volunteer Listener.

What is Voices of Our Future?

Voices of Our Future is an online training program in citizen journalism, and digital empowerment for emerging grassroots women leaders. At the end of the application process, thirty applicants will be selected to become Correspondents and take part in the full five-month long program where they will gain the tools and knowledge to vocalize and actualize their visions for change. Specifically, Correspondents will learn about the principles of practicing ethical citizen journalism; how to write compelling frontline journals, profiles, feature stories, and op-eds; how to use new media to amplify their voices; and the basics of digital storytelling.

How Do We Select Applicants?

During the course of the application process, you will be given a set of learning materials each week (for a total of four (4) weeks) through the Voices of Our Future Applicants Classroom, and asked to complete an associated writing assignment.

A panel of staff and selected volunteers, called Listeners, will choose 30 applicants based on the following criteria:

• Completion of all assignments
• Expression of a positive vision for the future and solutions-oriented writing
• Commitment to promote global issues through the eyes of women
• Communication of personal experience as an underrepresented voice in your community, nation, or world; living in a developing country or conflict zone; or facing discrimination on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, race, or social class
• Demonstration of leadership on a personal, community, national, or global level

You will have the opportunity to demonstrate the above criteria through your writing assignments and through your interaction with staff, other applicants, and our online community on World Pulse.

We encourage you to reach out during this process and begin to build (or expand!) your own online community and discover the amazing women who are active on World Pulse every day.

Read about the women who participated in Voices of Our Future in 2009, 2010 and 2012 and add them to your community!

How do I apply?

The application embodies the spirit of new media. You will need regular and reliable access to the Internet throughout.

Step 1: Join this group by April 2nd, 2013. Simply click on the orange “Join this group” button above. If you are not currently registered or logged in to World Pulse, you will be taken to the Login | Registration page. Once you have completed the registration, you will be directed back to this page, and then you can click the Join button above. This group serves as a space where you can ask questions and receive feedback and support from World Pulse staff and other applicants.

Step 2: If you were not previously registered for a World Pulse account, after you click “Create New Account” a welcome e-mail will be sent to the e-mail address you used to register. You MUST log into your e-mail account, open this message, and click on the link to verify your account before you can post in World Pulse.

Step 3: After you have joined this group, please read the post titled “Welcome to the Voices of Our Future 2013 Applicants Group!.” This post can be found under the Group Journal tab at the top of the page.

Step 4: Please fill out the short intake survey before April 2nd (required). Go to http://bit.ly/WjjgtQ.

Step 5: From April 2nd through April 29th, applicants will be given a series of four (4) sets of learning materials and assignments to complete. The materials are divided into: Week 1, Week 2, Week 3, Week 4. The classroom becomes live on April 2nd!Application Classroom. We suggest you bookmark this page for easy use.

Step 6: Read through the learning materials and complete the writing assignment by the due date. Post your assignment in your journal, carefully following directions for tagging.

Our panel of staff and Listeners will choose the top 30 most impressive applicants based on the criteria above by May 20, 2013.

Don’t miss out on this unique opportunity to speak for yourself to the world and advance your dreams for social change.

Important Dates

• April 1, 2013 Week Three Assignment due; Week Four Assignment Live.
• April 29, 2013 Week Four Assignment due; Application process ends.
• May 27, 2013 Correspondents announced!
• June 10, 2013 Voices of Our Future Program begins.
• October 7,2013 Voices of Our Future Program ends.

Those interested in joining the Application for the training program in Citizen Journalism and Digital Empowerment should head over to the Applicants Group.

And, those of you interested in volunteering can learn more about the opportunity at this link.

This is an exciting time in our vibrant online community, and I am thrilled to see all of the new faces!

I hope all of you will take the bold steps to make new friends, send some friendly comments, and to freely speak your own truth.

Your voice is important!

In partnership,
Scott

Message from the Founder of World Pulse

On WorldPulse.com a vocal uprising is emerging as women from across the globe share their messages and make lasting connections—from schoolgirls in Uganda linking with mentors in Germany, to Afghani leaders swapping solutions with their sisters in Liberia. We are raising the volume on their voices by transmitting their messages to the White House, CNN, the World Bank, and more.

Our community IS a paradigm-shift. We are beyond what any one project or organization can do. Together, we are igniting profound, reciprocal connections, and accelerating outspoken movements. You are a part of this!

Let’s raise the roof!

Today, we are launching a quarterly bulletin to share our community activities and achievements.

We are grateful for your vocal support and feedback.

You ARE the PULSE!