Volunteer Service - Fellows provide volunteer service in the following four programs to help to improve the health and quality of life of our vulnerable neighbors (you can read more about these programs by clicking on the links below):

-Health Partners

-Housing Programs

-Community Center

-Youth Program

Community Engagement - Fellows participate in and learn about Horseshoe Farm’s innovative three level approach to community engagement. This is an extremely important part of the Fellowship and of effective citizen service leadership.

Teamwork and Leadership - Fellows work closely with a team of other talented Fellows and help to lead and manage programs within their volunteer service activities. Fellows also help lead and provide supervision and teaching to health profession/medical students and undergraduate students who volunteer or intern with Project Horseshoe Farm. Finally, Fellows learn about and contribute to the operations and administrative functions of their site and participate in a reading/discussion module focused on leadership and management.

Education, Mentorship, Reflection, and Education - Fellows participate in weekly reading and discussion series, participate in monthly Fellow led reading and discussion series, meet with guest speakers and leaders who come to visit Horseshoe Farm, and meet regularly with Site Directors for mentorship and supervision.

*Please note that though we believe that activism and political advocacy can be important means for achieving positive change, Horseshoe Farm does not engage in political advocacy or activism or take positions on political issues or other causes, and neither political advocacy nor activism is part of the Fellowship experience or the Horseshoe Farm culture. There are many excellent organizations that focus on activism and political advocacy, and if these are your interests for your gap year, we encourage you to seek out opportunities with these organizations.

A Typical Day in the Life of a Fellow

One of the strengths and unique features of the Horseshoe Farm Fellowship is the breadth of experiences in community health and education and the exposure in an integrated way to multiple dimensions of citizen service leadership. All Fellows participate in all aspects of the Fellowship. It is easier to describe a typical week than a typical day.

Please keep in mind that every year is different, and each year inevitably brings new challenges and new and unexpected circumstances. We are looking for Fellows who have the flexibility and resilience to adapt and maintain a positive mindset and can do attitude even when things do not go exactly as planned. The following provides an approximate breakdown of Fellows’ activities during the week (all of the times below are approximate and may extend longer). We are looking for Fellows who maintain a mindset of extending themselves in pursuit of our mission and personal growth and going above and beyond to get done what needs to get done:

*The times below are approximate (approximately 32 hours per week is spent in volunteer service to others -- this includes volunteering to help vulnerable neighbors through the health partners program, volunteering with children in local schools, volunteering at local community center programs, and volunteering at a local nursing home or other housing program for vulnerable adults). The remainder of time is spent on other complementing activities related to developing as citizen service leaders.

Sample Weekly Calendar - Link

• 16 hours/week volunteering with 8-10 “health partners” (building relationships and providing a consistent, caring, and supportive relationship (this is the foundational and most important part of the health partners program), providing home visits, attending medical appointments with health partners, helping navigate health and social services systems, health coaching, support to family, help with budgeting and finances, providing a stable, consistent, and caring relationship, providing rides, etc.). Fellows also have regularly scheduled meetings with their Site Director to discuss their health partners and to receive ongoing teaching and supervision.

• 6-8 hours/week volunteering with students in an elementary school teacher’s classroom (“power hours”). Fellows volunteer in pairs in the same classrooms and with the same small group of students over the course of the year so that they can build relationships with teachers and students and make progress over the course of the year.

• ½ day/week volunteering to help lead activities at a local community center, senior center, or center for vulnerable adults. Fellows also help participants by providing rides to and from community center on other days.

• ½ day/week volunteering at a local supported housing program, other housing program for vulnerable adults, or nursing home -- regular visits and support to a small group of “health partners” in these settings, help with programming, other support. (at Greensboro site, Fellows also provide weekend support one time per month to women in our enhanced independent housing program).

• ½ day/week volunteering at a local “community engagement” site (local civic, business, government, non-profit, or other organization -- past Fellows have volunteered in the Mayor’s office, at local non-profits, with local libraries, at local animal shelters, at local healthcare agencies, with local schools, at local museums, with local contractors, with local police and sheriff’s offices, at local attorney’s offices, etc.).

• 4-10 hours per week of program planning, operations, special projects, and administrative time (This varies week to week and varies depending on operational functions that are occurring at a particular time of the year. For example, time spent on these activities tends to increase substantially during our recruitment and selection period). Because of other responsibilities during the week, Fellows should expect that some of this planning, administrative work, or operations work will have to occur on Saturdays or in evenings.

• Approximately 6 hours/week of education, supervision, discussions, and other meetings - Monday evening discussions and movies related to readings led by Site Directors (Mondays from 4:30PM - 7PM), individual supervision and check-ins with Site Directors, morning team meetings with Site Directors, weekly team meeting and teaching with Horseshoe Farm Executive Director.

• Approximately 2 hours/week of assigned readings in preparation for Monday Discussions.

• Periodic weekday evening and weekend community social events, potlucks, community and civic meetings, etc. It is important to remember that community immersion is a vital part of the Fellowship experience, and that community events are an important part of getting to know and becoming a part of the community.

• Approximately 5 hours/week -- PORTCH Fridays including lunch speakers and visits in the community that focus on:

  • People - getting to know a range of local people and leaders in the community.

  • Organizations - getting to know a range of local organizations in the community

  • Relationships - build, develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with others in the community.

  • Team Building - participate in team building activities to help support our effective function as a team.

  • Culture/Community - learn about the local culture of the community and other aspects of the community.

  • History - learn about the local history of the community.

• Monthly Saturday workdays, cleanups, maintenance work around Horseshoe Farm and sites, or special events or work days with partner organizations -- scheduled by Site Directors, typically 1 Saturday per month.

• Fellows typically organize and attend other evening and weekend social events, gatherings, ultimate frisbee or other sports, and activities, including with other young people in their communities.

• 1 day per week protected time (generally Sundays) to relax, recharge, do laundry, catch up with family, etc.

Fellowship Focus Areas

Volunteer Service - Fellows provide volunteer service in the following four programs to help to improve the health and quality of life of our vulnerable neighbors (you can read more about these programs by clicking on the links below):

-Health Partners

-Housing Programs

-Community Center

-Youth Program

Community Engagement - Fellows participate in and learn about Horseshoe Farm’s innovative three level approach to community engagement. This is an extremely important part of the Fellowship and of effective citizen service leadership.

Teamwork and Leadership - Fellows work closely with a team of other talented Fellows and help to lead and manage programs within their volunteer service activities. Fellows also help lead and provide supervision and teaching to health profession/medical students and undergraduate students who volunteer or intern with Project Horseshoe Farm. Finally, Fellows learn about and contribute to the operations and administrative functions of their site and participate in a reading/discussion module focused on leadership and management.

Education, Mentorship, Reflection, and Education - Fellows participate in weekly reading and discussion series, participate in monthly Fellow led reading and discussion series, meet with guest speakers and leaders who come to visit Horseshoe Farm, and meet regularly with Site Directors for mentorship and supervision.

*Please note that though we believe that activism and political advocacy can be important means for achieving positive change, Horseshoe Farm does not engage in political advocacy or activism or take positions on political issues or other causes, and neither political advocacy nor activism is part of the Fellowship experience or the Horseshoe Farm culture. There are many excellent organizations that focus on activism and political advocacy, and if these are your interests for your gap year, we encourage you to seek out opportunities with these organizations.

Fellows receive valuable experience through:

-Mentored relationship focused volunteer service to seniors, adults living with mental illness, other vulnerable adults, and children.

-Work with health providers, teachers, community center and nursing home leaders, and other local service leaders, extending their capacity to provide relationship focused care and support to those they serve.

-Hands on exposure to Horseshoe Farm’s multidimensional approach to impacting community health and the biopsychosocial aspects of community health.

-Close work and collaboration with a team of other talented Fellows and ongoing teaching and mentorship from top notch Site Directors.

-Learning about health systems, health policy, and Horseshoe Farm’s approach to reinforcing and strengthening health and education systems and engaging and working effectively with local communities.

-Experience with and learning about operations, strategy, management, leadership, finances, and other aspects of community based non-profit organizations. Introduction to concepts related to starting new initiatives.

-Volunteer work with local community organizations and other opportunities to get to know your local community more broadly.

-Weekly reading and discussion series (syllabus overview)

*Horseshoe Farm is increasingly being recognized by top medical schools and graduate schools across the country. Our Fellows tell us that their experience as a Fellow tends to be a major focus during their interviews. Fellows consistently go on to some of the top medical, nursing, public health, health management, and education programs in the nation and a significant number have received the most prestigious scholarships and awards at their respective institutions.

Because of the generosity of donors and their desire to help and support promising young people who willingly choose to make a personal sacrifice in pursuit of a year of volunteer service and learning , we are able to offer the Fellowship without tuition or charge to Fellows.

To help Fellows partially offset educational costs related to their year of volunteer service and learning, Horseshoe Farm provides housing and utilities free of charge to Fellows (approximate value of $7,200 - $12,000/year, depending on location) and an educational grant/transportation reimbursement (total of $800-$1050/month**) that is intended to help Fellows partially offset other basic living costs and their significant transportation costs related to the Fellowship. Finally, we are able to provide a small relocation grant to each Fellow to help partially offset their costs of moving ($100-$300 depending on distance).

**Due to differing costs of living, the Alabama Fellows receive an educational grant of $600/month to help partially offset basic living expenses related the Fellowship and $200/month to help partially offset gas/transportation expenses related to the Fellowship and the extensive use of Fellows’ own vehicles for transportation of participants. The Pomona Fellows receive an educational grant of $750/month to help partially offset basic living expenses related to the Fellowship and $300/month to help partially offset gas/transportation expenses related to the Fellowship and the extensive use of Fellows’ own vehicles for transportation of participants.

One of the strengths and unique features of the Horseshoe Farm Fellowship is the breadth of experiences in community health and education and the exposure in an integrated way to multiple dimensions of citizen service leadership. All Fellows participate in all aspects of the Fellowship. It is easier to describe a typical week than a typical day.

Please keep in mind that every year is different, and each year inevitably brings new challenges and new and unexpected circumstances. We are looking for Fellows who have the flexibility and resilience to adapt and maintain a positive mindset and can do attitude even when things do not go exactly as planned. The following provides an approximate breakdown of Fellows’ activities during the week (all of the times below are approximate and may extend longer). We are looking for Fellows who maintain a mindset of extending themselves in pursuit of our mission and personal growth and going above and beyond to get done what needs to get done:

*The times below are approximate (approximately 32 hours per week is spent in volunteer service to others -- this includes volunteering to help vulnerable neighbors through the health partners program, volunteering with children in local schools, volunteering at local community center programs, and volunteering at a local nursing home or other housing program for vulnerable adults). The remainder of time is spent on other complementing activities related to developing as citizen service leaders.

• 16 hours/week volunteering with 8-10 “health partners” (building relationships and providing a consistent, caring, and supportive relationship (this is the foundational and most important part of the health partners program), providing home visits, attending medical appointments with health partners, helping navigate health and social services systems, health coaching, support to family, help with budgeting and finances, providing a stable, consistent, and caring relationship, providing rides, etc.). Fellows also have regularly scheduled meetings with their Site Director to discuss their health partners and to receive ongoing teaching and supervision.

• 6-8 hours/week volunteering with students in an elementary school teacher’s classroom (“power hours”). Fellows volunteer in pairs in the same classrooms and with the same small group of students over the course of the year so that they can build relationships with teachers and students and make progress over the course of the year.

• ½ day/week volunteering to help lead activities at a local community center, senior center, or center for vulnerable adults. Fellows also help participants by providing rides to and from community center on other days.

• ½ day/week volunteering at a local supported housing program, other housing program for vulnerable adults, or nursing home -- regular visits and support to a small group of “health partners” in these settings, help with programming, other support. (at Greensboro site, Fellows also provide weekend support one time per month to women in our enhanced independent housing program).

• ½ day/week volunteering at a local “community engagement” site (local civic, business, government, non-profit, or other organization -- past Fellows have volunteered in the Mayor’s office, at local non-profits, with local libraries, at local animal shelters, at local healthcare agencies, with local schools, at local museums, with local contractors, with local police and sheriff’s offices, at local attorney’s offices, etc.).

• 4-10 hours per week of program planning, operations, special projects, and administrative time (This varies week to week and varies depending on operational functions that are occurring at a particular time of the year. For example, time spent on these activities tends to increase substantially during our recruitment and selection period). Because of other responsibilities during the week, Fellows should expect that some of this planning, administrative work, or operations work will have to occur on Saturdays or in evenings.

• Approximately 6 hours/week of education, supervision, discussions, and other meetings - Monday evening discussions and movies related to readings led by Site Directors (Mondays from 4:30PM - 7PM), individual supervision and check-ins with Site Directors, morning team meetings with Site Directors, weekly team meeting and teaching with Horseshoe Farm Executive Director.

• Approximately 2 hours/week of assigned readings in preparation for Monday Discussions.

• Periodic weekday evening and weekend community social events, potlucks, community and civic meetings, etc. It is important to remember that community immersion is a vital part of the Fellowship experience, and that community events are an important part of getting to know and becoming a part of the community.

• Approximately 5 hours/week -- PORTCH Fridays including lunch speakers and visits in the community that focus on:

  • People - getting to know a range of local people and leaders in the community.

  • Organizations - getting to know a range of local organizations in the community

  • Relationships - build, develop, maintain, and strengthen relationships with others in the community.

  • Team Building - participate in team building activities to help support our effective function as a team.

  • Culture/Community - learn about the local culture of the community and other aspects of the community.

  • History - learn about the local history of the community.

• Monthly Saturday workdays, cleanups, maintenance work around Horseshoe Farm and sites, or special events or work days with partner organizations -- scheduled by Site Directors, typically 1 Saturday per month.

• Fellows typically organize and attend other evening and weekend social events, gatherings, ultimate frisbee or other sports, and activities, including with other young people in their communities.

• 1 day per week protected time (generally Sundays) to relax, recharge, do laundry, catch up with family, etc.

Sample Weekly Calendar - Link

The Fellowship has two locations in Alabama (Greensboro and Perry County sites) and one in California (Pomona Site). You may submit applications for any or all of the 3 locations through the “Apply Now” link here or using the button at the bottom of the page (Note: You must have a Google Account to complete the application via the link). If you do not have a Google Account, please download this word document and email the completed document in pdf format to apply@projecthsf.org.

To avoid mismatched expectations, we believe that it is extremely important for Horseshoe Farm to be transparent about and for prospective Fellows to understand the values, mission, culture, and approach of Horseshoe Farm. Mismatched expectations are not in the best interest of anyone involved. We believe that Horseshoe Farm can be an extremely valuable part of your educational journey, but also understand that it is not the right match for everyone. Be sure to check out our “Learn More/ FAQ” and “Values: Who We Are” documents to learn more. Please also ask questions!

Any questions about the application process or fellowship can be directed to our recruitment team at apply@projecthsf.org.