William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations News Release • September 19, 2024 • H. Corn
NORTH CAROLINA – The William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Relations is now accepting nominations and applications from all North Carolina residents for the next class of Friday Fellows.
Named for the late UNC System President William C. “Bill” Friday, the Friday Fellowship is a program approaching its 30th year of bringing together North Carolinians across differences.
Located in McDowell County near the Blue Ridge Parkway, Wildacres Retreat was dedicated almost 75 years ago “to the betterment of human relations” in hopes that people who visited would learn to live together in harmony. Wildacres Leadership Initiative (WLI) was formed 50 years later to work throughout the state, launching the Friday Fellowship program to cultivate North Carolina leaders. In Bill Friday’s words, “The greatest need in our state and country is for a generation of leaders with moral principles, and ethical standards…with an unshakable commitment to courage and fairness with grace and courtesy and decency.”
To date, over 200 Friday Fellows have completed the fellowship, a program of WLI. Friday Fellows come from across North Carolina, all walks of life, and a wide range of employment sectors. They include religious clergy, K-12 teachers, non-profit executives, elected officials, creatives, small-business owners, higher education professionals, entrepreneurs, community-based leaders, and others.
The Friday Fellowship is a two-year program consisting primarily of six extended weekend seminars. With an emphasis on relational approaches to leadership and experiential learning, Friday Fellows journey to a variety of places in North Carolina, from the mountains of McDowell County, to the Albemarle Sound at the border of Tyrrell and Washington Counties, to a barrier island alongside the Atlantic Ocean in Carteret County.
In line with the fellowship’s aim to bring together a diverse group of leaders who are committed to the betterment of human relations, applicants should have an interest in and be prepared to engage across difference with curiosity and courage.
To be considered for selection, candidates must complete an application and have a nomination submitted on their behalf by someone who is meaningfully connected to their work in the world. Nominations are accepted from previous Friday Fellows as well as the general public. Applicants and nominators are encouraged to review all program requirements carefully.
WLI encourages applicants from all 100 North Carolina counties.
There is no fee or tuition associated with applying to or participating in the fellowship program.
Applications and nominations for the upcoming Friday Fellowship class are due December 10, 2024.
An optional virtual information session will be held on October 7, 2024 at 4pm.
Complete information, including nomination and application forms is available at www.fridayfellowship.org
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