If you've already read this letter and are ready to apply, click here.

Dear prospective 2012 Face to Face / Faith to Faith Counselor-Fellows,

Some of you may already be intimately familiar with the Face to Face / Faith to Faith international multifaith teen leadership program of Auburn Seminary. If you are, then please pay close attention to the information in this letter, which describes some of the changes and improvements in the program planned for 2012 (see below for news about the size of the delegations, the role of counselors in year-round programs, staff training, and the curriculum). If you are new to Face to Face, please spend some time reviewing background materials about the program using the navigation menu to your left, and review this letter as well.

Counselors should be available to work from June 20 through July 16, 2012 as follows: 

COUNSELOR-FELLOW LEARNING AND PLANNING: JUNE 20-29, 2012
PARTICIPANT-FELLOW LEARNING PROGRAM: JULY 1-15, 2012
EVALUATION, PACK-UP AND DONOR EVENT: JULY 15-16, 2012

Eligibility
Counselors must be at least 19 years old by July 1, 2012. Past counselors have ranged from early 20's to mid-30's, and preference will be given to applicants with 5+ years of relevant learning and experience. As always, we strive to recognize dietary and religious needs of every member of the Face to Face community. Upon acceptance, please discuss specific needs with the Program Director.

Now in its eleventh year, Face to Face / Faith to Faith will again bring a delegation of teen leaders from Belfast, Cape Town, Jerusalem and the United States together for the 'Phase 2' international experience in Holmes, New York. In 2012 there will be twelve (12) participant-fellows from each of the four regions, for a total of 48. Also, the Leader-in-Training program (LIT) was replaced by the regional and international alumni programs in 2011 so that all 500+ alumni would be able to stay connected to the program indefinitely. This means that the total size of the international delegation in Holmes, New York will be smaller this year than in past years, which means the number of counselor-fellows that are needed will also be smaller. We anticipate a staff size of approximately 16 people, and all - or almost all - counselors will be in bunks with participants.

In each of the four program regions, efforts are underway to offer additional local programs, even beyond the yearlong program for the participant-fellows. This year, unlike in past years, counselors for the Phase 2 summer intensive in Holmes, New York will be expected to play a role in the year-round programming in their home region where possible. Applicants who do not live in one of the four regions will be considered, but preference will be given to those who are currently supporting - or who in the future are able to support - the year-round regional programs in Belfast, Cape Town, Jerusalem and the U.S.

There are two more developments worth noting, one regarding counselor training and another regarding the Phase 2 curriculum for the summer intensive:

This year, we will deepen the learning experience for counselors, to go beyond the traditional week of preparation and program planning and staff dialogue group. The phrase "counselor-fellows" describes the dual-role nature of this opportunity - counselors who will support and guide participants through their learning, and fellows who will eagerly engage in their own deep learning as well. We are planning a 3-day seminar for all counselor-fellows before the program planning begins. The seminar will feature leading experts in dialogue, activism, conflict resolution, experiential education and religious leadership to share their wisdom with counselors in an intimate setting. We also want to develop a long-term relationship with counselor-fellows who can participate in the year-round programs of Face to Face, as mentioned above, as well as be part of Auburn's impact-campaigns (for more information, see Groundswell).

Regarding the summer intensive curriculum ("Phase 2" of the yearlong program): we are excited to put additional emphasis this year on skills that participants can use to engage in social action. Every year Face to Face / Faith to Faith instills young leaders with new skills in communication, dialogue, religious difference, and identity. This year they will also learn skills to become social entrepreneurs: how to define outcomes, raise money, engage media, manage projects, and evaluate success.

Why all these developments? Face to Face / Faith to Faith has always been about individual transformation. We never want to lose that. But we want to more intentional about community transformation too. Transformation starts with the individual, but if it ends there, it is not good enough. We want the young leaders who come to Face to Face / Faith to Faith to see themselves as change agents, to understand how their religious tradition can be a factor in making change, to gain new skills, and to understand how to work within a group / institutional context to make change. To do all of that well, we need a top-notch team of counselor-fellows, and that's where you come in.

One more thing you'll want to know before you apply: because of this additional investment in learning for Face to Face / Faith to Faith counselors, we have changed the structure of the counselor stipends, which will be substantially reduced from previous years. We want the counselor-fellow experience to be a unique chance to grow personally and to jump-start your career. In addition to the significant expense of international air travel, local travel, and room and board for 27 days (costs that can run $3,000 to $3,500), counselor-fellows will be given small stipends depending on level of experience ($250-500).

We are excited to hear from you and to get to know you. We look forward to receiving your application, which will be reviewed on a rolling basis. You should receive notification within three weeks of your application date about the possibility of an interview.

For the application details, click here.

Regards,

Rabbi Justus Baird