PATHNORTH

Buxton Fellowship Description

September 3, 2012 - May 31, 2013

Fellows Program Description:

The Buxton Initiative is a non-profit organization that brings together people of differing faiths and worldviews to build a stronger and more civil global community. We dispel stereotypes through candid dialogue and authentic friendship, which builds understanding and forges strong relationships and partnerships across communities.   BuxtonFellowsprovide nearly all the staffing for Buxton’s programs. Fellows are recent college graduates who represent the Christian and Muslim faith traditions. By working together on a daily basis for nine months, they continue building upon the legacy of interfaith friendship begun by Buxton’s founders, Ambassador J. Douglas Holladay and Dr. Akbar S. Ahmed. When Ambassador Holladay, a Christian, and Dr. Ahmed, a Muslim, met shortly after September 11, each was in search of someone with whom to explore ways to avoid what Samuel Huntington saw as the inevitable “clash of civilizations”. They decided to meet regularly to better understand each other’s faith. As mutual trust grew, they expanded their conversations to include others, including ambassadors, senators, CEOs, generals, and academics. The Buxton Initiative emerged from these gatherings and continues the work of creating safe environments in which people from various faith traditions can engage one another honestly and learn from each other.

Qualifications:

Ideal candidates will possess excellent organizational, writing, and interpersonal communication skills. They should demonstrate a strong desire to improve relations among different faith communities through friendship and dialogue. Fellows should be knowledgeable of their faith tradition in order to contribute to discussions and writings. Interest in journalism, photography, and social media is valued. Most importantly, strong candidates will express a willingness to work closely with the other members of the Buxton team, particularly the other fellows. Because of the interfaith makeup of the Buxton fellows, genuine collaboration is dependent on their openness to learning about each other’s faith.

Duties:

Buxton Fellows work a normal business day (9am-5pm) five days a week. On occasion they may be asked to participate in events that take place after normal business hours. Duties will include but are not limited to: planning and coordinating events at the office and off-site, writing and editing online publications, contributing to the operations of the office, assisting with strategic planning, and establishing partnerships with local leaders and young professionals who are interested in contributing to the Buxton Initiative’s programs.

Compensation:

A monthly stipend of $1,500 will be awarded to each fellow during the nine-month fellowship period.

How to Apply:

If you are interested in applying for this position, please send your resume, a writing sample (500-1,000 words), and a completed Buxton Fellow Application to info@buxtoninitiative.org no later than March 30, 2012. Should you have any additional questions or concerns feel free to contact Kathryn Goetz at (202) 467-2078 or by email at kgoetz@pathnorth.com.