Fellow News

As 2007 Echoing Green Fellow John Alford kicks off his second year as principal of Langston Hughes Academy Charter School in New Orleans, he is already getting his props in the national news.  Very recently, the New York Times ran a photo of him in an article highlighting the turnaround effort in New Orleans public schools. The article highlights one of the tough problems of lifting New Orleans education out of its funk: where do students from failing schools go once the city shuts down their school?

We were excited to learn this week that Isis, a graduate of The Reciprocity Foundation, will be a contestant on the upcoming season of America's Next Top Model.  Isis will be be the first transgender contestant to compete on the show. She was offered the spot after appearing on the show highlighting homelessness earlier this year.

Hot Bread Kitchen founder Jessamyn Waldman, a 2008 Echoing Green Fellow, was covered by the New York Post this week.

On June 20, 2008, an incredible woman named Rose Mapendo addressed the United States of America alongside the First Lady in honor of World Refugee Day at the White House. Ten years ago, she was imprisoned with her family during the ethnic conflict in the Democratic Republic of Congo; her journey from seemingly hopeless beginnings to her present station as an advocate of peace and support for refugees has inspired the creation of an organization that continues to provide sanctuary for refugees, Mapendo International.

Karen Tse of International Bridges to Justice, as well as a 2002 Echoing Green Fellow, Ashoka Fellow, and Skoll Award winner, just announced a new competition to support the best idea to end torture and abuse. Called JusticeMakers, the campaign opens with a $5,000 prize to "implement an idea that curbs torture, arbitrary detainment or abuse." Apply... or if you don't have an idea, pass on the good word.

Photo by Larry Abramson

Above Guan Ai’s scuffed and chalk-covered wooden desks rest dog-eared books, worn as much with age as with use. Despite limited resources, however, the environment is the focus of conversations on conservation efforts, as teachers stress the importance of saving water.  This is just one of many ways the school differs from regular public schools in China.

It’s a thrill when we see fellows from different years working together to enhance each other’s programs.  Recently, 2003 Fellow Gary Kosman wrote in to tell us that his organization America Learns is partnering with City Year Chicago (Founded by 1991 Fellows Michael Brown and Alan Khazei) to track the progress of and provide online mentoring to corps members.  In their June Newsletter, America Learns features a new learning strategy authored by Lis David, of City Year Chicago.  You can check out the full strategy here

The San Francisco Chronicle published a feature on The Op-Ed Project in its Datebook section last week and highlighted the work of its founder Katie Orenstein. Katie, a 2008 Echoing Green Fellow, began the Project in order to address the lack of female visibility on American op-ed pages. She does so by hosting bimonthly seminars for women that offer tips on how to write quality op-ed pieces, and stress the importance of such contributions because they enrich public debate and catalyze professional growth.

“Before we talk about all that you have done, and Teach For America, and what its importance is, look at education, Kindergarten through twelve, and tell me, why isn’t it better?” Charlie Rose posed this and many similarly challenging questions to 1991 Echoing Green Fellow and Teach For America (TFA) founder Wendy Kopp in an interview that aired Wednesday night on his show.

In partnership with Green Chimneys, a housing program for homeless LGBT youth, the Reciprocity Foundation hosted a “Design Your Future” career workshop series that began in May and has helped twenty young New Yorkers sharpen their networking and soft skills.  2007 Echoing Green Fellows Taz Tagore and Adam Bucko began the Reciprocity Foundation to help youth at risk of homelessness develop into creative professionals.