Félix Varela Fellowship Program

The main award program is the one-year “Felix Varela” Fellowship for College Graduates from Journalism or Media Schools. The “Félix Varela” Fellowship Award for Latinos seeking a career in media is a nation-wide competition to bring to Philadelphia the most competent graduates from school of media and journalism throughout our region and across the United States. The award was established to honor the memory of Father Félix Varela y Morales, an American intellectual of Latino origin who founded one of the first Spanish-language newspapers in the United States, in the city of Philadelphia, at the beginning of the 19th Century (1823).

The Varela Fellowship Awards will be offered in a competition among recent U.S. Journalism School graduates from any J-School located in any of 50 States, who articulate compelling reasons to receive a one-year fellowship from the AL DIA Foundation.

This program is supported by: Comcast Foundation, Lenfest Institute for Journalism and AL DIA News Media, our contributors who believe in independent, local news.

OPEN CALL FOR 2023-2024

We are looking for enthusiastic and thoughtful candidates for the “Félix Varela” Fellowship Cohort 2023-24, which will offer a full year of comprehensive training in AL DÍA News Media headquarters to gain skills and confidence to perform in almost any responsibility of a news media operation.

The fellowship commands a full compensation for the entire year while the fellows reside in the city of Philadelphia, PA.

Candidates from all 50 states of the nation and Puerto Rico are welcome to apply.

Benefits

A year of comprehensive training and experience in AL DÍA News Media.
Gain the skills and confidence to perform in almost any responsibility of a news media operation.
Full compensation for the entire year.

Requirements

United States resident.
Bachelor's Degree in journalism, media, communications or business.
Strong verbal and written abilities in the English language.
Knowledge of the Hispanic history and culture in the US.
Passion for news media and the key role it plays in our society.
Strong preference for Spanish-English bilingual candidates.

Application process

To apply for the “Felix Varela” Fellowship Program to start in the Summer of 2023 in Philadelphia, PA, you will need to fill out this form.

Please note, that you need to submit the following materials:

1. A resume or CV (no more than 2 pages).

2. Three samples of published, public-facing work.

3. Two letters of recommendation from Faculty.

Deadline: Monday, April 3rd, 2023.

Start day: Monday, July 10 2023.

Our Fellows

Kianni Figuereo

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2022

Becada de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2022

The 2021 Chestnut Hill College graduate and North Philly native represents the young voice this fellowship is hoping to empower.

My experience as a video journalist Fellow at AL DÍA Foundation has been worthwhile. At no other place would I have been able to acquire the tools needed to succeed in the newsroom. AL DÍA Félix Varela provides its Fellows with a hands-on training approach where one is learning by doing. Through this approach, I have learned more efficient methodologies to produce content.

La graduada del Chestnut Hill College de 2021 y nativa del norte de Filadelfia representa la voz joven que esta beca espera potenciar.

Mi experiencia como becaria de videoperiodismo en la Fundación AL DÍA ha merecido la pena. En ningún otro lugar habría podido adquirir las herramientas necesarias para tener éxito en la redacción. AL DÍA Félix Varela ofrece a sus becarios un enfoque de formación práctica en el que se aprende haciendo. A través de este enfoque, he aprendido metodologías más eficientes para producir contenidos.

Carlos Nogueras

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2023

Becado de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2023

Journalist pursuing his Masters in Communications at the University of Puerto Rico.

Carlos is a freelance journalist pursuing his Masters in Communications at the University of Puerto Rico. A data-driven storyteller who leverages his misinformation and disinformation research to engage his community and inspire involvement. He believes that public policy is rooted in grassroots movements and that organized society is the bedrock of democracy.

Periodista independiente que cursa un máster en comunicaciones en la Universidad de Puerto Rico.

Carlos es un periodista independiente que cursa un máster en comunicaciones en la Universidad de Puerto Rico. Es un narrador basado en datos que aprovecha su investigación sobre la desinformación para involucrar a su comunidad e inspirar la participación. Cree que la política pública tiene sus raíces en los movimientos de base y que la sociedad organizada es la base de la democracia.

Alan Nuñez

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2023

Becado de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2023

I went to the University of Nevada (Las Vegas) for my Bachelors in Journalism and Media Studies.

My name is Alan Nunez and I was raised in Las Vegas all of my life. Born in the U.S. to Mexican immigrants, I value the power and opportunity of higher education. I became the first member in the family to graduate from a university. I went to the University of Nevada (Las Vegas) for my Bachelors in Journalism and Media Studies. And for as long as I can remember, I have always loved to write and research.

Fui a la Universidad de Nevada (Las Vegas) para obtener mi licenciatura en Periodismo y Estudios de Medios.

Me llamo Alan Núñez y me he criado en Las Vegas toda mi vida. Nacido en Estados Unidos, hijo de inmigrantes mexicanos, valoro el poder y la oportunidad de la educación superior. Fui el primer miembro de la familia en graduarse en una universidad. Fui a la Universidad de Nevada (Las Vegas) para obtener mi licenciatura en Periodismo y Estudios de Medios. Desde que tengo uso de razón, siempre me ha gustado escribir e investigar.

Jennifer Hernandez

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2023

Becada de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2023

Jennifer sought a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and English with a Minor in Poetry from Southern New Hampshire University.

Jennifer Hernandez was born in a small town on the East side of Dominican Republic. At the age of eight, Jennifer's family migrated to the United States in search of the American Dream. Like many immigrants, Hernandez's inability to understand the language and speak presented many challenges socially, academically, and mentally.

Jennifer se licenció en Escritura Creativa e Inglés con especialización en Poesía en la Universidad de Southern New Hampshire.

Jennifer Hernández nació en un pequeño pueblo del este de la República Dominicana. A los ocho años, la familia de Jennifer emigró a Estados Unidos en busca del sueño americano. Al igual que muchos inmigrantes, la incapacidad de Hernández para entender el idioma y hablar supuso muchos retos sociales, académicos y mentales.

Renata Kaminski

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2023

Becada de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2023

I moved to Philadelphia in 2018 to start college, where I earned a journalism degree from Temple University.

I am Renata Kaminski, one of the selected journalists for the Felix Varella Fellowship Program. I was born and raised in Porto Alegre, Brazil, and moved to Philadelphia in 2018 to start college, where I earned a journalism degree from Temple University in the Spring. Being able to interact with all kinds of people and tell their stories were some of the factors that made me decide to follow the journalistic path.

Me mudé a Filadelfia en 2018 para comenzar la universidad, donde obtuve un título de periodismo en la Universidad de Temple.

Soy Renata Kaminski, una de las periodistas seleccionadas para el Programa de Becas Félix Varella. Nací y crecí en Porto Alegre, Brasil, y me mudé a Filadelfia en 2018 para comenzar la universidad, donde obtuve un título de periodismo en la Universidad de Temple en la primavera. Poder interactuar con todo tipo de personas y contar sus historias fueron algunos de los factores que me hicieron decidir seguir el camino periodístico.

Eliot Olaya

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2023

Becado de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2023

Recent graduate from Drexel University with a major
in Business Administration and a minor in Writing.

My name is Eliot Olaya and I am a recent graduate from Drexel University with a major in Business Administration and a minor in Writing. I chose my major because of an interest in business, but while studying I found my passion in writing, where I found I delighted in essay and other written assignments. Outside of my classes I sought to develop my writing skills by writing short stories. After my graduation I sought employment at various writing positions.

Recién graduado de la Universidad de Drexel con una especialidad
en Administración de Empresas y una especialización en Escritura.

Me llamo Eliot Olaya y soy un recién graduado de la Universidad de Drexel con una especialidad en Administración de Empresas y una especialización en Escritura. Elegí mi especialidad por un interés en los negocios, pero mientras estudiaba encontré mi pasión en la escritura. interés en los negocios, pero mientras estudiaba encontré mi pasión en la escritura, donde encontré que me
me encantaban los ensayos y otras tareas escritas. Fuera de mis clases, traté de

Emily Leopard-Davis

AL DÍA Félix Varela Fellow
Class 2023

Becada de AL DÍA Félix Varela
Class 2023

I graduated from Temple University with a degree in journalism.

I was born in Philadelphia, but as an Army brat I grew up all over the country and world. I came back to Philadelphia for college, originally going for film. I've loved storytelling and writing since I was little, regardless of the medium I'm using.

Me licencié en periodismo en la Universidad de Temple.

Nací en Filadelfia, pero como mocoso del ejército crecí por todo el país y el mundo. Volví a Filadelfia para ir a la universidad, originalmente para estudiar cine. Me encanta contar historias y escribir desde que era pequeño, independientemente del medio que utilice.