The Humanity in Action Fellowship 2019 in United States

The Humanity in Action Fellowship programs focus on challenges to liberal democracies and pluralism in each of the program countries — issues that derive from different histories and take different forms. The site-specific curriculum for each country or city program promotes a rigorous, collaborative, and immersive learning experience for the approximately 20 local and international students who engage with speakers, local community leaders, and each other.

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Humanity in Action is a collaborative, international learning community of individuals from or based in Europe and the United States committed to the values of pluralism, liberal democracy, social justice, and human rights, particularly in the transatlantic context. They seek to promote these values through different forms of civic engagement shaped by the specific historical and cultural contexts in which they live.

They educate to encourage critical exploration of liberal democracy and pluralism, within the specific national historical and present contexts of their Fellowship programs. They connect an ever growing transatlantic community to promote continual learning and collaboration. They inspire action for advancing social justice and equity.
Given the ever growing challenges to the values of equality, liberal democracy and pluralism in Europe and the United States today, their work is more complex, relevant, and demanding than ever before.

The intellectual touchstone for Humanity in Action, founded in 1997, is the study of acts of resistance–and lack thereof–during the Second World War and the Holocaust. These events raise critical questions which relate to the past and present: Why do some people resist while others remain bystanders? What bonds those who recognize the need to resist? How are acts of resistance influenced by national and historical contexts?

Since the beginning of the program in Denmark to study the flight and rescue of Jews in Denmark, Humanity in Action has grown conceptually, intellectually and geographically. Its scope has expanded to include topics as diverse as the legacies of American slavery and the Jim Crow era; colonialism and migration; conflict resolution in the Balkans; transitions from authoritarian to democratic forms of government; and other social justice issues in Europe and the United States. Humanity in Action has continued to evolve and will do so in the future.

Through the programs:

• They affirm the importance of strengthening democratic values by building bridges between communities.
• strive to develop inclusive spaces in which contentious ideas are respectfully engaged, modeling the type of pluralistic, discursive society we imagine.
• engage with various perspectives, including that of the establishment.
• insist upon a vision of pluralistic societies that embrace differences and negotiate their boundaries through respectful, dignified political, social and personal relationships.

As a part of the year-long Fellowship, the Fellows will participate in an intensive four-week educational program located in one of the below cities. Each program provides a site-specific curriculum for examining historical and contemporary challenges to the values of pluralism and equality. The programs offer an opportunity to learn about the different nationally-relevant themes illuminated by diverse experts, site visits, individual presentations by the Fellows, and group discussions. Applicants are strongly encouraged to look closely at the programs of previous years to get a sense of the daily rhythms and focal point of the programs. While these programs are not designed to develop advocacy skills, it is their hope that the educational experience will provide the intellectual foundation through which future advocacy can grow.