The program recruits people with diverse lived experiences, trains them in principles of community organizing, and places them in career-advancing jobs with local organizations. The program partners with the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades (IUPAT) to conduct training and job placement.
The Katy Jewett Organizer Apprenticeship is a full-time, fully-paid career development program designed to train the next generation of organizers who will build power for working families in Texas. The program combines hands-on field experience, weekly classroom training, mentorship from experienced organizers, and job placement to provide apprentices with a clear path to launch careers in movement work.
In 2026, we have two cohorts planned:
In order to apply for a place in one of our upcoming apprenticeship cohorts, you must attend an organizer launchpad training. Click here to RSVP
The deadline to apply for our spring cohort is April 1st, 2026. Click here to apply
Apprentices are vetted, trained, and movement-aligned when they start at your organization. They’re ready to do high quality work and have a professional network of organizers they can draw on to solve problems and expand their reach. Employers are involved at every stage of the recruitment, training, and job placement process. We currently work with employers in the Houston region.
Katy Elizabeth Jewett was a passionate organizer. She loved her country and dedicated her life to trying to make it better for everyone who lived in it. Katy died when she was 43, after living through cancer twice. Her friends and family established the Katy Jewett Organizer Apprenticeship in 2024 to honor her legacy by investing in the next generation of Texas changemakers and hellraisers.
The Katy Jewett Organizer Apprenticeship is an all-volunteer project.
All contributions to the Katy Jewett Memorial Training Fund help support our organizer boot camps, training, and pay the salaries of organizer apprentices while they’re in training.
