About ONWARDS
The Opportunity Network for At-Risk Writers, Artists, Rights Defenders, and Scholars (ONWARDS) is a collaborative initiative of US civil society groups that is designed to help people with fellowships, sponsorships, residencies, or other short-term arrangements find stability once their temporary placements are over.
ONWARDS offers free online workshops and meetups, resource lists, and opportunities to connect with other people in similar situations.
Who is behind the initiative?
ONWARDS grew out of the US Protection Group for Cultural Rights Defenders (CRDs) and Human Rights Defenders (HRDs), an informal network of organizations and institutions that support at-risk scholars, artists, writers, journalists, and activists. The project is overseen by Ithaca City of Asylum, a project of the nonprofit Center for Transformative Action, and supported by Cornell University’s Scholars Under Threat Initiative, part of Global Cornell.
Active members of the US Protection Group include the Artistic Freedom Initiative, Artists at Risk Connection, ArtLords, Black Mountain Institute, Cartoonists Rights, Cheuse Center, City of Asylum Detroit, City of Asylum Pittsburgh, Cornell University, IIE-Artist Protection Fund, IIE-Scholar Rescue Fund, Freedom House, Harvard Scholars at Risk, Ithaca City of Asylum, Logan Nonfiction Center, Open Society University Network, Penn Cultural Heritage Center, Scholars at Risk, University of Iowa International Writing Program, and the Urgent Action Fund.
Who is on the Working Group?
Members include Jacqueline Baillargeon (Open Society University Network), Leona Binz (Scholars at Risk), Gracie Golden (Artistic Freedom Initiative), Carly O'Connell (IIE-Scholar Rescue Fund), Caeley McCagh (City of Asylum Pittsburgh), Omaid Sharifi (ArtLords), and Julie Trébault (Artists at Risk Connection). The project coordinator is Jonathan Miller (Ithaca City of Asylum).
If you would like to be involved, send us an email! You can sign up for the mailing list in the form at the bottom of this page. Please also follow ONWARDS on LinkedIn.