Twelve social sector leaders to enhance skills to strengthen communities nationwide
(WASHINGTON, June 23, 2023) – Independent Sector announced today the 2023 nonprofit and philanthropic cohort of its NGen Fellows program, which offers a transformative opportunity for changemakers, age 40 and under, to strengthen their leadership capacity, hone their changemaking skills, and build connections with many of the social sector’s most influential leaders.
The NGen Fellows program, now in its 13th year, continues to focus on driving results for fellows in six core areas: self-awareness, racial equity, adaptive leadership, results-based decision making, systems change, and network development. Similar to past years, Independent Sector received an extraordinary response during the submission period, which was open to emerging changemakers across the country and social sector — including nonprofits, philanthropies, and other mission-driven organizations.
The 2023 cohort also reflects an incredible pool of emerging leaders who support:
- unmet needs and advocacy for underrepresented communities,
- small business or entrepreneurs with financial literacy or workforce development, or
- nature-based solutions or climate-focused innovations on a community level.
“It is crucial to invest in the next generation of leaders who are working every day to take communities, movements, and institutions to the next level,” said Dr. Akilah Watkins, president and CEO of Independent Sector. “This year’s cohort of NGen Fellows represents the critical and transformative efforts which nonprofits, foundations, and community-based organizations make happen in every corner of our nation. We are so deeply proud to be in this partnership with each of them.”
The 2023 Independent Sector NGen Fellows are:
- Bianca Anderson, Co-CEO, ProInspire
- Sevonna Brown, National Director, Black Women’s Blueprint
- Biftu Bussa, Social Responsibility & Equity Senior Program Manager, Optum
- Lindsay Early, Deputy Director, National Indian Child Welfare Association
- Matthew L. Evans, Senior Director of Public Policy, United Philanthropy Forum
- Miracle Jones, Director of Policy and Advocacy, 1Hood Media
- Darren Liddell, Founder, My Money Story
- Iyana Moore, Associate Director, Strategic Communications, KABOOM!
- Gloria Orozco, Senior Field Organizer, Friends of the Forest Preserves
- Quinton Reynolds, Executive Director, Game Changing Men
- Britney Robbins, Founder & CEO, The Gray Matter Experience
- Lily Trieu, Interim Executive Director, Asian Texans for Justice
Independent Sector thanks alumni volunteers of the NGen Fellows program, who participated in the selection committee for this cohort. As part of the current program, NGen Fellows will convene virtually six times throughout 2023 and attend the Upswell Summit, to be held November 15-17 in person in Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas.
Learn more about the NGen Fellows on the Independent Sector website.
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Independent Sector is the only national membership organization that brings together a diverse community of changemakers at nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs to ensure all people in the United States thrive. Learn more at independentsector.org.
Media Contact: Nina Ford, media@independentsector.org, 202-467-6147
