Dear AGLN Community,
I'm writing to share some exciting stories of impact and leadership from the Civil Society Society Fellowship's, now, three classes (58 Fellows overall).
Fellows are stepping up and using their platforms to speak on issues like building a pro-democracy movement, combatting white supremacy, criminal justice reform, the changing philanthropic sector, and more ⤵️
Announcements:
On June 13, Class of 2021 Fellow Tony Vargas was endorsed by the Planned Parenthood Action Fund in his run for the 2nd Congressional District I of Nebraska. “We know that state senator[s Pansing Brooks and] Vargas will stand for Nebraskans and do everything possible to protect and advance our reproductive rights and freedoms at the federal level, and that’s something that Nebraskans need now more than ever,” said Andi Curry Grubb, executive director of Planned Parenthood Advocates of Nebraska in a press release.
Thought Pieces by Fellows:
On May 11, Class of 2020 Fellow Yordanos Eyoel co-authored an opinion piece with Dr. Hahrie Han, the inaugural Director of the SNF Institute and Professor of Political Science at Johns Hopkins, "It’s time to build a global pro-democracy movement" for Fulcrum.
On May 24, Class of 2020 Fellow Daveed Gartenstein-Ross co-authored an article, with Madison Urban and Matt Chauvin, “White Supremacists Sacralize Mass Attackers to Encourage More Violence, ” for The National Interest, opining that “only through understanding and taking seriously the power of this online ecosystem to produce individuals like Payton Gendron can we begin to disrupt these repeating cycles of mass attack.” On May 30, Gartenstein-Ross co-published, with Varsha Koduvayur, an opinion piece, “Combat White Supremacist Violence Using Sanctions” for New York Daily News.
On May 24, Class of 2020 Fellow William Snowden announced that he contributed a chapter in the anthology Progressive Prosecution: Race and Reform in Criminal Justice, as a part of his Venture Project.
On May 26, Class of 2020 Fellow Darius Graham was a guest contributor for Inside Philanthropy, “Meeting the Moment: Black Leaders in Philanthropy Reflect on How the Sector Is Evolving.” In the article, Graham interviewed Aisha Alexander-Young, Gregg Bishop, and Chuck Redmond, who all serve in key roles at important philanthropic institutions and are exemplars of what a more diverse leadership field in the sector can accomplish, asking each person to reflect on the moment and share how they are taking action to move the sector forward.
On June 12, Class of 2019 Fellow Matthew Fieldman co-authored an article with his Rekindle Fellowship (Fieldman’s Venture project) co-founder, Charmaine Rice, “Rekindle Fellowship Aims To Change Black-Jewish Relationship In Cleveland.” The article chronicles the purpose and accomplishments of the Rekindle Fellowship thus far.
Fellows in Action: Leadership, Ventures, and Collaboration
On May 11th, Class of 2020 Fellow Yordanos Eyoel’s venture project organization, Keseb, partnered with the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University to host the inaugural Global Democracy Champions Summit featuring 25 speakers from 12 countries. The Summit created a forum for democracy entrepreneurs, activists, academics, journalists, philanthropists, and policy makers to uplift compelling ideas and share insights across national boundaries and create a global network of activists and civil society leaders committed to building inclusive, 21st century democracies.
On June 9, Class of 2019 Fellow Joseph Tomás Mckellar was a panelist at the Global Democracy Champions Summit co-hosted by Keseb, Class of 2020 Yordanos Eyoel’s Venture Project, and the SNF Agora Institute at Johns Hopkins University. Mckellar’s panel discussion explored how organizers and civil society organizations are building “possible, probable, and powerful” movements across the world to realize more equitable communities
On June 14, Class of 2019 Fellow Ashley Bell announced that Ready Life (where Ashley is founder and serves as CEO), a new digital banking and payment processing platform designed to make first-time home purchases and small business growth possible for Black consumers, would be the presenting sponsor of this year's Denny's Orange Blossom Classic (OBC), a four-day celebration of Historically Black Colleges and Universities. "As a Black-owned fintech, our mission is deeply personal. Ready Life is a financial services solution built on the technology of the future to address a problem as old as this country itself: the struggle of Black families to build real generational wealth. We're going to make it possible for families to buy their first home no matter their credit and for small businesses to scale their operations no matter their zip code," Bell said.
On June 22, Class of 2019 Fellow Leon Ford, along with recently retired Pittsburgh chief of police, Scott Schubert unveiled a collaborative project two years in the making, the Hear Foundation. Born from the conversations Ford had with Schubert, following the summer of the George Floyd protests, about police’s role in Pittsburgh’s communities, the Hear Foundation will fund projects that foster positive relationships between law enforcement and the city’s youth. “We agree in regards to our passion for gun violence reduction. I lost several friends to gun violence, and [Mr. Schubert] showed up to several scenes where men and women were brutally murdered. He shared his trauma, and I shared my trauma,” Ford said in an interview ahead of the announcement.
Civil Society Fellowship Nominations:
Our doors are open for nominations on a rolling basis. For consideration in the newest (4th) class, nominations are especially welcome by June 30, 2022. We are keen to build a mosaic of different-leaning leaders from all over the United States who represent distinct aspects of an American journey. Find more information and a nomination form here. Now is the time for leadership in the face of unprecedented collision of values in our country and globe. Now is the time for the Civil Society Fellowship.
I am impressed with your progress in only 3 classes.