New York, May 21, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) – A former Florida State Representative. The first African-American woman elected to the Washington Statehouse in 18 years. An authority on transportation policy in Massachusetts. Former commissioner of the New York Department of Consumer and Worker Protection. The first African American and youngest mayor of Stockton, Calif., And a political expert on social justice issues in Guam.

The Open Society Foundations are pleased to announce the 2021 recipients of the Leadership in Government Fellowship, an initiative that supports accomplished senior officials in federal, state and local governments who have dedicated their careers to the advancement of economic justice, social and racial.

Fellows have a proven track record in various fields in communities across the country and at all levels of government. Their projects include a mass communication effort designed to fight disinformation and educate Latino voters about the role of government; supportive and organizational tools to fight against systemic oppression and exclusion in the development of public policies; helping advocates and government officials create a more equitable economic recovery by rebuilding transit systems in the aftermath of COVID-19; a project to promote livable and sustainable working conditions, pushing companies to put people before profits; Basic Income pilot projects with mayors across California as an innovative solution to alleviating poverty; and a guide to burial protection and a series of workshops calling for adequate and equal protection of cultural and environmental resources in Guam.

“At a time when our political landscape is undergoing rapid and profound change, the innovations these former public servants are working on will help build a more just and equitable democracy,” said Tom Perriello, Executive Director of Open Society-US. “We are proud of the talent that our scholarship program continues to produce and look forward to their contributions in the years to come.

The program, now in its fifth year, aims to help Fellows make the most of their time in the public sector and develop ideas and strategies that advance the values ​​of an open society. Fellows are also encouraged to reflect on their public service when deciding on the next steps in their careers and to share ideas with advocates on implementing policy change in an environment of low trust public opinion.

Fellows and Open Society staff can also learn from fellows on how to better navigate government and leverage its resources to address the challenges the country faces, including the unrest caused by COVID. -19, undemocratic electoral restrictions and the time for racial justice.

“I am delighted to welcome the fifth cohort of Leadership Fellows to government,” said Elizabeth Guernsey, program manager at Open Society-US who oversees the program. “They bring a diversity of experiences and backgrounds to their fellowship work and offer perspectives and experiences that are essential for advancing the values ​​of an open society.”

The scholarships for the scholarship range from $ 100,000 to $ 133,000 to facilitate projects lasting 12 to 18 months. Fellows will devote up to 32 hours per week to their projects.

2021 Leadership among government scholarship recipients

Cindy Polo will work on mass communication plans intended to educate Latino voters on politics and the role of government.

Kristine Reeves will develop a public policy process model and toolkit to address the perpetuation of systemic oppression and exclusion through the promotion of policy coaching, training and evaluation in matter of intercultural sensitivity.

Laurel Paget Seekins will develop collaborative tools that advocates and government change agents will use to promote equitable transit services, the need for which has been clearly established by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Lorelei Salas will promote livable and sustainable working conditions and consumer participation by giving worker centers, unions and policy makers the tools they need to make people come before profits.

Michael Tubbs will work with community organizations and governments to launch innovative programs and policy experiments, including Basic Income pilot projects with mayors in California to address poverty and economic mobility.

Nic Santos will create a guide on burial protection and a series of accompanying workshops to empower the movement for adequate and equal protection of cultural and environmental resources in Guam.