On World Sleep Day 2018, Project Sleep is proud to announce that we are now accepting applications for our second set of Rising Voices of Narcolepsy leadership training programs. Taking place over the summer 2018, the program will help people with narcolepsy effectively share their stories with local communities, healthcare providers, news outlets, blogs, and beyond, through public speaking or writing. Through the Rising Voices of Narcolepsy, we will combine the power of authentic real-life stories with expert communication strategies to raise awareness and reduce stigma for all those facing narcolepsy.
Eligibility
To be considered for the program, applicants must be age 18 or older and diagnosed with narcolepsy. We will evaluate qualified applicants based on enthusiasm and capability. We aim to have a diverse set of participants presenting a wide range of demographics and backgrounds.
Schedule
The 2018 RVN training sessions will take place this summer. Applicants may choose one of the following options:
- Speaking Session: a one-month online course focused on sharing your story via public speaking that will run from June 15th to July 15th 2018. This training will take about 3-4 hours each week on your own schedule to complete (a total of 12-16 hours). Outcome: Course graduates will be prepared to deliver an educational and uplifting 15-20 minute presentation sharing their experience with narcolepsy, interwoven with key facts and figures.
- Writing Session: a one-month online course focused on sharing your story via writing that will run from July 15th to August 15th 2018. This training will take about 3-4 hours each week on your own schedule to complete (a total of 12-16 hours). Outcome: Course graduates will have a publishable and timely essay (500 – 800 words) sharing their experience with narcolepsy, interwoven with key facts and figures.
Time Commitment
In addition to the time commitments listed above, participants are expected to contribute about 20 – 30 hours over the next year to successfully complete the program’s goals and exercises. Please carefully consider this significant time commitment before submitting an application.
Testimonials
“I knew I wanted to raise awareness and had already tried giving a few speeches on my own. I found it difficult to book any engagements and I was having difficulty narrowing my story down to give an effective presentation. The Rising Voices of Narcolepsy program provided exactly the framework I needed, now I can tell that my audiences are intrigued and fascinated by my speech. RVN also gave me a platform, I can say I’ve completed this leadership training program with Project Sleep, which adds to my credibility as a speaker and advocate and makes it easy to book events.”
“I knew I wanted to raise awareness and had already tried giving a few speeches on my own. I found it difficult to book any engagements and I was having difficulty narrowing my story down to give an effective presentation. The Rising Voices of Narcolepsy program provided exactly the framework I needed, now I can tell that my audiences are intrigued and fascinated by my speech. RVN also gave me a platform, I can say I’ve completed this leadership training program with Project Sleep, which adds to my credibility as a speaker and advocate and makes it easy to book events.”– Shannon Burkoth, RVN Speaking Graduate 2017 and Program Mentor
“I was hesitant to apply for the RVN program because I knew speaking in front of people would be a challenge, but I also knew it would help get me out of my comfort zone and that I wanted to be a voice for others like myself to spread awareness. After giving four presentations, all of this is so surreal! I am confident about my presentation and I strongly feel that I am sharing an important message.”Apply
The application deadline was April 15th, 2018 at 5:00pm PT and we will inform applicants of our decision in May 2018.
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Hi!
What are the dates for training and its location(s)?
Hi Adrienne! These trainings will take place online over the summer. Speaking Session: a one-month online course focused on sharing your story via public speaking that will run from June 15th to July 15th 2018. This training will take about 3-4 hours each week on your own schedule to complete (a total of 12-16 hours). Outcome: Course graduates will be prepared to deliver an educational and uplifting 15-20 minute presentation sharing their experience with narcolepsy, interwoven with key facts and figures.
Writing Session: a one-month online course focused on sharing your story via writing that will run from July 15th to August 15th 2018. This training will take about 3-4 hours each week on your own schedule to complete (a total of 12-16 hours). Outcome: Course graduates will have a publishable and timely essay (500 – 800 words) sharing their experience with narcolepsy, interwoven with key facts and figures.
In addition to the time commitments listed above, participants are expected to contribute about 20 – 30 hours over the next year to successfully complete the program’s goals and exercises. Please carefully consider this time commitment before submitting an application.
The application deadline is April 15th, 2018 at 5:00pm PT and we will inform applicants of our decision in May 2018. Thank you!
The additional 20-30 hours? How do you go about that? And are there specific events that the speech will be given at? Where would those events be? I’m just trying to figure out what the outcome will be for all of the training required.
When I typed Outcome I meant aside from being prepared to give a speech, will we actually give the speech?
Hi Carmen, Thanks again for your interest. As part of the program, speakers deliver a practice speech via video that our staff reviews and gives feedback on, before speakers have officially completed their basic training. From there, the speakers are responsible for finding appropriate opportunities to deliver their presentation. We support them as much as we can, but it is up to each speaker to be securing their own speaking engagements. This is a huge part of the hard work that goes behind spreading the word about narcolepsy. Hope this helps to clarify!
Hi Carmen, The additional 20-30 hours includes the time it takes to secure speaking engagements. We support you in finding appropriate speaking engagements, but it can be a lot of effort on your part to find these engagements.
I am 25 and have struggled with narcolepsy since childhood but was only diagnosed last month. I’ve researched, ingested, and digested countless medical studies, personal reflections, and articles on noottopics in the weeks since my diagnosis – including Julie’s memoir. After reading the REM Runner blog and learning about NARCOLEPSY: NOT ALONE and Project Sleep, I feel I’ve finally been moored to a shore I didn’t realize I was searching for. I was remiss to find my discovery wad too late to apply for the Rising Voices of Narcolepsy 2018 program. When will applications open for 2019? Are there other opportunities to connect aside from those listed in the Get Involved tab?
Is this still available? Or are you no longer providing this opportunity?
Hi Amarah! Yes, Project Sleep is still providing this opportunity. The application for this year’s summer training is closed, but the application for the 2025 summer training will open in February 2025. Please keep an eye on our socials, emails, or the Rising Voices webpage for up-to-date information: https://project-sleep.com/rising-voices/
Thank you!