JOHN GARDNER FELLOWSHIP ASSOCIATION

Sarah Rigney

2020 - Placement: Initiate Justice; Los Angeles and Oakland, CA Mentor: Taina Vargas-Edmond, Co-founder and Executive Director

fellowship, non-profit/ngo

Reflections from Inside the Bubble

I spent the first week and a half of my fellowship in researcher training, where I was warned by colleagues of the occasionally graphic nature of work at Human Rights Watch, and how important self-care would be to a healthy work-life balance. I’ve always been drawn to intense issues—my first college papers and research assistant … Continue reading Reflections from Inside the Bubble

fellowship, non-profit/ngo

Steven Pinker’s Lessons on History and Human Rights

Note: The views expressed in this blog post are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of the U.S. Department of State or the U.S. Government. On May 15, Bill Gates issued a series of tweets directed to the newly-minted college graduates among his 35 million followers on Twitter. … Continue reading Steven Pinker’s Lessons on History and Human Rights

fellowship, non-profit/ngo, post-fellowship

The Dominican Republic and My Public Service Journey

Five months after I finished my Gardner fellowship, and four months after I left for a job in the Dominican Republic, I sat down to have lunch with my Gardner mentor back in New York. After a quick check in he plunged right into questioning me about my current job, what I was learning, and … Continue reading The Dominican Republic and My Public Service Journey

fellowship, non-profit/ngo

Reflections on COP21

In August, shortly before I started my fellowship, a friend sent me a New Yorker profile of Christiana Figueres, the Executive Secretary of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The profile closes with a fascinating quote from Ms. Figueres: “You know, I think that this whole climate thing is a very interesting … Continue reading Reflections on COP21

non-profit/ngo, post-fellowship

Lived Experience as a Source of Knowledge

Founded by Dr. Donald Roden of Rutgers University – New Brunswick, the Mountainview Program (MVP) initially started as a volunteer GED tutoring group for incarcerated youth at the Mountainview Youth Correctional Facility in Annandale, New Jersey. In 2013 the MVP program was incorporated into a consortium of higher education institutions known as the New Jersey … Continue reading Lived Experience as a Source of Knowledge

fellowship, non-profit/ngo

Amid Anxiety, Human Rights Should be a Priority

December in midtown Manhattan brings tourists, holiday lights, and time with friends and family. The year’s final month also celebrates two important global human rights events: The International Day of Persons with Disabilities on December 3, and Human Rights Day on December 10. Recent events make us realize how important it is to include planning … Continue reading Amid Anxiety, Human Rights Should be a Priority

fellowship

Becoming More Intentional

On December 6, 2014 I wrote myself a letter as a closing exercise for the Global Poverty and Practice capstone course. I remember our discussion on the day we received the assignment: very few of the students in the class knew what they would be doing upon graduation, and among those that did, all were … Continue reading Becoming More Intentional

fellowship, non-profit/ngo

Post-Secondary Education is Critical for the Formerly Incarcerated

It’s early Tuesday morning and I am on a flight to Detroit-Metro Airport. Due to weather conditions the flight is being delayed. As the plane sits on the runway at Newark Liberty International Airport I am second guessing my participation in this trip. I am accompanying my colleagues Rebecca Silber and Sean Addie to Michigan … Continue reading Post-Secondary Education is Critical for the Formerly Incarcerated

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Reflections on the Gardner Fellowship

Fellows from the 2010-2011 class share their thoughts upon completion of their fellowships. https://youtu.be/ddVwQxP1kcc