August 14th 2024.
Nine remarkable Black individuals, from CEOs to founders, have been chosen as the 2024 cohort of the prestigious Echoing Green Fellowship. This highly respected nonprofit is dedicated to providing seed funding to organizations that are making a positive impact in the world. With over 2,100 applicants this year, only 44 recipients were selected, making this a highly competitive and esteemed opportunity for these social innovators. What's more, this year's cohort represents one of the largest and most diverse groups in the organization's history, with fellows hailing from 21 different countries.
As part of the fellowship, each of the recipients will receive $80,000 in unrestricted funding over the course of 18 months. This year's total funding amounts to $3.5 million, with $720,000 specifically allocated for the Black American fellows to use as they see fit. Beyond the financial support, the fellows will also have access to a lifelong community of like-minded individuals, strategic partners, and industry peers, providing a valuable network for collaboration and growth.
Isaac Esene, the founder and executive director of GoodWorks, is one of the Black social innovators who has been selected for this fellowship. His nonprofit focuses on teaching life-saving skills to young individuals, with the goal of empowering them to be proactive and knowledgeable bystanders in emergency situations. "With this support, we can enhance health literacy and public safety in communities, empowering youth through our expanded digital training initiatives," Esene shared in an email with BLACK ENTERPRISE.
Another recipient, Akonkwa Mubagwa, is the CEO and co-founder of Winko Solar, a company that provides solar energy and internet connectivity. With the grant from Echoing Green, Mubagwa plans to expand their programming to include vocational training for technicians in solar installation, in collaboration with existing government programs. "The funding provided the means to continue the outreach as well as the key hires that are critical to putting a successful program together by the end of 2024," Mubagwa explained to BE in an email.
This cohort marks the fourth and final group of fellows supported by the Racial Equity Philanthropic Fund, which was launched by Echoing Green in 2020 to provide sustainable pathways of funding and support for next-generation leaders focused on advancing racial equity. The announcement of this year's cohort comes on the heels of Echoing Green's May 2024 launch of a separate $15.6 million fund specifically for Black social innovators.
Cheryl L. Dorsey, the president of Echoing Green, reflected on the challenges facing society and the importance of bold solutions. "From the planet's hottest year yet to ongoing global threats to democracy, to backsliding on hard-fought progress on racial equity - these are challenging times. We need bold solutions now for these and other significant challenges," Dorsey stated.
The fellows in this cohort work in a diverse range of fields within social innovation, including climate justice, education, social justice, and healthcare. Each of the nine Black Americans selected for this year's cohort brings a unique perspective and approach to their work. They are as follows:
- Akonkwa Mubagwa, CEO and co-founder, Winko Solar, Inc.
- Tabitha Mpamira, founder and executive director, Mutera Global Healing
- Lydiah Bosire, founder and CEO, 8B Education Investments
- Joy Cooper, co-founder and CEO, Culture Care
- Isaac Esene, founder and executive director, GoodWorks
- Ashley Williams, founder and CEO, Clymb
- Demetrius Lancaster, founder and executive director, Joy Education Foundation
- Derwin Sisnett, founder and CEO, Adaptive Commons
- Godfrey Riddle, founder and president, Civic Saint
For those interested in applying for the 2025 Echoing Green Fellowship, the application cycle will open on September 17, 2024. More information can be found on their website.
In addition to this fellowship, Echoing Green recently launched a $15.6 million fund specifically for social innovators, including Black founders. This fund aims to further support and empower individuals who are creating positive change in their communities and beyond.
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