Published: January 2025
This article originally appeared on NEA.org
The NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy (NOFA) is a yearlong program that trains you to grow your union and lift the voices of your union siblings, helping you transition to union staff work.
Quote byJason Fahie , NOFA class of 2023, Maryland State Education Association
“Being a fellow absolutely changed the trajectory of my life. I was a teacher for 18 years. If it wasn’t for this experience, I’d still be teaching. Two parts I’d say were extremely valuable. One, the day-in and day-out with your mentor. And two, the out-of-state organizing training. You could be going to a strike in Massachusetts or a building blitz in Georgia. I worked on Sen. Raphael Warnock’s campaign, phone banking, knocking on doors, and having one-on-one conversations. It was a great experience!”
—Jason Fahie
,
NOFA class of 2023, Maryland State Education Association
Quote byTara Richardson , Class of 2024, Missouri NEA
“Everything was so relevant! We worked directly with members and directly with affiliates. We worked on the Portland [Ore.] strike, which was beyond amazing. To see the level of preparation, the level of organization, and the level of community support, and to be part of something so monumental. It was life-changing. I would recommend this program to anyone. I’m excited for the future! I’m excited for my new career.”
—Tara Richardson
,
Class of 2024, Missouri NEA
Quote byAlana Ward , NOFA class of 2021, The South Carolina Education Association
“In 2021, when my baby graduated from high school, I said I’m graduating too! I actually applied to be an administrator. … Then one of my interviewers called me back and said, ‘You had a great interview, but you have to get out of that teacher mindset.’ They want to see an anti-teacher mindset! Then my local president sends me this email [about NOFA]. I was clicking to apply as soon I read it! The opportunity I had to visit other places, to do this practice that didn’t feel like practice. … It shifted my mindset from teacher, and everything else I put behind my name, to organizer and advocate.”
—Alana Ward
,
NOFA class of 2021, The South Carolina Education Association
Quote byMarella McMillon-Holmes , NOFA class of 2023, NEA Center for Racial and Social Justice
“When I saw the NOFA advertisement in NEA Today, I showed it to my local president and she said, ‘This is perfect for you! For as long as I’ve known you, you’ve been organizing and mobilizing!’ During my fellowship, we went to Florida, to Louisiana, to North Carolina, and I saw the world outside of New Jersey—and the need to protect basic rights. When I say NOFA changed my life, it absolutely changed my life.”
—Marella McMillon-Holmes
,
NOFA class of 2023, NEA Center for Racial and Social Justice
Quote byGreylor Walston , NOFA class of 2021, Michigan Education Association
“NOFA gave me great skills for organizing, for building power and membership. As a [UniServ director], I’m not only dealing with contracts and grievances and all that, I’m organizing members around issues, having one-on-one conversations, and identifying what’s good, what’s bad, what’s ugly. I learned those explicit skills from NOFA.”
—Greylor Walston
,
NOFA class of 2021, Michigan Education Association
Learn More
Applications open in February!
NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy
Looking to possibly change careers? Looking to support the labor movement and public education? The NEA Organizing Fellowship Academy seeks to train member leaders in the skills of organizing and advocating for members.
