What is StandUp Maryland?
The StandUp MD fellowship program was developed and launched in 2022 by Delegate Sara Love in direct response to the Supreme Court's decision overturning Roe v Wade. Inspired by Rep. Jamie Raskin's Democracy Summer, and together with Selena Rawlley and Gretchen Zekiel, Del. Love created a fellowship program to bring together pro-choice high school, college, and graduate school student leaders, teach them about reproductive rights, democracy, Maryland politics, and political canvassing. StandUp MD aims to educate and train the next generation of pro-choice leaders to StandUp for reproductive freedom through the political process.
StandUp Fellows participate in the educational component of Representative Jamie Raskin’s renowned Democracy Summer fellowship program, as well as additional StandUp MD exclusive courses. Previous Democracy Summer virtual curriculum included hearing from academic luminary Harvard Professor Alex Keyssar addressing the struggle for democracy and voting rights, voting rights lawyer Marc Elias speaking about how to understand and combat rampant voter suppression, elected officials such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the late John Lewis, and Elise Bryant, Executive Director of the Labor Heritage Foundation, sharing insight into the major contributions of the labor movement to political, economic and cultural democracy.
StandUp MD courses bring a Maryland state focus to the federal issues explored in Democracy Summer, as well a comprehensive session on reproductive rights in the U.S. and the history that shaped them. Past participants learned from Maryland General Assembly leadership, as well as leading state policy experts and advocates. Additionally, StandUp Fellows participate in workshops on and training in political organizing and grassroots efforts.
In 2022 the fellows fanned out across the state and canvassed in 6 different campaigns for pro-choice candidates who were facing anti-choice candidates. All of our candidates won their races.
In 2024 the fellows will canvass in Maryland Legislative District 16 (Bethesda and parts of Potomac & Chevy Chase), checking in with constituents and letting them know about the upcoming reproductive freedom ballot initiative and the importance of turning out and voting for it.
See here to learn more about the 2024 Program
The Fellow Program
The Fellows will:
Learn about Maryland politics and the interplay between state and federal law particularly as it relates to reproductive rights by:
- Participating in the educational component of Representative Jamie Raskin’s renowned Democracy Summer program. Previous Democracy Summer virtual curriculum included hearing from academic luminary Harvard Professor Alex Keyssar addressing the struggle for democracy and voting rights, voting rights lawyer Marc Elias speaking about how to understand and combat rampant voter suppression, elected officials such as former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and the late John Lewis, and Elise Bryant, the Executive Director of the Labor Heritage Foundation, sharing insight into the major contributions of the labor movement to political, economic and cultural democracy.
- Engaging in exclusive StandUp MD courses featuring Maryland General Assembly leadership, as well as other state policy experts and advocates.
Understand effective advocacy and outreach techniques by:
- Joining Democracy Summer in their political organizing workshops
- Gaining real-world skills by canvassing throughout Legislative District 16 (Bethesda, and parts of Potomac & Chevy Chase) to hear what is on the minds of constituents and encourage them to vote in November for the reproductive rights referendum.
Program Details:
- StandUp MD 2024 will run from 06/17/24 - 07/26/24.
- Fellows commit to participating in two afternoons per week of 2 - 3 hours each for virtual seminars, discussions, and workshops; canvassing 2 - 3 hours one day each weekend (usually Saturday) to knock District 16 doors in groups for Delegate Love and the ballot referendum, and attending one day in Annapolis.
- Fellows receive a stipend.
Click HERE for the 2024 Application.
