The keynote speaker for the day was MPF alumni Cliff “Notez” Desravines (Class 15, 16), who premiered the trailer for his movie Vitiligo. The film focuses on mental health and trauma Black Americans experience in a violent society that stigmatizes mental health. His keynote address encouraged people to be aware of the millions of people suffering trauma because of systematic oppression and injustice in society, and that recognizing this trauma is the first step towards healing. Through understanding the impact of trauma on others we can grow empathy to see through their eyes and break the silence on this subject to spark change. 

After the keynote address, volunteers went to their service projects and youth participants were able to engage in a variety of workshops throughout the day. The workshops and some of their key takeaways are visually depicted below:

Above: Cliff energizing the audience! Below: Cliff's keynote speech visually represented through the artwork of a graphic facilitator 

Ever wish you could have worked alongside another Fellow outside of just monthly meetings? Alumni Gina Varamo (Class 15, 16), Christine Niccoli (Class 17), and Amanda Maddalone (Class 15, 16) are currently all working at Science Club for Girls in Cambridge. 

Gina has been with Science Club for Girls the longest and is currently the Assistant Director of Youth Programs. Christine was thankful to have Gina to bounce questions off of during her year of service, and after the Fellowship Christine was hired as the Cambridge/Newton Program Manager. Amanda recently joined the Science Club team in November as the Boston Program Manager and is happy to

be working directly with the MPF community again. She is grateful for the MPF connections who advocated for her. When asked what it’s like to work with other MPF alums they stated: 

“It is like monthly meetings every day! We are all on the Program Team so we work in the same office space, which creates a very collaborative work environment. It is great being able to use the language and knowledge we learned through MPF with other Alums who understand it. We are all committed to service and understand the importance of service to nonprofits and society...Plus we can wear matching powder blue hoodies whenever we want!”

Catalina Tang (Class 13, 14) works for the Center for Promise housed at Boston University’s School of Education, and does research to better understand the conditions needed for all young people to succeed and thrive. To gain more knowledge about the barriers young people of color currently face, the Center for Promise recently conducted a youth-led, multi-city health assessment - the first research of its kind. The assessment was specifically designed to engage youth as leaders so they could have their voices and views be heard, share their perspectives on what affects their health, and recommend strategies to address the barriers to wellness in their lives.

In the video above, youth talk about one key findings of the study - they feel unsafe in their cities. The cities included in the assessment were Boston, Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, and St. Paul. 

Top: Whitney and her team. Bottom: Whitney tap dancing through the streets of New Orleans. Follow her on Insta (fun pics) or twitter (work life + dogs): @nolawhitney

Whitney Soenksen currently works as an Open Data Manager for the City of New Orleans in the Enterprise Information and Technology Department, making it easier for people to access and use City data by providing leadership and support for the City’s data and information transparency initiatives.

Serving with MPF helped Whitney determine she wanted to be part of a great team, work to better people’s lives, and to step fully into her leadership style. “Day-to-day this means that I am very deliberate about including diverse voices in decision-making. It also means that if I'm asking someone on my team to do something, I had better also be willing and able (or able to learn) to do it myself.” The Fellowship also let her practice a number of technology skills that led to her job today, a career that melds her interests together and focuses on “doing good for cities using technology.”

Jordan Jones (pictured below) is at the Seattle Children’s Hospital as a Manager for Outpatient Psychiatry and Behavioral Health. Her time at MPF helped prepare her to talk with parents and families when hard conversations about behavior were necessary and how to be in a professional workplace. Jordan says, “At this time of changing administration where the support for our social programs has an unclear future, the good work of past and present MPF is critical! Keep up your work engaging with communities, important missions, your neighbors, and your value-driven approach to life and work.”

“This is my husband and I looking so glamorous at my brother's wedding in Boston this fall. Being there during the leaves changing made me think of my time as a Fellow so fondly.”  

Emily Martin Loya (pictured above) is working as the General Manager and CEO of KCOS, the PBS station in El Paso, Texas. Emily’s experience during MPF of learning from her supervisor’s leadership style and earning her Nonprofit Management Certificate from Northeastern profoundly impacted her and helped prepare her for her current position. One of the most rewarding things from her year of service was the relationships she built at her host site and with others. “I really learned to be more accepting, open-minded and how to look for and find the best in others even when at first glance we didn’t seem to have much in common.”

Heather Catherwood is a hearing officer for the Massachusetts Department of Transitional Assistance. She states, “I feel incredibly lucky to have begun my career in the Fellowship. It was during my year of service that I discovered I wanted to attend law school, which set me on the road I am on today. It enlivened my passion for public service and I am forever grateful to Kori, Colleen, and my fellow Promise Fellows for helping to shape my perspective.”

Heather's favorite Memory of MPF: "Our retreats were always legendary. Also, I still have my box of affirmations.”

Nancy has won several awards since the Fellowship, and has testified in front of Congress, spoken at the State House, led rallies and protests, and been published in a National Blog all in the name of social justice. “I am honored to have received these accolades; but, for me, it is really about WE. How can WE positively impact our community? As Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?’”  With this in mind, continue to uplift one another and our communities in the fight for social justice and EQUITY for all.”