In 2005, MCHR began the Summer Human Rights Fellowship Program in which fellows are placed with Coalition members to address human rights issues of concern in the Midwest.

Work performed by the fellows contributes greatly not only to the goals and objectives of the host organization, but to the broader regional effort to raise awareness of regional, national, and international human rights issues. Fellows work with the host organization and Coalition partners to develop concrete strategies to effectively advocate for improved recognition of human rights in the Midwest and in the broader United States.

The application process for the Summer Fellowship Program begins in the month of March, approximately two months prior to the start of a fellow's work. Fellowships range from 8 to 10 weeks in duration and students are paid a stipend upon completion of their fellowship.

In past years, summer fellows contributed in the following important ways:

1. Preventing police abuse: Collection of information on police civilian oversight programs from around the country, and beginning analysis and strategizing on developing a best practices model for the City of Chicago;
2. Getting information on regional cases to the United Nations: Coordination with regional and national NGOs in the strategy forming, research and writing of a shadow report to the U.N. committee responsible for the oversight of U.S. compliance with the Convention Against Racial Discrimination;
3. Gathering data on violations: Conduction of more than 300 interviews with meatpacking workers in Nebraska to assess the effectiveness of the Meatpacking Workers Bill of Rights; and
4. Empowering people to demand their rights: Presentation of Know Your Rights materials to immigrant detainees in Iowa, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Minnesota, and to community groups in towns and cities where immigrants are being detained.

For more information on our Human Rights Fellowship Program, please contact Rochelle Hammer at rhammer@midwesthumanrights.org.