Meet the 2021-2002 Connecting Leaders Fellowship Cohort
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 27, 2021
Contact: Lya Wesley(lwesley@abfe.org)
Building Worldwide Black Leadership Capacity
ABFE Announces 2021 -2022 CONNECTING LEADERS FELLOWS
New York, New York — ABFE: A Philanthropic Partnership for Black Communities has selected twelve foundations executives for the 2021-2022 class of its Connecting Leaders Fellowship Program (CLFP). CLFP is a year-long experience designed to sharpen the skills and strengthen the leadership capacity of foundation staff, donors, and trustees who are committed to assisting Black communities through philanthropy.
Fellows were chosen based upon a set of criteria covering their experience in philanthropy, their future goals, as well as their interest and passion for making systemic change in Black communities. This year we welcome our first international fellow, hailing from Johannesburg, South Africa.
“As ABFE continues to lift up our ten imperatives, it is essential to leverage global opportunities for Black leaders while continuing to diversify our membership” said Tekecha Morgan, ABFE Program Manager.
CLFP Fellows will learn from seasoned grantmakers and peers on a regular basis, understand how to be more effective agents for change within their institutions, and participate in a network that focuses on innovative solutions to community challenges.
The 12 members of the 2022 class join 159 other ABFE Fellows since the program’s inception in 2005. CLFP fellows work in diverse fields across various nonprofits and foundations.
“Our sector struggles to retain diverse talent. Each year we bring together a cohort of Black professionals, and over the course of a year, we support their professional development, said ABFE’s President and CEO, Susan Taylor Batten “It is our hope that our fellows will feel empowered to move forward in philanthropy ─ supported by ABFE and the extensive network of mentors and colleagues in implementing innovative solutions to community challenges.”