[Jgfamembers] JGFA Newsletter - March 2008

[Sean Fox]

Welcome to the first JGFA Newsletter of 2008, which provides a forum to
update all of you on the activities and people of the membership.  

 

The officers are excited to announce that after a five-year hiatus, the
JGFA Retreat is back!  The team has set September 13-14, 2008 as the
weekend for this special event.  Please mark your calendars today - we'd
love to see all of you attend.  

 

A planning committee has been established and will be providing more
information about lodging, the program, speakers, etc. in the near
future.  The event will be held in the same location as the last one -
Monterrey, California at the Asilomar Conference Center.  For anyone who
attending the last Retreat, you know that it's a great location and will
provide the perfect back drop for a wonderful two days together.  More
on this don't-miss event will be coming your way soon.

 

Included in this newsletter is an update on this year's JGFA activities
from JGFA's President, Waseem Noor and nearly THIRTY submissions from
members of JGFA who took time to provide an update on their personal
and/or professional life.  We recommend you take five minutes to read
through these submissions.  It is a great way to reconnect with people
from the past, hear about the activities of members you have never met,
and generally to get a sense for the breadth and depth of
service-related activities that JGFA members pursue.  (Special thanks to
Amanda Mendoza for compiling all these submissions!)

 

Also, for those who want to find out more about the JGFA members, you
should check out the member's only database at www.jgfa.net
<http://www.jgfa.net/>  (click on the left tab that says JGFA Members).
You will need to remember your user name and password to access the
data.  If you don't know the information, email info at jgfa.net and we'll
look it up for you.  Once you are in the database, you can search the
entire membership using name, school, fellowship year, region or state
where the person lives today, or public service interests of the person.
This allows the members to not only find contact information of the
folks they know from the past, but more importantly to identify people
in the JGFA who might share a common interest in a topic or issue.  As
JGFA grows, this tool will be more and more valuable for those who want
to tap into the JGFA network.

 

As a closing note, we are excited to report that the current fellows are
fully engaged in their chosen fellowships.  Below is a picture of the
2007-2008 Gardner Fellows with Bruce Cain, Executive Director UC
Washington Center and Heller Professor of Political Science at UC
Berkeley, during their mid-year meeting.  Fellows include:  Elisabeth
Centeno, Cammie Lee, Colin Burke, Kyle Maurer, Jennifer Browning, and
Miriam Solis.  The group reportedly had a spirited discussion about the
primary elections.  

 

Enjoy!    

 

--  The JGFA Officers

 

 

 

President's Update

 

All,

 

We had a great Board meeting in early February and agreed on the major
initiatives that will be the focus of the officers and Board for 2008.
The highlights of this year's activities include:

 

- Planning the JGFA Retreat that has been scheduled for Sept 13-14 in
Monterrey, California (at Asilomar).  

- Holding a mentor and alumni meeting in DC scheduled for May 29

- Initiating a fundraising program in Q2 of 2008

- Distributing the newsletter and holding roundtable events on a
quarterly basis and

- Pursuing issues around the ongoing funding of the Gardner Fellowship
at Berkeley.  This topic will be discussed at the retreat and will
continue to be a focus of the JGFA's efforts.

 

I look forward to seeing all of you at the Retreat in September!

 

Regards,

Waseem

 

JGFA Member Updates

 

DMA/Donna Michelle Anderson ('86)

 

I'm still in Southern California, and I shifted from over a decade in
television production into new media two years ago.  Since then, I have
written two popular entertainment industry guides for screenwriting and
reality TV production, speak regularly on working in the industry
nationwide and launched the new media division for Columbia College
Hollywood last year.  The biggest news over the past year is I've
evolved my new media passion and inner geek into creating new software
applications.  This month, I am launching two new programs.  "Show
Starter Scheduling & Budgeting Plus" is a business 2.0 solution that
lets you schedule a project and create the budget and cash flow at the
same time.  "The CLIC Network" brings my lifelong passion for access to
higher education to a new interactive "goal" network.  We bring everyone
with a stake in the college experience, and all of their resources,
together into a single, simple, fun online destination.  It is my goal
to double the number of college graduates in this country in the next
ten years.  Overall, family, friends, dog, health, life are great, and
I'm looking forward to the reunion! 

 

 

Annie Bird ('05)

As a Marshall Scholar, I am currently studying for a LL.M in
International Human Rights Law at the University of Essex in the UK. The
program, students and faculty are excellent. I am taking courses like
the International Law of Armed Conflict, Refugee Law, Law of
Peacekeeping, International Criminal Law, etc. In addition, I am
preparing to participate in an ICRC competition on international
humanitarian law and a research exchange in Kashmir over the summer. So
life has been busy, but great! If anyone happens to pass through London,
let me know. It would be great to be in touch with some Gardner Alum. 

 

Heidi Boas ('02)

 

I am an Equal Justice Works Fellow at Catholic Charities Immigration
Legal Services in Washington, D.C., where I am providing immigration
legal services and outreach to the African immigrant and refugee
community.

 

 

Tess Bridgeman ('03)

I hope this finds everyone well.  My first year of law school at NYU and
the transition to New York City after three years in Oxford have made
this year challenging and a wonderful change of pace.  I've been
re-connecting with friends and colleagues on this side of the Atlantic
and also getting closer to finishing my doctorate in my "spare time".  I
presented some of my findings in DC a few months ago and there's been
interest from both sides of the aisle in following up, so hopefully I'll
be spending more time in DC this spring and over the summer.  I'd love
to hear from anyone who lives in New York or passes through! 

 

Russell A. Castaneda Calleros ('94)

Currently employed at Rio Hondo College as Director of Government &
Community Relations

Worked at Loyola Marymount University's Campus Ministry Office from
2001-2004.

Worked for Congressman Xavier Becerra (D-CA) from 1998-2000.

Worked for City of Anaheim from 1997-1998

 Married to Maria Castaneda Calleros with three children: Abram & Grace
(twins!) and Selah

 

 

Stephen Chan ('04)

 

I started the Kennedy School this year as part of my joint MBA-MPA
program at Harvard through a Zuckerman Fellowship.  Despite the
refreshing return to my policy roots, it was a rough fall for a couple
reasons.  First, in September, despite a wonderfully progressive and
grassroots campaign for a district seat on Boston City Council, my
partner was unable to win over enough of the conservative, "townie"
voters to advance to the general election in November.  It was an
off-mayoral year, so turnout in the primary barely topped 10%.  I'm now
a two-time "almost politician's wife," sigh.  I then turned my attention
back to classes and acclimating to the Kennedy School, only to have
another loss--my family losing our home in the San Diego fires on
October 22.  While I'm thankful my parents escaped our burning home
alive (albeit with no possessions), it has been a huge preoccupying
force in my life.  Now, as second semester begins and the emotional
preoccupation with the fire mostly behind me, I am digging into some
wonderful classes (e.g. "Social Capital and Public Affairs" taught by
Robert Putnam) and doing a research project on social entrepreneurship
and cities with Steve Goldsmith, a former mayor of Indianapolis.  On the
side, I'm still staying active in the local Asian and progressive
politics communities.  Looking forward to the retreat in the fall!

 

 

Jennie Berry Chandra ('01)

 

I recently began a new job as director of federal government affairs for
Windstream Communications, a communications company offering broadband,
video, and voice services to several million customers in 16 states.
Previously I served as an advisor on policy and planning, focused on
telecommunications, at the California Public Utilities Commission.
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed me to the advisor position in
2005.

 

My husband Ravi and I welcomed the arrival of our daughter Maya in
October 2007.

Great hearing from you all!

 

 

Subodh Chandra ('89)

 

I have my own private law practice focused on white-collar criminal
defense and civil litigation and am active in the Obama campaign.  As
far as the campaign goes, the eyes of the world, as usual, are on Ohio.
We hope not to screw this up too badly. 

 

 

Thaddeus Ferber

 

Thaddeus Ferber reached the decade mark, still working for his mentor
ten years after his fellowship, as Program Director at the Forum for
Youth Investment.  He is getting ready to unveil a new Facebook
application that helps young people on Facebook participate in democracy
by contacting their elected officials. 

 

 

Rudy Fuentes ('88)

Hello everyone.  I still reside in Washington DC where I have been since
graduate school.  I am the President and CEO of a small consulting group
-- Intuit Solutions International.  My practice areas are corporate
diversity, government relations, government contracts and international
trade.  I recently completed a very successful trade mission to the
Canary Islands, Spain.  The American Chamber of Commerce Spain retained
my team to recruit American businesses to make the trip to the Canary
Islands.  We recruited 32 American companies and had Former Secretary
Tommy Thompson and former Congressman JC Watts lead the trade mission.
It was a great success.  We marketed the Canary Islands as an excellent
Gateway to West Africa and the European Union. 

Most of profession experience is assisting businesses accessing domestic
and international business opportunities.  I enjoy what I do and our
consulting practices attracts some very interesting projects:  NBA
Referees Association, Fortune 100 corporate diversity matters, states
and localities and non-profits and every now and then a divorce or a
probate matter.

I am single and content at 42 years of age and have a great family in
Texas and here in Washington DC.  I hope all is well with each of you.

 

Grant T. Harris ('99)

My most exciting news by far is that Jasmine and I got married in August
2007 in Princeton, New Jersey.  We are continuing to enjoy life in
Manhattan and travel as much as possible.  In terms of work, I am still
an associate at the law firm of Cleary Gottlieb and mainly work in
mergers and acquisitions in Latin America.  I also get a healthy dose of
pro bono work related to international human rights and community
development, and I have been assisting The Bureau for International
Reporting as well as serving on its board.  I recently presented a paper
on the international law of occupation at an academic conference in
Israel and have an article on the subject coming out in a peer-reviewed
law journal, the Israel Law Review.  Jasmine recently finished her
federal judicial clerkship on the Southern District of New York and will
rejoin the law firm of Wilmer Hale as a litigation associate. 

 

Luz E. Herrera ('95) 

I am going to take the opportunity to share a little about a
professional project I am working on.  I hope that this network of law
school trained and funding-savvy folks can help me think through this .
. . . . 

A few weeks ago I accepted a tenure track faculty position at Thomas
Jefferson School of Law in San Diego.  I was hired to set up a community
law clinic focusing on immigrant entrepreneurs and nonprofits serving
the immigrant community. I am going to be helping develop a community
economic development agenda that allow law students to develop skills in
community building and into transactional practice in substantive areas
of law (real estate, small business, tax, corporate governance). I am
very excited about the possibilities. Even though this opportunity is a
wonderful one, the decision to take it was extremely difficult because I
remain committed to the community in Compton. I've negotiated a
relocation date of January 2009 in San Diego to buy me some time to lay
out the logistics and secure the funding to set up a community legal
resource center in Compton that attorneys who want to start their own
community based practice can staff as they develop their business plan
to venture out on their own. The idea is that such an office will be an
incubator and training ground for these attorneys and that clients will
benefit from continued services at more affordable rates.

  
The goal of the Community Lawyers, Inc. incubator project is to provide
support and training to those attorneys who are committed to helping our
low income and moderate income individuals who are not helped by legal
aid due to its income restrictions. The project attempts to address the
access to justice issue and at the same time develop the infrastructure
to support a pipeline for ethical, trained, quality attorneys.  In law
school circles I am pitching it as a post-graduate residency/fellowship
opportunity. One of the critical elements is securing a reliable group
of mentors for the attorneys.  If you hear of any resources that may be
able to help me do this please let me know.  Because it is a model that
involves the private bar and charging client fees, seed funding for this
is scarce. My decision to align myself with a law school is directly
related to not being able to have anyone take my ideas seriously as a
mere solo practitioner in Compton. In any event, I've been wrecking my
brain on this one but I am convinced I am on the right path (even if I
don't yet know the details).  I can go on for days talking about this so
I will spare you the details. I welcome and encourage your thoughts and
questions at lherrera at community-lawyers.org
<mailto:lherrera at community-lawyers.org> .  

 

Alicia <mailto:alijohn36 at gmail.com>  Johnson ('01)

 

I am a John Gardner Fellow from 2001. I currently work with KIPP
(Knowledge is Power Program), a charter school operator, in the New York
City region. I am Director of Operations and Career Services for KIPP to
College NYC. We're doing really cutting edge work in growing an
organization that can support all of our middle school graduates to
continue on the road to success in high school and college, after they
leave their KIPP middle schools. I am living in NYC and love it!

 

I spent my fellowship year at the Institute for Youth Education and
Families at the National League of Cities in Washington DC. I loved my
experience there and still keep in touch with my mentors. I stayed there
for two years after my fellowship then went on to business school at the
Yale School of Management. I worked with Wellspring Consulting doing
strategy consulting for nonprofit organizations before I landed in my
current position. (Wellspring is an amazing company and unparalleled
work experience. If anyone is interested I am happy to share more!) 

 

 

Regan Johnson (and Brian Bergmark) ('06)

 

Brian Bergmark and I were fellows last year (2006-2007).  For the JGF, I
was at Population Services International, under Senior VP Sally Cowal
working on safe water and child health.  Brian was at the Department of
Health and Human Services Office on Disability working for the Director
and Deputy Director, mostly on health policy.  We both had a phenomenal
year.  

We are currently both first year medical students at Harvard and are
planning on also pursuing master's degrees (we haven't decided on public
health versus public policy).  

We've had a little time between studying cardiology and epidemiology to
get out and see Boston, which is about as close to being in San
Francisco as you can be in the Northeast.  We will be in Tanzania this
summer working on a pilot program to prevent rheumatic heart disease in
children, and we've been very active in working on climate change here
at HMS.  In between returning from Tanzania and starting year 2, we're
(finally) getting married.
 
If any of you are ever in Boston let us know!  We love having people
over for dinner.

 

 

Michael Harrison Jones ('05)

 

Quick update about me (I was John Gardner Fellow 2005-2006 and spent the
year in the Secretary General's Office at the UN):  I am currently in my
first year at Harvard Business School, where I am having a fabulous time
and focusing on Finance and Entrepreneurship.  I will be spending this
upcoming summer working for Morgan Stanley in their Investment Banking
Division in New York.

 

 

 

Amanda Kahn ('03)

 

I have a busy few months ahead-- In May, I will graduate from NYU's
Wagner School of Public Service with a Masters in Public Administration.
In June, I'm getting married! In July, I'll start work-- job and
location TBD (any suggestions?!?). I'm hoping to do some political
advising/consulting work in New York City but am also considering a move
back to the Bay Area. 

 


Amanda Kemp ('89)

 

I'm currently the 2007-08 Cadbury Scholar at Pendle Hill, a Quaker
Center for Study and Contemplation where I'm finding that placing God at
the center of my life is a rewarding practice and not a little scary.
I'm touring a new play-- "Show me the Franklins!  Remembering the
Ancestors, Slavery and Benjamin Franklin" which has played museums,
colleges (including first years at Stanford), schools, Hershey
Entertainment Corp., and soon to Paris--pending sponsorship! My kids,
Gabe and Makeda, continue to amaze and challenge me.  They, too, love
theatre, traveling and hotels!  Check me out on the web:  
www.dramandakemp.com   

 

 

 

Jidan Koon ('98)


I am in my second year of consulting for social justice organizations.
I offer organizational development, training, and curriculum development
around youth organizing, community organizing, and leadership
development.  See my bio through the Movement Strategy Center under
"consulting associates" at
www.movementstrategy.org <http://www.movementstrategy.org> 
 

 

Joanna Levitt ('03)

It's been over a year now since I joined the International
Accountability Project--a San Francisco-based advocacy organization that
promotes justice and accountability in international development
projects and policies.  When I started I was the only full-time person!
Now we've grown to a staff of three plus consultants and volunteers, and
it has been both an incredible challenge and dream come true to be
running a small non-profit organization.  I continue to work in
coalition with many inspiring colleagues that I first met as a Gardner
Fellow (when I was at the Center for International Environmental Law
(CIEL) in '03-'04).  Enjoying life in San Francisco, finding lots to
feel grateful for.  

 

 

Leila Makarechi ('06)

 

My fellowship ended last summer and I've stayed on at UNDP, working in
the Regional Bureau for Latin America and the Caribbean, as part of a
team that manages a UNDP-Spain Trust Fund "For Integrated and Inclusive
Development." I'll be in NY through August, after which I'll be
returning to school to pursue graduate studies either at the London
School of Economics or Columbia University. 
 

 

 

 

Anu Menon ('99)

 

I recently started working as a Policy Advisor to the City and County of
San Francisco's Department on the Status of Women.  My work focuses on
implementing San Francisco's CEDAW (UN Convention on the Elimination of
All Forms of Discrimination Against Women) ordinance. Prior to this, I
was a fellow at the ACLU of Northern California and a consultant for
Impact 209, a coalition of organizations working to examine the impact
of California's anti-affirmative action law on the State over the past
decade.  During this time I also served as the Fellowship Advisor for
the Gardner fellowship which was a wonderful and rewarding opportunity.
I live in San Francisco with my husband, Akash Garg.

 

 

Gail Mosse ('89)

 

Hi there! My update isn't interesting professionally, but I must say it
is entertaining personally: For the last year or so I have been a
stay-at-home mother to Elena (9) and Ryan (5), putting legal practice on
the back burner for now.  We are still in Burlingame, CA.  I am hoping
to see other Fellows later this year.



 

 

Chanthip Phongkhamsavath ('02)

 

After nearly two years in the Budget office at the Department of
Homeland Security, as a Presidential Management Fellow, I recently moved
to a Policy office.  I am currently working within the Office of the
Secretary of Defense as the Country Director for Canada.  Prior to
starting with the federal government I received a Masters degree in
Public Affairs and Urban and Regional Planning from the Woodrow Wilson
School of Public Policy and Interantional Affairs at Princeton
University.  In the six years since graduating from Berkeley I have
worked on state, national, and international policy issues and look
forward to new challenges ahead.  

 

 

Corri Tate Ravare ('94)

 

I am Senior Vice President of ICEF Public Schools a 501(c)3 non-profit
that operates charter schools in underserved communities of South Los
Angeles.  I have been at ICEF Public Schools for 4 years now.  Prior to
that I was the Field Deputy for School Board Member Genethia Hudley
Hayes at the Los Angeles Unified School District.  My fellowship was
with LEARN - The Los Angeles Education Alliance for Restructuring Now
was the beginning of Los Angeles' education reform movement that dealt
with decentralizing decision making to improve education at
underperforming schools.

 

I am married with 2 children who attend charter schools.  Timothy is 12
and Jade is 5.

 

 

Carlos Romo ('99)

Carlos Romo ('99-00) graduated from University of Texas School of Law in
May 2007 and is clerking for Wallace B. Jefferson, the Chief Justice of
the Texas Supreme Court. He plans to work for Baker Botts LLP in Austin
after his clerkship and he recently got engaged to Lynsey Kluever of
Chicago. The two will marry in a small ceremony in the Texas Hill
Country in July. 

 

Gary Rosen ('88)

 

I just changed jobs after more than a decade at Commentary. All my home
contact info remains the same, but my new work coordinates are:

 

Gary Rosen
Chief External Affairs Officer
John Templeton Foundation
300 Conshohocken State Road, Suite 500
West Conshohocken, PA  19428
tel: (610) 941-2828
fax: (610) 825-1730
email: grosen at templeton.org <mailto:grosen at templeton.org> 



 

Peter Sidebottom ('85)

 

My wife, Susan, I and our four children (Jackson 11, Sterling 9, Malcolm
7, and Riley 5) live in and love Charlotte North Carolina. As Head of
Enterprise Planning and Strategic Initiatives for Wachovia I travel to
India and China to work with our partners and joint ventures. In
addition, we are one of the leading supplier diversity programs in
financial services. 

On the community side I cochair with a local African American minister a
community wide race relation non-profit entitled Community Building
Initiatives which has been nationally recognized for its community based
scenario planning approach. In addition, my wife and I are active in
state and local politics supporting candidates with time and treasure-
including my own failed run at School Board. At the moment we are very
active in the Obama campaign, and I walked precincts in Ottumwa Iowa as
a volunteer for our successful caucus effort. 

Look forward to seeing everyone in California in September!
 

 

 

Brandon Simmons ('04)

 

Hello everyone, I'm happy to report that I'm only a few weeks from
finishing up at Stanford Law School.  By May, I'll have degrees from Cal
and Stanford, just like John Gardner!  I've had a very exciting 3rd year
of law school so far.  In addition to my classes, I traveled to and
started a venture in China with several friends from college and
traveled to Vienna as a guest of the Afghan Ambassador to the United
Nations to work with him on Afghanistan's development.  My international
interests and activities have not detracted from my interests in urban
planning.  Last year I wrote an article on the Supreme Court's decision
in the land use case Kelo v. New London, for which I won an American Bar
Association award.  This article will appear in the Spring issue of the
ABA's Real Property, Trusts, and Estates Journal.  Next year I'll be
living in Atlanta, where I'll be clerking for the Chief Judge of the
United States Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit.  I've also accepted
an offer to join the Washington, DC office of Hogan & Hartson after
finishing my clerkship.  I'm looking forward to connecting with Gardner
Fellows in DC!


 

 

Miriam V. Solis ('07)

 

Late February marks my five-month anniversary as a John Gardner Fellow
at the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development
(HPD).  At HPD, I'm coordinating the Peer-to-Peer Policy Forum.  The
event brings housing leadership from the cities of Boston, Chicago, Los
Angeles, New York, and San Francisco together twice per year for a
two-day site visit and related roundtable discussions on innovative,
promising strategies and programs.  The theme of the upcoming Forum is,
"Tools for Creating Mixed-Income Housing."  I also joined an indoor,
co-ed soccer team (appropriately named, Off the Wall) and will be
signing up for the NYC Marathon lottery.

 

 

Sandy Tesch ('05)

I am still working in fundraising for the UC Berkeley Library and loving
it!  I am fortunate to have an interesting job and great colleagues who
are fun to work with and committed to my professional development.  One
of my current projects is designing outreach for young alumni and
engaging them in the work of the Library.  I am finishing up my last
year as Chair of the American Red Cross National Youth Council.  In
November, I traveled to Geneva, Switzerland to accept an award given to
American Red Cross youth and young adults for capacity-building.  I also
attended the General Assembly statutory meetings and met amazing people
who work and volunteer for the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement all over
the world! 

 

 

Yael Warshel  ('97)

 

Hi everyone! I will be finishing up my PhD in Communication at UCSD this
year. My dissertation is about Israeli and Palestinian children's
reactions to an experiment using television to build peace between them.
It's tentatively titled: How do you Teach Children that Terrorists,
Armies and the Police Can Live Together Peacefully?

 

In the fall, I begin my new position as Assistant Professor of
International Communication in the School of International Service at
American University. In other words, I will be moving out to DC and look
forward to seeing folks at our annual dinners again! I plan to move out
to Maryland this summer - so please DO send any housing leads and
anything else you happen to think of my way!  

 

Finally, I have some recent academic publications to announce, including
"'As Though There is Peace:' Opinions of Jewish-Israeli Children About
Watching Rechov Sumsum/Shara'a Simsim Amidst Armed Political Conflict."
<http://www.comminit.com/evaluations/eval2007/evaluations-473.html>
This article describes an earlier part of my dissertation research, and
was published in 2007 in Lemish, D. and Gotz, M. (Eds.) Children and
Media at Times of Conflict and War. Another article I wrote (with Donald
Ellis), "The Contributions of Communication to Peace Education," will be
published later this year. It will appear in Gavriel Salomon and Edward
Cairns (Eds.) Handbook of Peace Education. For anyone interested in the
former article, its summary can be found here:    
http://www.comminit.com/es/node/72338
<http://www.comminit.com/es/node/72338> 

 

 

 

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