The Bush Fellowship is an opportunity for individuals to increase their capacity for and improve their practice of leadership while working with others to solve tough problems in their communities.

The Bush Fellowship Program is based on four core principles:

• Knowing yourself first - because effective leadership builds effective relationships that improve a community. Without clarity about your own values and beliefs, it is impossible to be effective working with others.
• Knowing your community deeply - actively listening and learning to access the community's knowledge and resources.
• Fostering community action to solve a tough public problem.
• Managing conflict - searching for answers in the differences among people.

We believe each of these principles needs to be present if solutions to the many tough problems that exist in our communities are to be solved.

Who should apply for a Bush Fellowship?

• Anyone who cares deeply about their community and is committed to making it a better place for all.
• Anyone who has a desire to work with others in their community, including those with whom they disagree, to find solutions to a tough problem affecting their community.
• Anyone who understands that change needs to happen if solutions to a tough problem are to be found and that the change needs to start with them.
• Anyone who is passionate about learning and is committed to improving their leadership in order to work with others to solve a tough problem.
• Anyone who understands that risk, failure and conflict are not to be feared when working to find solutions to a tough problem but are necessary in order to make progress.
• Anyone who understands that the solutions to their community's tough problems are to be found within the collective wisdom of the community.