§2465 John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program

Summary

Creates the John Lewis Civil Rights Fellowship Program inside the Fulbright exchange program. The program honors Representative John Lewis and teaches about nonviolent civil rights movements. It also supports U.S. foreign policy by funding study, research, and international exchange about nonviolent movements that defended civil rights worldwide. The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs runs the program under Board guidelines and with help from Fulbright commissions and U.S. embassies. Each year the Board picks fellows. The Bureau decides how many, and whenever possible should pick at least 25. The Bureau will try to reach out to minority-serving schools, including historically Black colleges and universities, and other suitable institutions. Each fellow must arrange an approved internship or research placement with an NGO, university, or other approved group in a country that has a Fulbright U.S. Student Program. The Bureau approves each fellow’s work plan and goals. The Bureau will hold an annual orientation in Washington, D.C. or another place that includes events honoring John Lewis. Fellows must attend that orientation and must go to a summit within 1 year after their fellowship ends, where they will present what they learned. Fellowships last as long as the Bureau decides, and whenever possible should be at least 10 months. The Bureau gives each fellow an allowance to cover reasonable living costs and travel for the orientation and summit. Within 1 year after the first group finishes, and every year after, the Secretary of State must report to the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the House Foreign Affairs Committee with cohort demographics, descriptions and feedback on placements and projects, plans to use lessons learned, and trends in diversity and project topics.