The quarterly newsletter of Princeton AlumniCorps | Summer 2023
No images? Click here
The quarterly newsletter of Princeton AlumniCorps | Summer 2023
Greetings,
These last few weeks of summer are always an exciting time of year at AlumniCorps. The 2023-24 cohorts for our Project 55 Fellowship and Emerging Leaders programs are underway. Developing and empowering civic professional leaders is the flagship of our work and once again I am awed and inspired by the outstanding talent and passion our participants bring to the organizations they serve.
AlumniCorps’ culture is rooted in community, connection, collaboration and relationship building. All of which often happens over a cup of coffee and with the common objective of advancing civic engagement and professional development. As we continue to grow and expand, we are excited to introduce our newest staff members. Joining us this past June and July were Tim Schmidt, Program Manager; Laissa Gibson, Program Coordinator; Myriam Johnson, Operations Manager and Samir Bhojwani, Princeton Internships in Civic Service (PICS) Intern.
Join me in welcoming Tim, Laissa, Myriam and Samir. In May of this year the AlumniCorps Board of Directors formally appointed me to the permanent position of Executive Director. It is an honor to lead an organization whose mission I deeply believe in and I look forward to AlumniCorps’ newest chapter as we broaden our work in the civic professionalism sector.
The AlumniCorps home office has fully returned to a hybrid schedule at our 12 Stockton Street office in Princeton. We are here between the hours of 10:00 am – 5:00 pm Monday - Thursday. If you happen to be in the area, please do stop by. We would love to connect with you over a cup of coffee. Enjoy these remaining weeks of summer. Soon fall will be upon us.
In community,
Executive Director
Myriam Johnson joined AlumniCorps this past June as the Operations Manager. She has worked in the nonprofit sector for the past 3 years in operations. She is currently a board member at TruDoulas of NJ, a member of the Community Impact Alliance (CIA) for RWJ Hospital in Hamilton NJ, and is the prior owner and operator of Little Hands Growing Feeding Nursery. In her free time, Myriam enjoys yoga, road trips, and traveling with her son.
Samir Bhojwani is a student at Princeton University studying economics and a PICS intern this summer at AlumniCorps. He has previously interned with the Department of Energy and is interested in exploring opportunities in the public sector, especially nonprofits. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer, watching movies, and spending time with family
and friends.
Laissa Gibson joined the Princeton AlumniCorps team this past July as Program Coordinator for Fellowship Engagement & Development. She is a New Jersey native and currently resides in her hometown at the Jersey Shore. Laissa earned her B.A. from The College of New Jersey in 2021 where she majored in International Studies with a concentration in Global Health, Development, and the Environment.
Following graduation, Laissa served as an AmeriCorps VISTA Member with the New Jersey YMCA State Alliance as Internship Program Liaison where she developed and implemented a statewide YMCA internship program for college students.
Laissa is passionate about being a conscious consumer and makes an effort to buy second hand or support small businesses wherever she can. She also loves taking day trips to new towns and discovering new music.
Tim Schmidt joined the Princeton AlumniCorps team this past July as Program Manager of Partnership Engagement and Investment. Born and raised in South Jersey, Tim attended Stockton University, where he earned his B.A. in Political Science/Pre-Law.
Tim served two AmeriCorps years with the national education nonprofit, City Year, mentoring and tutoring students in North Philadelphia. He joined City Year’s staff full-time as an Impact Manager where he directly managed several teams of AmeriCorps members through their service year.
Tim earned his M.S. in Nonprofit/NGO Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania, and continues to reside in Philadelphia with his partner and their dog, Ozzie. They greatly enjoy the beautiful parks, culture, and community of the city.
Thanks to the nearly 200 individuals like YOU, and the many institutions and foundations that supported Princeton AlumniCorps in our 2022-2023 fiscal year, we raised more than $399,000!
Project 55 Fellowship Program
For more than 30 years and with over 2,000 Alumni, the Project 55 Fellowship has prepared participants for a life of purpose for over thirty years. While that goal remains our driving force, the evolution of employment sectors and personal career paths continue accelerating. Many alumni remain in the nonprofit and public sectors, while others transition to the for-profit sector or seek the fluidity of contract work, and many more shift between these realms over the course of their careers. At AlumniCorps, we are committed to best preparing our Project 55 Fellows to identify and build deeper public purpose across their future career path, regardless of role or sector.
We are excited to announce that Princeton AlumniCorps’ Project 55 Fellowship will be the first post-graduate fellowship in the nation to explicitly center the Civic Professionalism model. Civic Professionals “see the public nature of their work not as an add-on, but rather as a defining feature of their professional identity. . . . [making] the connections between work and democratic citizenship explicit." (Practicing Democracy: A Toolkit for Educating Civic Professionals)
We welcome thoughts or suggestions from our community as the Program Team moves forward with curriculum updates at programs@alumnicorps.org.
May 2023 Project 55 Chicago Area Committee Gathering
Emerging Leaders Program
When the nonprofit and public sector evolve, so does the Emerging Leaders program. As we bring together professionals poised to drive their fields forward, they share insights into the current and upcoming realities of the nonprofit sector. This year, as we assess and update the Emerging Leaders curriculum, we are prioritizing three areas for evolution: 1) continue to interweave diversity, equity, and inclusion deeper into the broader curriculum, 2) evolve the development and financial management session to engage a wider variety of knowledge and experience levels, and 3) emphasize leveraging data and technology in the modern nonprofit.
2022-23 Emerging Leaders at their closing celebration joined by NYC EL Facilitator Jayson Council
Want to share your thoughts or ideas with the Program Team and EL Faciliators? We invite you to engage us at programs@alumnicorps.org.
Lewis Miller '49 Founds New Nonprofit
"Helping Immigrants Thrive"
For over seven decades AlumniCorps Friend Lew Miller ‘49 has been engaging in public service work and entrepreneurial ventures in healthcare and medical education as a prominent journalist, editor, and writer. Notably, Lew Miller ‘49 recently founded a nonprofit organization whose mission involves enabling undocumented immigrants in New York City to achieve financial self-sufficiency, independence, and a brighter future with dignity, empowering them to be contributing members of our community. Lew Miller's career highlights his commitment to making a positive impact in various spheres, from personal relationships to societal initiatives. You can learn more about Helping Immigrants Thrive on their website.
NYC EL Facilitator Leads Spike Lee Fellowship Search
Jayson Council, Gersh Agency's head of culture, takes a photo of the inaugural class of the Spike fellows.
(Elijah Nouvelage for The Washington Post)
Jayson Council, NYC EL facilitator and Gersh Agency's head of culture, traveled to AUC to handpick five Fellows to embark on an incredible Fellowship opportunity created by the world-renowned American Filmmaker, Spike Lee. The Fellowship was formed as a way to create a pipeline into the media industry for young Black people eager to work off-screen. You can learn more about Jayson’s participation on the Washington Post.
Fellow Jalen Ellis speaks with Council at the gallery.
(Elijah Nouvelage for The Washington Post)
Dale Caldwell '82 Named University President!
Former AlumniCorps Board Member Dale Caldwell ‘82 recently stepped into his new role as the 15th President of Centenary University in Hackettstown, New Jersey as of July 1, 2023. Dr. Caldwell '82 served a 2-year term on the AlumniCorps Board during his time as Executive Director of the Rothman Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Fairleigh Dickinson University. He has a long-established career in academia and a true dedication to making a positive impact on the communities he serves. Read more about Dr. Caldwell '82 and his new role on the Centenary University’s President Office page.
Author and Editor Landon Jones ‘66 Writes a New Book!
In his new book titled "Celebrity Nation: How America Transformed into a Culture of Fans and Followers," Landon Y. Jones ‘66 explores the phenomenon of society’s idolization of celebrities and argues that the concept of heroism has faded over time. Landon Jones '66 served two terms on the AlumniCorps Board and has remained an AlumniCorps supporter. Jones’ book talk and reading at Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, DC is available for streaming on youtube.
Project 55 Alum Andrea Campbell ‘04 Ascends to
Attorney General of Massachusetts
In January 2023, Andrea Campbell ‘04 was sworn in as the 45th Attorney General of Massachusetts becoming the first Black woman to ever hold the title. She was a Project 55 intern at Urban Edge located in Boston, an organization whose focus is building affordable and sustainable housing in Boston communities. Under the mentorship of John Hamilton ‘55, Campbell completed her internship and embarked on a prominent career in law & politics. During her time as Boston City Councilor, District 4, Campbell participated in an AlumniCorps panel discussion about “when the political becomes personal”. An archive of the conversation is available to view.
Longtime AlumniCorps Supporter
Frank Crews '55 Leaves Legacy Gift
Frank Crews ‘55 was a dear AlumniCorps friend and part of the Founders’ Princeton University Class of 1955. After serving in the Marines and attending law school at the University of Texas at Austin, he built a successful legal career in San Angelo and Galveston. Frank was a dedicated contributor to AlumniCorps for over two decades and served two-terms on AlumniCorps’ Board of Directors. His legacy shines through his generous bequest of $50,000 to AlumniCorps, ensuring his perpetual support for equipping young leaders and professionals with the tools necessary to advance social change.
AlumniCorps also received twelve donations made specifically in his memory totaling to $7,100. You can learn more about Frank and his profound legacy in his public obituary.
Princeton AlumniCorps mourns the loss of people who have contributed their time, talent, and treasure to the organization over the past thirty years. We share the obituaries of volunteers and supporters to celebrate their dedication to civic engagement. Princeton AlumniCorps supporters can read classmate memorials and timely class news on the class website.
