In college, Bibi was a member of the Entrepreneurial Scholars and I-Lead (Intercultural Leadership and Development), a four year program in which selected students are trained as leaders on campus in their communities and at national and global leadership conferences. Within the program, Bibi traveled to Trinidad, UAE and a number of conferences around the nation. She has been active in her community, from volunteering on a presidential campaign to organizing international charitable events.  Additionally, Bibi started a program helping Chinese students learn English over the internet. She aspires to work in US foreign policy or the UN. 

Lauren Biekman – Dayton, Ohio 

Medicine, Health, and Society – Vanderbilt University – 2009  

Lauren discovered her passion for community work through her experiences at Vanderbilt. She worked a great deal with high school and elementary students through Vanderbilt Student Volunteers for Science and an organization she co-founded, The L.I.F.E. Project. Through L.I.F.E., Lauren met many community leaders and learned how their agencies improved the Nashville community and at the end of her four years, she was confident she wanted to be one of them. After Coro, Lauren will continue on to get her masters in public administration. She hopes to work in corporate philanthropy and eventually pursue a career in government.

 

 

Abby Block – Evanston, Illinois 

A sociology major at Colorado College, Abby Block focused her academic energies on social inequality. As a sophomore, she was selected to travel to Sierra Leone to study the aftermath of the country's recent civil war. Before her senior year, she travelled alone to Salvador de Bahia, Brazil, to research the newly implemented Affirmative Action program. During the 2008 presidential campaign, she served as one of the primary interns in El Paso County, Colorado. Abby plans to receive a master’s degree in social work in order to pursue her interest in community advocacy with a focus on racial equity.

Courtney Bragg – Weston, Florida

Courtney became passionate about urban education five years ago, working with Breakthrough Collaborative, an education nonprofit that provides underserved middle school students with the tools to succeed in college. Courtney continues to be involved in education, working with Breakthrough, the Boys and Girls Club, and local public schools. Studying urban studies and education, Courtney spent the fall of her junior year working on Capitol Hill and attending Georgetown University. That spring, she studied at the University of Oxford, returning to Washington University to write her honors thesis on racialization and urban schools. Courtney plans to continue working in urban education.

 At Washington University, Jon became involved with the St. Louis NORC (Naturally Occurring Retirement Community) through his fraternity, Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He was awarded a Goldman’s community service stipend to work full time for the NORC in the summer of 2008. Jon’s success encouraging other fraternity members to assist the elderly won him the position of president where he repaired strained university relations. He cultivated an interest in written argumentation while at Wash U and graduated in 2009 with college honors. After Coro, he plans to attend law school and continue his community involvement in St. Louis, his hometown.

History and Political Science – Washington University in St. Louis – 2009 

Sarah graduated Summa Cum Laude from Washington University in 2009. There, she won a prize for the best thesis in the history department and was published in the undergraduate research journal. She has developed a commitment to her community through work as a camp counselor and a teacher at an after-school program. Additionally, she became interested in the policy process while she worked for a Los Angeles City Councilmember. She created a proposal for the collection of delinquent business taxes, which the City Office of Accounting is currently implementing. After Coro, Sarah plans to attend law school and pursue politics. 

Political Science, Spanish – Macalester College—St. Paul – 2007

As an undergraduate, Bonnie developed a passion for using public policy as a means to eradicate social inequities and saw the acute need for developing our nation’s education system to serve all students. She taught high school in Memphis City Schools following graduation, and also worked for a local foundation that advocates for city and state education reforms and funds college preparatory charter schools in Memphis. Her experiences in the classroom and the policy sector motivate her to seek a career in education reform after Coro.

Economics and African & African-American Studies – Washington University in St. Louis – 2009

Oge is a recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis. She has a strong interest in the development and progress of developing African nations, especially Nigeria. Oge pursued this interest through African studies courses, her leadership in Washington University’s African Student Association, and her work with Northwestern University’s Program for African Studies. She has traveled to Nigeria twice and hopes to travel to many other developing nations in and outside of Africa. After Coro, Oge would like to pursue a graduate degree in International Relations and a career in federal government or with development-oriented nonprofits or multilateral organizations.

Caitlin Fleming – Saint Louis, Missouri 

Political Science and Studio Art – Carleton College – 2009

While serving her peers as Carleton’s Student Association President, Caitlin helped to bring student voices together to develop policies on curriculum, diversity, and health services.  While interning at a political communications firm in Washington D.C., she worked with non-profit and corporate organizations to advance innovative health practices.  In addition to working on the Presidential campaign, she collaborated with her professors as a Research Assistant in publishing The American Elections of 2008.  She looks forward to joining other Fellows in developing creative strategies for addressing today’s challenges.  Following Coro, she plans to pursue graduate work in law and public policy.

Mark Greenfogel – Randolph, New Jersey 

Mark served as president of Men Against Violence Against Women where he worked to raise awareness about domestic violence through efforts such as the White Ribbon Campaign. With Table to Table, a food rescue organization in New Jersey, Mark spearheaded the initiative to effectively redistribute healthy and otherwise wasted food throughout Newark. Additionally, Mark interned for a political action committee and a member of the US House of Representatives, and practiced community organizing in Detroit. Mark plans to obtain Law and Master’s in Public Policy degrees to help him further pursue his passions for service and politics.

Economics – Duke University – 2009

Matt has a variety of passions that he hopes to explore during the Fellowship. Matt’s economics coursework, as well as his consulting internship and his observation of the financial crisis, have sparked his interest in the question of what role the private sector, particularly banks, has in the well-being of society. In addition, Matt took several courses in climate change and energy technologies at Duke. He is interested in the development of a green economy in the United States, and hopes to learn more about how public and private institutions can contribute to the commercialization of alternative energy. 

Criminal Justice, Psychology – Saint Louis University -- 2009

Lauren comes to Coro with a passion for social justice and an interest in urban development. At SLU, Lauren took an active role in her community and on campus, working within the criminal justice system and volunteering with social advocacy groups. Lauren was also involved in politics, registering students at SLU to vote, and petitioning the University as well as the city election board for a polling place on Campus. During the summers, Lauren lived in DC lobbying for environmental reform. After Coro, Lauren plans on pursuing a law degree and continuing to work on community development.

Samuel T. Kuntz – Cicero, Illinois

Sam has served as an Americorps member with City Year Chicago and Public Allies Chicago.  At City Year, Sam coordinated a literacy tutoring and after-school program for Chicago Public School elementary students.  This past year he worked for Public Allies Chicago, where he was placed at the University of Chicago Medical Center, Office of Community Affairs coordinating volunteer programs and community outreach events.  As an Ally he also had the privilege to community organize around social issues with the grassroots youth organization Kids Off The Block, Inc.  Sam plans to pursue a Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy.

Organizational Studies – University of Michigan – 2009

Zachary Benjamin Lainer recently graduated “with distinction” (Cum Laude) from the University of Michigan. The focus of Zachary's studies was on “organization and cooperation in international systems”. To supplement his studies, Zachary volunteered to serve as a Research Assistant in the Department of Psychology. The emphasis of Zachary's research was on multinational corporations' corporate values. Outside his studies, Zachary was involved in Jewish life on campus and was chosen by the Hillel to be coordinator of the biannual fundraising drive. Zachary loves anything outdoors and playing basketball. He hopes to one day pursue a career in foreign policy.

Political Science, Peace Studies – University of Notre Dame – 2009

Erin graduated from the University of Notre Dame with degrees in Political Science, Peace Studies and Anthropology. Her diverse curriculum has been supplemented with experience in the government and non-profit sectors. While interning with the International Refugee Center in Chicago, the UK Parliament in London and Eugemot Orphanage in Ghana, Erin has seen the need for comprehensive and collective efforts to serve those who are most vulnerable. Erin is committed to finding creative ways to work at the grassroots and policy levels to promote community development. After Coro Erin will pursue a Masters of Social Work and Juris Doctorate.

English and Social Justice – Hamline University – St. Paul – 2009

Natalie recently graduated from Hamline University with majors in English and Social Justice. Her independent research focused on the reemergence of blackface in films and on college campuses. Natalie was at the forefront of developing community on Hamline’s campus, she founded a late-night weekend programming board, served as an orientation trainer, acted in theatrical productions and taught a first-year course. Natalie also developed significant non-profit funding experience at Philanthropy New York and Jewish Community Action in St. Paul. After CORO, Natalie hopes to get a Masters in Social Work and PhD in American Studies before teaching at the college level.