Barb Schmidt And FAU Debut Student Activism Fellowship

As more and more youth across the country make their voices heard through social activism, Florida Atlantic University and philanthropist Barb Schmidt, co-founder of Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life, have teamed up to recognize and support high school student activists through a new program.

The Barb Schmidt Fellowship: Cultivating Community Involvement, Activism and Social Change offers individuals the chance to further their activism and community involvement by participating in a program that allows them to earn six university dual-enrollment credits.

“We have all been inspired by what youth leaders are doing to make our world a better place. We want to support the work being done by facilitating students’ growth in community engagement and social change efforts,” says Michael Horswell, Ph.D., dean of FAU’s Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, which is offering the fellowship. “Becoming a Barb Schmidt Fellow will help students gain essential skills for successful organizing; foster partnerships through networking with other activists, university faculty and community leaders; and enable the launch of multiple projects for the benefit of our communities.”

The fellowship comprises two semesters of weekend classes during which students will interact with faculty and benefit from their academic expertise, professional backgrounds and practical advocacy experience. Each fellow who completes the program will earn a $1,000 stipend. As of June 25, 65 students had applied, and 30 will be chosen. Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life will support much of the program, and the nonprofit will match all gifts to the program made by Sept. 1.

To donate and for more information, email Gail Vorsas at gvorsas@fau.edu or call 561-297-2337.