Center for Community Investment’s Leadership Development Program Announces 16 Fellows Focused on Resilient, Equitable Communities

16 Professionals Earn Their Place at Leading Systems Change in the Community Investment Field

Washington, DC, Jan. 10, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Center for Community Investment (CCI), a sponsored project at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, is pleased to announce the selection of its fifth cohort of Fulcrum Fellows. These 16 dynamic changemakers will participate in a 13-month action-learning program that equips leaders with the community investment, racial equity, and adaptive leadership knowledge and skills to ignite lasting change in communities. They will join a growing, network of leaders who are committed to advancing racial equity and supporting disinvested communities to achieve their environmental, social, and economic priorities. 

This year’s Fellows span the country from California to Maine and Florida to Colorado, using their work in affordable housing, climate resilience, philanthropy, and community and economic development to spark more resilient, equitable communities.

Over the course of the hands-on, intensive fellowship, Fellows will build their skills in adaptive leadership and community investment; apply systems thinking to tackle racial inequities and economic marginalization; and use the Capital Absorption Framework to create and execute a robust pipeline of investable, high-impact opportunities that address inequities. Each Fellow will also pursue a meaningful effort in their community that will rely on investment capital to succeed and that has the potential to change how the community organizes and deploys community investment.

“Communities across the country face a host of interlocking challenges, from structural racism and the inequitable distribution of resources to climate change to the expiration of post-pandemic federal funding supports. This is a critical moment for building and deploying the community investment and leadership strategies that will help these exceptional Fulcrum Fellows achieve the visions of their communities,” said CCI Executive Director Robin Hacke.

The 16 fellowship recipients are: 

*Kate Ansorge*
Director, Shared Equity Housing Managing Director of Real Estate Solutions
Chicago IFF
Chicago, IL

*Carrie Blumert*
County Commissioner
District 1, Oklahoma County
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

*Dontá Council*
Community and Economic Development Advisor 
Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
Atlanta, Georgia

*Khaliff Davis* 
Managing Director, Structured Lending and Investing  
Reinvestment Fund
Atlanta, Georgia 

*Swati Ghosh**
*Vice President, Insights and Innovations  
New Growth Innovation Network
Seattle, Washington

*Trené Hawkins**
*Program Officer
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 
Lawrenceville, New Jersey

*Amanda Hughes*
Executive Director
Stanislaus 2030
Modesto, California

*Anita Kumar**
*Director, Collaborative Health Equity Practice
Bay Area Regional Health Inequities Initiative
Oakland, California

*Nola Miguel**
*Executive Director 
Globeville Elyria Swansea Coalition & Tierra Colectiva
Denver, Colorado

*Ahmed Mori**
*Vice President of Community Economic Development
Catalyst Miami
Miami, Florida

*Nneka Onwuzurike**
*First Deputy of Business and Neighborhood Development
City of Chicago Mayor’s Office
Chicago, Illinois

*Christa Stoneham* 
Chief Executive Officer and President 
Houston Land Bank
Houston, Texas 

*Tosha Tabron**
*Social Investment Officer
The Kresge Foundation
Detroit, Michigan

*Sima Thakkar**
*Senior Director of Health and Climate Equity
Raza Development Fund
Phoenix, Arizona

*Daniel Wallace**
*Chief Investment Officer
Coastal Enterprises, Inc.
Brunswick, Maine

*Regina Celestin Williams**
*Executive Director
SV@Home
San José, California


The Fulcrum Fellowship is one of several CCI programs working to ensure all communities have the capital needed to thrive. To learn more about CCI’s Fulcrum Fellowship and our first four cohorts of Fellows, visit 

https://centerforcommunityinvestment.org/our-work/leadership-development/fulcrum-fellowship/.  

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*ABOUT THE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY INVESTMENT * 

The Center for Community Investment (CCI), a sponsored project at Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, works to ensure that all communities, especially those that have suffered from structural racism and policies that have left them economically and socially isolated, can unlock the capital they need to thrive. Our work is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, The Kresge Foundation, JPMorgan Chase & Co, and The California Endowment. centerforcommunityinvestment.org | @C4CInvest  

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*ABOUT ROCKEFELLER PHILANTHROPY ADVISORS * 
Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors (RPA) accelerates philanthropy in pursuit of a just world. Continuing the Rockefeller family's legacy of thoughtful, effective philanthropy, RPA is a global nonprofit at the forefront of philanthropic growth and innovation, with a diverse team of experienced grantmakers with significant depth of knowledge across the spectrum of issue areas. Founded in 2002, RPA has grown into one of the world's largest philanthropic service organizations and has facilitated more than $4 billion in grantmaking to more than 70 countries. RPA currently advises on and manages more than $600 million in annual giving by individuals, families, foundations, and corporations. RPA also serves as a fiscal sponsor for over 100 projects, providing governance, management, and operational infrastructure to support their charitable purposes. rockpa.org | @RockPhilanth

CONTACT: Janelle Julien
Center for Community Investment
2404630578
jjulien@centerforcommunitydevelopment.org