AGLN Blog

From creating preserving jobs and feeding families in need during the pandemic, to addressing the migration crisis in Central America through refugee support, Fellows are involved in organizations that are offering integral support to their communities. This Giving Season, we're excited to share with you causes that are close to the hearts of Fellows across our global community. Read below and consider giving or getting involved in these incredible organizations.

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Creating a Support Network for Previously Incarcerated Individuals
EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute, submitted by Board Chair, EDWINS Second Chance Life Skills Center, Matthew Fieldman, Civil Society Fellow (a partnership of ADL and the Aspen Institute)

From Matt: “I’m supporting EDWINS Leadership & Restaurant Institute. We give formerly incarcerated adults a foundation in the culinary and hospitality industry while providing a support network necessary for their long-term success. Our mission three-fold: is to teach a skilled and in-demand trade in the culinary arts, empower willing minds through passion for hospitality management, and prepare students for a successful transition home. With over 400 alumni and a recidivism rate of less than 2 percent, EDWINS has done an amazing job changing the perception of returning citizens nationwide”.

Support EDWINS

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Ensuring Everyone Reaches Their Potential Regardless of Age or Disability
Easterseals, submitted by President and CEO, Angela Williams, Henry Crown Fellow

From Angela: “Easterseals is on the ground in communities nationwide, committed to responding to the ever-increasing demands for disability services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our Network continues to deliver critical services and supports needed by people with disabilities, seniors, veterans and their families. We realize that these are uncertain times for all of us. But they are especially daunting for the vulnerable people we serve. Help assure that people who need Easterseals get the services and supports they need in their communities. Visit easterseals.com to learn more.”

Support Easterseals

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Responding to the Migration Crisis in Central America
Corner of Love, submitted by CEO, Tanya Mroczek Amador, Central America Leadership Initiative Fellow

From Tonya: Corner of Love is a growing international mission that has been serving Nicaraguans since 1992. Right now there is an ongoing migration crisis in Latin America and six million people are moving through Central and South America. Corner of Love cares for these refugees and displaced people in Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Mexico, Honduras, the United States, and elsewhere, focusing on the needs of displaced families primarily from Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba. We serve more than 30,000 refugees annually by providing services through our:

• COVID-prevention and testing for vulnerable individuals
• Mobile Medical, Dental, and Optical Clinics (San Jose & Guanacaste, Costa Rica and Cucuta & Medellin, Colombia)
• Refugee Relief Centers (La Cruz and San Jose, Costa Rica
• Home Visitation to Vulnerable Families
• Nutrition and Education Programs
• Currently helping Hurricane Eta & Iota survivors in Nicaragua & Honduras"

Support Corner of Love

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Preserving Jobs and Feeding Families in the Pandemic
Project Isaiah, submitted by Devon Spurgeon, Henry Crown Fellow

From Devon: “We launched Project Isaiah to help preserve jobs and provide meals to families in dire need of assistance at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Project Isaiah formalized a partnership with Gate Gourmet, one of the largest providers of food to the airline industry and have launched in nine cities. Within two weeks of forming, the partnership delivered over 300,000 boxed meals to 80 organizations across the country, saving more than 250 jobs in the process. Project Isaiah continues to serve boxed meals to community-based nonprofits who can no longer provide much-needed meals to their communities. This includes domestic violence shelters, community food banks, senior housing facilities, organizations assisting those with disabilities, homeless shelters and youth organizations. To learn how you can assist, isaiah.org.”

Support Project Isaiah

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Supporting Children's Mental and Behavioral Health
Canopy Children's Solutions, submitted by Jason Grinstead, Health Innovators Fellow

From Jason: "Since July, I've been advising Canopy Children's Solutions, a 108 year-old Mississippi non-profit that provides the full spectrum of mental and behavioral solutions state-wide to some of our country's neediest children. Despite being over a century old, Canopy has embarked on an ambitious digital transformation process, and has teamed up with Microsoft to deliver game-changing digital health solutions for autism and other vexing kids' mental and behavioral health challenges. As the pandemic has worn on, mental health has become a critical societal health challenge, and Canopy's solutions have become even more important.

Canopy's CEO, and my fellow Health Innovators Fellow Dr. John Damon, lives a brand of leadership that has created a forward-looking organization that embraces both its storied history and bold innovation equally. He has built a team that demonstrates incredible organizational health which translates directly into superior health outcomes as they deliver critical mental and behavioral health solutions to more than 5000 children each year. I invite you to join me in supporting Canopy's mission of delivering critical mental and behavioral health solutions to Mississippi's neediest children.”

Support Canopy

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Supporting an End to Mass Incarceration in the U.S.
Equal Justice Initiative, Submitted by Ikenna Okezie, CEO and Co-Founder, Somatus, Health Innovators Fellow

From Ikenna: “This year, the Somatus team supported the Equal Justice Initiative by matching employee donations and raised more than $10,000. The Equal Justice Initiative is committed to ending mass incarceration and excessive punishment in the United States, to challenging racial and economic injustice, and to protecting basic human rights for the most vulnerable people in American society. EJI is a private, 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides legal representation to people who have been illegally convicted, unfairly sentenced, or abused in state jails and prisons. EJI challenge's the death penalty and excessive punishment and we provide re-entry assistance to formerly incarcerated people.”

Support the Equal Justice Initiative