The Bridging Fellows program provides changemakers in Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Dallas the opportunity to strengthen their individual and collective leadership capacity and grow networks to support building healthy and equitable communities. During this two-year program, Independent Sector will give Fellows the space, skill-building opportunities, and resources to socialize and embed bridging as a core competency in their organizations, as well as their communities. Fellows will learn and share adaptive leadership skills to engage in challenging conversations; solve divisive, complex issues with other people in a constructive manner; and manage positive social change. The program focuses on bridging specific areas of division, including ideological, racial, socioeconomic, and geographical. The program consists of leaders whose primary population is a local community.
The fellowship advances Independent Sector’s mission to improve lives, heal our natural world, and strengthen democratic society by ensuring that all people in the U.S. thrive.
Who is a “Bridging Fellow”?
A Bridging Fellow actively engages individuals, communities, and/or organizations for the purpose of building bridges across varying differences, including ideological, racial, socioeconomic, and geographical. Bridging Fellows-formally and/or informally-build relationships, trust, and opportunities for open and honest communication towards sustainable change and impact – including but not limited to- activists, community residents, organization leaders, community liaisons, youth development coordinators, program officers, case managers, community organizers, educators, human resource professionals, etc.
Through participation in the fellowship, Fellows will receive capacity and skill-building activities and instructions around bridging frameworks, share their bridging expertise with the cohort and broader social sector, and commit to deploy these practices in their organizations and communities. As a cohort, they will share their learnings and deepen their connections with each other across sectors, institutions, and geographies.
2022 Bridging Fellows
Jorge Arteaga
Midwest Program Manager
Young Invincibles
Chicago, Illinois
Bianca Avery
Texas State Coordinator
Campus Vote Project
Dallas, Texas
Dr. Christine Balarezo
Founder
Christine Balarezo LLC
Dallas, Texas
Dr. Jamil Bey
President & CEO
UrbanKind Institute
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Rev. Alvin C. Bibbs, Sr.
President/CEO
Justice Journey Alliance, Leadership Foundation of
Chicago, Illinois
Millicent Boykin
Director of Statewide Initiatives
OneStar Foundation
Dallas, Texas
Fatima Bunafoor
Director of Talent and Equity
Pittsburgh Arts Cohort
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dania Carter
Founder/CEO
Heart of Courage
Dallas, Texas
X Cornute
Co-Director / Program Manager
House Of Rebirth / Youth 2 Power
Dallas, Texas
Sarah Cotton Nelson
On personal sabbatical
formerly Communities Foundation of Texas
Dallas, Texas
Nathan Darity
Executive Director
The Global Switchboard
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Joseph Darwin
Director of Community Outreach
BridgeBuilders
Dallas, Texas
Chelsea Dennis
Associate Director of Volunteer Engagement
Year Up
Chicago, Illinois
Abigail Endashaw
Summer Service National Coordinator
Mennonite Central Committee
Dallas, Texas
Pamela Fields
Founder
Visible Unity, Inc.
Dallas, Texas
David Gianfrancesco
VP Strategy and Innovation
Safer Foundation
Chicago, Illinois
Jerry Hawkins
Executive Director
Dallas Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation
Dallas, Texas
Kirk Holbrook
Director, Community Engagement Center
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Jeimy Ibarra
Deputy Organizing Director
PA United
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Riley Jones
Director of Ventures
CityBridge Education
Chicago, Illinois
Imran Khan
CEO & Co-Founder
Embarc, Inc.
Chicago, Illinois
Antong Lucky
President
Urban Specialists
Dallas, Texas
Susie Marshall
Executive Director
GROW North Texas
Dallas, Texas
Shareefah Mason
Associate Dean of Educator Certification
Dallas College
Dallas, Texas
Marjorie Murat
CEO
Dallas Afterschool
Dallas, Texas
Nitika Nautiyal
Co Founder, Chief Strategy and Development Officer
Business Services Collective
Chicago, Illinois
D. Nicole Polk
Secretary
Suits For Judah
Dallas, Texas
Dr. Kellee Randle
Physician/Consultant
Equity Ventures Plus, LLC
Dallas, Texas
William Paul Haalilio Ferran Reeves
Community Policy Organizer
Casa San Jose
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Joel Rodriguez
Community Organizer
Southwest Organizing Project
Chicago, Illinois
Rodrigua Ross
Vice President – Diversity Equity & Inclusion
YMCA of Metropolitan Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Zena Ruiz
Community Pollinator // Teaching Artist // Council Member
YMCA
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Deondre’ Rutues
Community Engagement Specialist/Research Scholar
New York University School of Law
Chicago, Illinois
Fitzhugh Shaw
Farmer / Re-wilder
Oasis Farm & Fishery / Braddock Food Collaborative
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Amanda Shields
Vice President, Human Resources
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Dallas
Dallas, Texas
Amber Sims
CEO/Executive Director
Young Leaders Strong City
Dallas, Texas
Celeste Smith
Senior Program Officer for Arts & Culture
The Pittsburgh Foundation
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Dr. James Whitfield
Consultant
Self Employed
Dallas, Texas
Dani Wilson
Strategic Director
Cancer & Environment Network of Southwestern Pennsylvania
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Janel Young
Community Artist/Muralist
UrbanKind Institute
Chicago, Illinois
Bridging Fellowship Goals
Understand and advance key components of and conditions for bridging
Absorb best practices on bridging and apply the concepts in their work and communities
Deepen connections with each other across sectors, institutions, and geographies
Strengthen a sense of community, as well as enhance leadership skills and personal and professional networks
Amplify and embody bridge building as foundational to creating a sense of belonging across communities
Enhance a practice of racial equity to analyze and address disparities, adaptive leadership, self-awareness, and focusing on individual well-being
Frequently asked questions
A Bridging Fellow engages individuals, communities, and/or organizations for the purpose of building bridges across varying differences, including ideological, racial, socioeconomic, and geographical. Bridging Fellows – formally and/or informally – build relationships, trust, and opportunities for open and honest communication toward sustainable change and impact.
We encourage changemakers from all backgrounds in Chicago, Dallas, and Pittsburgh to apply, including but not limited to: leaders working locally in these cities across nonprofits, foundations, community groups, social movements, research communities, and for-profit social enterprises.
Examples: Activists, community residents, community liaisons, youth development coordinators, program officers, case managers, community organizers, educators, human resource professionals, etc.
Specific criteria for applicants:
- Demonstrate passion and leadership in addressing one of society’s toughest challenges
- Show self-awareness, vulnerability, and an openness to learning
- Commitment and awareness of diversity, inclusion, and equity’s impact on social change work, and a willingness to engage on racial equity in personal and professional conversations
- Illustrate the potential to scale social impact and demonstrate the capacity for system change
- Value collaboration and demonstrate ability to collaborate on work with other changemakers within their sector or in cross-sector relationships
Eligibility:
- Bridge builders from all sectors including but not limited to nonprofit and philanthropic organizations, for-profit social enterprises, community groups, social movements, research communities, and government/public sector leaders.
- Applicants must work and live in Pittsburgh, Dallas, or Chicago.
Preference may be given to candidates who identify as underrepresented or otherwise marginalized, including but not limited to:
- Black, Indigenous, or other people of color
- LGBTQ+
- people with a seen or unseen disability
The Fellowship is a two-year hybrid, virtual and in-person program that includes 10 three-hour virtual convenings and three in-person gatherings in 2022 and 2023. Please review the 2022-2023 program schedule. In addition, Bridging Fellows will be invited to attend Upswell events, including regional meetings, annual business meetings, and Upswell Summits.
The 2022-2023 Bridging Fellows Program Schedule:
- April 12, 2022: Virtual Convening #1 (virtual program kickoff)
- May 3, 2022: Virtual Convening #2
- July 19, 2022: Virtual Convening #3
- September 14, 2022: Virtual Convening #4
- November 15, 2022: Upswell Summit (virtual)
- December 13, 2022: Virtual Convening #5
- To be determined: Learning Exchange #1 in Dallas (in person, travel required)
- January to November 2023:
- Virtual Convenings #6-10
- Learning Exchange #2 (Chicago)
- Learning Exchange #3 (Pittsburgh)
- Upswell events 2023
- Upswell Summit 2023
Application timeline:
- Applications are due by 11:59 PM PT on March 7, 2022. Your completed application must be received by this date and time. No extensions will be granted.
- Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee that includes staff from Independent Sector.
- Applicants will be notified of their selection status, and the 2022-2023 Bridging Fellows cohort will be announced, in March 2022.
Thanks to the generous support of Walmart, Fellows will receive a stipend for their participation in virtual convenings, as well as for travel and accommodation costs for in-person gatherings.
Fellows will be expected to participate in ten (10) virtual convenings (via Zoom video conference) to be held between 1:00 – 5:00 PM ET, as well as three (3) in-person gatherings that will be held during the two-year period.
Outside of meeting times, Fellows can expect to spend approximately four to six hours per month on program-related activities during the Fellowship. Fellows are expected to participate in and complete all assignments and projects related to participation in the program.
Failure to participate in convenings without making prior arrangements with Independent Sector staff may result in a loss of Fellowship status. Independent Sector staff strive to maintain flexibility and understanding around balancing the pandemic’s ongoing impact on work/personal routines, such as shifting work demands, work environment, work-from-home, changes in caretaking responsibilities, and self-care. Communication will be key from all parties in order to balance personal needs and the integrity of cohort learning.
Upon acceptance, Fellows are required to sign and return a commitment form within two business days. The form outlines program participation expectations and involves supervisor approval.
Thanks to the generous support of Walmart, acceptance into the Fellowship includes all fees, materials, and supplies related to the leadership development curriculum. Fellows will also receive a stipend for participating in virtual convenings, as well as for travel and accommodation costs for in-person gatherings.
Fellows are responsible for arranging their schedule to meet time demands of virtual convenings and in-person gatherings. In a virtual world, your time is a major cost commitment to be proactively managed among your professional and personal duties.
Fellows will receive complimentary registration to Upswell 2022 and Upswell 2023.