Fellows
FNL Fellows work to combat racial, social and economic injustices and inequalities that impact all of our society.
FNL fellows lead early-stage start-up organizations doing innovative, not-for-profit work to solve difficult problems. Fellows hail from every corner of the United States, but all are rooted in the communities they serve.
They are working to combat racial, social and economic injustices and inequalities that impact all of our society including access to education and healthcare, environmental issues, jobs and the economy, and criminal justice.
All fellows’ organizations have had limited capacity to fully develop their ideas. FNL’s investment will, in many instances, allow them to expand their team, build their infrastructure and increase their impact.
We believe that three years of financial support, combined with FNL’s intensive cohort experience, will help them take their work to the next level. FNL is committed to supporting fellows who represent the diverse fabric of American society. Meet our inaugural cohort of 14 fellows:

Sheerine Alemzadeh
Healing to ActionSheerine Alemzadeh is the co-founder and co-director of Healing to Action, a grassroots organization whose mission is to end gender-based violence through building the leadership and collective power of the communities most impacted.
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Karla Altmayer
Healing to ActionAs the co-founder and co-director of Healing to Action, Karla organizes with survivor leaders to achieve gender liberation in their communities.
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Kevin Beckford
The Hustlers GuildKevin Beckford is co-founder of The Hustlers Guild, an organization that uses facets of hip-hop culture to provide immersive virtual and in-person programming for Black and Latinx youth between the ages of 10-24. These programs launch young people into careers in music, entertainment and technology.
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Bob Carswell
The Industrial Commons — Material ReturnCarswell serves as the CEO for Material Return, a one-stop shop for creating a sustainable, socially responsible economy, focusing on custom circularity for textile brands and manufacturers using co-op models and state-of-the-art technology.
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Martine Caverl
Ujimaa MedicsMartine is a registered nurse and certified case manager with a background in community organizing, street medic work, and birth work. She helped found Ujimaa Medics, a Black health collective that promotes emergency first response and community care.
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Briane Cornish
finEQUITYBriane is co-founder and head of operations at finEQUITY, an organization that uses technology to create solutions to common financial barriers experienced by Americans returning home from prison. These programs include access to no-cost credit, education and capital services.
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Stina Janssen
Firelands Workers United/Trabajadores UnidosStina Janssen co-founded and directs Firelands Workers United/Trabajadores Unidos, a multiracial organization of working people coming together to organize for union jobs caring for people and the land in Washington State’s rural timber country.
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Bree Jones
Parity HomesBree is the founder of Parity, an equitable development company that rehabilitates abandoned properties by the block to create affordable homeownership opportunities.
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Charli Kemp
Change The TuneAs Executive Director and Founder of Change The Tune, a nonprofit that reimagines the educational system, Charli creates revolutionary, out-of-classroom learning spaces that provide radical and transformational learning experiences and supports the holistic development of both student and teacher.
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Janet Martinez
Comunidades Indigenas en LiderazgoMartinez is the co-founder/vice executive director of Comunidades Indígenas en Liderazgo (CIELO), an indigenous woman-led organization that works with indigenous migrant communities in Los Angeles. CIELO organizes to assure racial justice for indigenous migrant communities.
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Flor Rodriguez
CLEAN CarwashFlor Rodriguez is a workers’ rights advocate who brings over 12 years of experience in coalition building, organizing, and leadership development. As Executive Director, Flor led CLEAN’s transformation from a community campaign into the CLEAN Carwash Worker Center – now launching the first ever clean wash, mobile cooperative.
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Kai Tao
ICAN! (Illinois Contraceptive Access Now)Kai Tao is a clinician with experience in health policy, programs, and clinical operations. As the Principal for ICAN! (Illinois Contraceptive Access Now), she works to democratize access to contraceptive services by improving the quality of care and increasing coverage.
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Brittany Young
B-360Brittany Young is a West Baltimore native whose organization utilizes dirt bike culture to end the cycle of poverty, disrupt the prison pipeline, and build bridges in communities through STEM education and career opportunities.
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Felipe Witchger
Francesco CollaborativeFelipe Witchger co-directs the Francesco Collaborative, building capacity at the intersection of Catholic impact investors and the cooperative movement. He previously spent 10 years leading the Community Purchasing Alliance organizing religious and educational institutions to shift more than $13 million to local BIPOC-owned businesses in Washington, DC.
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