NOFO: Influencer and Content Creator Digital Storytelling Workshops

America Hub Israel is a U.S. Embassy-affiliated educational and cultural institution that seeks to connect a diverse range of Israeli citizens to the values that underpin American society—democracy, diversity and inclusion, civic engagement, and innovation. The Hub prioritizes engagement with students and young professionals 15 to 35 years old through a wide variety of programming and via strategic partnerships.  Its activities encourage participants to take part in constructive dialogue and identify solutions to shared challenges while fostering understanding of U.S. policy, values, and culture.

The Hub’s programs include cultural offerings, lectures, panel discussions, information sessions, skills building courses, and educational workshops on the subjects of democratic values, the American experience, U.S.-Israel relations, diplomacy, technology and innovation, social entrepreneurship, English, leadership, and higher education in the United States.

Objectives

• Provide a framework for young Israelis—both Jewish and Arab—to engage with the democratic principles that underpin American values and reduce fear and prejudice of the Other;
• Promote the concepts of diversity and tolerance through the external lens of the U.S. experience, thereby encouraging participants to consider the benefits of working toward an inclusive society that provides a voice to all;
• Showcase U.S. policies, culture, values, methodologies, and/or expertise;
• Provide crucial soft skills to participants related to technology, innovation, social entrepreneurship, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and teamwork.

Program Goals

• The ongoing conflict has led to increased feelings of fear, hatred, and prejudice of the Other across religious and ethnic divides throughout Israel. It has also resulted in specific groups, particularly from traditionally underrepresented communities, feeling silenced or marginalized as a result of their identities. Digital storytelling can serve as a powerful tool for highlighting new narratives, empowering minority voices, encouraging dialogue, and humanizing the experience of others, especially among younger audiences who communicate and consume information primarily via social media and other digital platforms.
• This program will equip 10-15 emerging young Jewish and Arab influencers and content creators with the tools to create their own digital narratives and engage in more meaningful, nuanced, and open conversations on issues of relevance to their communities. Over the course of the workshop series, participants will learn how to use various media beyond the digital platforms they normally use—to include podcasts, video games, virtual and augmented reality, immersive theater, and interactive experiences, among others—to communicate narratives effectively. They will also develop soft skills like creative writing and storytelling, and discuss how analytical and quantitative tools like audience analysis and targeted marketing allow creators to better leverage their influence.

Funding Information

• Total Available Funding: Approximately $25,000 USD
• Award Amounts: Up to $25,000 USD
• Length of Performance Period: Up to 6 months
• Number of Awards Anticipated: One

Funding Restrictions

• The following types of projects are not eligible for funding:
  • Projects relating to partisan political activity
  • Charitable or development activities
  • Construction projects
  • Projects that support specific religious activities or promote only one faith/religion
  • Fundraising campaigns
  • Lobbying for specific legislation or projects
  • Academic or scientific research
  • Projects intended primarily for the growth/institutional development or maintenance of the applicant organization or its partner organizations
  • Unsolicited proposals

Program Audience

• Emerging young Jewish and Arab social media influencers and content creators ages 18-28 years old who demonstrate potential as future leaders, innovators, and civically engaged members of society and who already have a social media presence of at least 1,000 followers on one platform.

Eligibility Criteria

• Local and international:
  • Registered not-for-profit organizations, including think tanks and civil society/non-governmental organizations
  • Public and private educational institutions
  • Individuals
• For-profit or commercial entities are not eligible to apply.
• To be eligible to receive an award, all organizations must have a Unique Entity Identifier number.

For more information, visit U.S. Embassy in Israel.