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Thirty recent college graduates are uniquely equipped with a vision for the change they want to create and a career plan to make it happen.
On May 17, 2010, they completed RCLA's Fellowship for Emerging Leaders in Public Service with a deeper awareness of their own leadership strengths and understanding of the public service landscape, a career plan to pursue, and a network of other outstanding professionals committed to public service to support them.
The graduation, held at NYU's Torch Club, marked the culmination of the selective seven-month program, which provides women and men holding early positions in public service with the knowledge, skills and tools to pursue an array of career paths.
The program gives Fellows opportunities to reflect on the issues, roles and organizational settings that interest them and to learn from government and nonprofit executives about their own career trajectories. This year’s speakers included: New York Women’s Foundation President and CEO Ana Oliveira, NYU Wagner Dean Ellen Schall, Human Rights Watch Director of Programs Iain Levine, Brotherhood/Sister Sol Executive Director Khary Lazarre-White, and Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer.
Over the course of the program, Fellows also meet regularly with Career Guides -- senior directors and advisors at government and nonprofit organizations, who provide guidance and mentorship as fellows consider their roles and leaders and shape their career goals and plans.
Career Guides this year included: Josh Klainberg, Deputy Director of the New York League of Conservation Voters; Krystal Reyes, Senior Advisor for Children & Family Services in the NYC Office of the Deputy Mayor for Health & Human Services; Dawn Saffayeh, Assistant Commissioner for Strategic Resource Management & Reporting in NYC Children's Services; Sam Schaeffer, Chief Business Development Officer for CEO - Center for Employment Opportunities; and Leticia Smith-Evans, Assistant Counsel at the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund.
At the graduation ceremony FELPS Director Colleen SchwartzCoffey welcomed guests and thanked the many supporters who continue to make the program possible. NYU Wagner Dean Ellen Schall, who founded the program and was the first speaker of the year, offered words of congratulations and encouragement.
Fellows were inspired to continue their public service work by Maritza Guzman, Director of Fiscal Sponsorship and Project Management at Public Interest Projects. They also heard from 2010 Fellow Alma Moedano, a Research Assistant at MDRC.
FELPS Alumni Board President Mark Liu welcomed the fellows to the alumni network, and Manager Moschell Coffey closed the event with a look forward to all that Fellows will continue to accomplish in public service.
The Fellowship and growing alumni network are made possible through support from NYU Wagner, RCLA and the Altman Foundation.
Applications for next year's fellowship will be available online July 14, 2010.
