Pros
1. Good work-life balance and good benefits.
Cons
This is one of the most poorly run organizations I've ever encountered on every single level. If you are considering becoming a fellow at this organization, my advice is: DO NOT DO IT. DO NOT DO IT. Please, do not do it. For the reasons I get into below, do not make the mistake of applying to or accepting this fellowship. (Note: I'm not sure how the other reviews are so positive, but it's a bit sketchy to me. Makes me wonder who really wrote them.) 1. The leadership is absolutely horrid. They are apathetic, uncompromising, and borderline abusive. They have no interest in developing future leaders. In my experience, working under the management of the WFF made me feel unheard and unvalued. It made me less confident in my interpersonal skills and made me feel less empowered to make change in the world. This fellowship amounted to an active regression for me due to the incompetence of the leadership, and I don't want anyone else to have to experience that. 2. This is not really a fellowship at the WFF. This is more of a job at America Works. For your day-to-day work experiences, look up the reviews of the company, since that will largely be what you're doing. If you're interested in social justice, go elsewhere -- you'll be responsible for making sure that America Works (a for-profit company) reaches its "quota" -- placing enough people on welfare into low-paying, unsustainable jobs. That's right, the company makes money off of it. You are working for a corporation, not a non-profit. 3. There is no real research component. Any research you do will largely be of your own volition and without any real support. Fellows, who are college graduates (or beyond), were treated as if they didn't know about dependent or independent variables. There were no resources with which to complete the project (including online databases or any kind of data analytics software), and the organization clearly doesn't really care about what your results are. 4. There is no real policy component, aside from 1-2 short, vaguely relevant events. If you have any interests beyond workforce development (such as health, mental health, incarceration, criminal justice, housing), do not expect to be able to bring those with you to this fellowship. The "policy" component amounted to 4-5 short articles that we read before we arrived and then discussed for 40 minutes. If you're interested in policy, look elsewhere. Let me be clear about this: unless you are very particularly interested in adult education and workforce development, this is likely not the place for you. Unless you can put your head down and find your own ways to make your work meaningful, despite the organization and corporation you work for, this is not for you. Unless you can handle dealing with the erratic egos of unqualified managers, this is not for you. Before you make any decisions, ask to speak with a current fellow. Be sure to speak with the fellow who is at the site you will likely be placed at, or who spends time at the site you're at -- even if the organization only wants you to speak with the Manhattan fellow. Look on the website and email past fellows. Ask about people's experiences. Learn about what you're getting yourself into. This is not a fellowship I would really recommend to anyone, and if I could go back and do something else, I would in a heartbeat. Please, avoid at all costs -- for the sake of your own sanity, well-being, and personal growth.