In This Issue New Emerging Leaders Program A Success Visit Shared Effort online to read these articles and more! Blog.AlumniCorps.org 1-2 Fish ‘55 Named New Board Chair—See Full Interview Inside! 3 AlumniCorps Welcomes Rachel Benevento 4-5 Who? What? Where? PP55 Fellowship Program News & Updates 6 AlumniCorps Launches Ambitious Campaign for 2011-12 6 Calling All Volunteers, Job Seekers, & Partner Organizations 7 Meet Our Newest TAN Affiliate: The Princeton Social Enterprise Network Volume 14, Number 3 Fall 2011 Program Leader Hilary Joel ’85 with the inaugural class of Emerging Lead- ers. From L to R: Lopez ’10, Segal, Lewis LaMonica ’08, Lyon ’09, Host, Carlis, Lindsey *07, Fesler ’01, Joel ’85, Parker ’06, Simmons ’03, Fridirici ’06. The Emerging Leaders program has not only provided me with useful tools for understanding how I can become a better leader in my current position, but has inspired me to continue to improve my network, my self-awareness, and my skills so that I can build a lifelong career in the nonprofit sector. - Elizabeth Lindsey *07, DC Emerging Leader Managing Director of The DC Project More about Emerging Leaders on Page 3! ” “ Q: Why do you think the goals and programs of Princeton AlumniCorps still resonate with people some 22 years on? The first year out of college is so important for young people. It‘s an opportunity for recent graduates to ex- plore different possibilities and inter- ests. Once you get involved with a per- manent job, you don‘t often get the opportunity to do that again. Giving young people early exposure to public service careers through Princeton AlumniCorps will always be really valuable. I continue to be interested when a young person finds a goal or project that they find exciting. The opportunities the Project 55 Fel- lowship Program provides are really exciting. Over 22 years conducting this program, Princeton AlumniCorps has developed a large community of alumni and organizations interested in the public interest. Community Volun- teers, one of our new programs, lever- ages our dynamic network to connect alumni from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s with innovative volunteer opportunities in the nonprofit sector. Emerging Leaders, our program for aspiring non- profit leaders, continues to develop our alumni and their impact. Our programs connect alumni with the many reward- ing career and volunteer opportunities that exist in the nonprofit sector. Q: You have often talked about how the PP55 Fellowship Program puts young Princetonians into challeng- ing situations outside of the class- room. Can you tell us a little bit about that? ...continued on page 2. Interview with AlumniCorps’ New Board Chair John Fish ’55
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Transcript
In This Issue
New Emerging Leaders Program A Success
Visit Shared Effort online to read these articles and more!
Blog.AlumniCorps.org
1-2 Fish ‘55 Named New Board Chair—See Full Interview Inside!
3 AlumniCorps Welcomes Rachel Benevento
4-5 Who? What? Where? PP55 Fellowship Program News & Updates
6 AlumniCorps Launches Ambitious Campaign for 2011-12
6 Calling All Volunteers, Job Seekers, & Partner Organizations
7 Meet Our Newest TAN Affiliate: The Princeton Social Enterprise Network
Volume 14, Number 3 Fall 2011
Program Leader Hilary Joel ’85 with the inaugural class of Emerging Lead-
ers. From L to R: Lopez ’10, Segal, Lewis LaMonica ’08, Lyon ’09, Host,
The Emerging Leaders program has not only provided
me with useful tools for understanding how I can become
a better leader in my current position, but has inspired me
to continue to improve my network, my self-awareness,
and my skills so that I can build a lifelong career in the
nonprofit sector.
- Elizabeth Lindsey *07,
DC Emerging Leader Managing Director of The DC Project
More about Emerging Leaders on Page 3!
”
“
Q: Why do you think the goals and programs of Princeton AlumniCorps still resonate with people some 22 years on?
The first year out of college is so
important for young people. It‘s an
opportunity for recent graduates to ex-
plore different possibilities and inter-
ests. Once you get involved with a per-
manent job, you don‘t often get the
opportunity to do that again. Giving
young people early exposure to public
service careers through Princeton
AlumniCorps will always be really
valuable. I continue to be interested
when a young person finds a goal or
project that they find exciting.
The opportunities the Project 55 Fel-
lowship Program provides are really
exciting. Over 22 years conducting this
program, Princeton AlumniCorps has
developed a large community of
alumni and organizations interested in
the public interest. Community Volun-
teers, one of our new programs, lever-
ages our dynamic network to connect
alumni from the ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s
with innovative volunteer opportunities
in the nonprofit sector. Emerging
Leaders, our program for aspiring non-
profit leaders, continues to develop our
alumni and their impact. Our programs
connect alumni with the many reward-
ing career and volunteer opportunities
that exist in the nonprofit sector.
Q: You have often talked about how the PP55 Fellowship Program puts young Princetonians into challeng-ing situations outside of the class-room. Can you tell us a little bit about that?
...continued on page 2.
Interview with AlumniCorps’ New Board Chair John Fish ’55
Page 2 Shared Effort
...continued from page 1.
The first year I was involved with
Princeton AlumniCorps, a fellow
called Sarah was working for an or-
ganization called Health and Medicine
Policy Research Group, headed up by
Quentin Young. It was a great organi-
zation, but at that stage only just start-
ing up. There was only one other staff
member – the Executive Director, and
Sarah. During the first year, Sarah
came up to me and said John, ―the Ex-
ecutive Director has left and I‘m the
only staff person, I need help.‖ To
Sarah‘s credit, she ended up keeping
the organization alive, and raising
money until they found a new Execu-
tive Director. It was such an experi-
ence for someone straight out of col-
lege and to this day, Quentin still
speaks of her highly.
A lot of other interesting stories
came from fellows working in North
Lawndale in Chicago, where many of
the organizations had a large African
American membership. For fellows
from very different backgrounds it
was such a valuable learning experi-
ence, and so exciting to work with
such an effective community group. I
remember one woman who did a fel-
lowship at an African American faith-
based community organization in Chi-
cago. She was Jewish and she asked
me, ―John, do you think I‘ll fit in?‖
The first week she was there, they had
a big retreat. It was so different to her
existing experience, but she was ac-
cepted straight away and became im-
mediately involved in the community.
Q: What role do you think the or-ganization plays in the broader Princeton community and in com-munities around the country?
I think the greatest role we play is as
brokers between nonprofit organiza-
tions and alumni. We help nonprofit
organizations to find talented people,
as well as helping alumni to get into
something really challenging. It has a
great impact on the community, be-
cause we can help these talented,
smart, Princeton graduates to use their
skills in important areas.
Q: Your recent appointment as Board Chair is your third time serv-ing on the Board. Why did you ini-tially get involved with the organiza-tion? what has kept you engaged for all these years?
After the Washington meeting, my
classmate Steve Boyd ‘55 came out
and told me about the original idea for
Princeton Project 55. I immediately
got excited about it. I hadn‘t known
Princeton University to do anything
like this before, and it sounded great.
My enthusiasm carried me through the
first meetings, and into helping to put
together the founding document. In
that first year, we had three fellows in
Chicago and three in Washington.
My reasons for remaining engaged
with Princeton AlumniCorps are the
same as the reasons for starting my
connection. I love working with young
people, and love staying in touch with
so many interesting organizations. It
helps to keep me involved in the city
(Chicago) and is very inspiring.
Q: What do you see as some of the challenges and opportunities you will encounter in your upcoming term as Board Chair? And what is your hope for the future of Princeton AlumniCorps?
One of the things that I‘d like to fo-
cus on is to find new ways to energize
Princeton alumni across the year
groups. With only four or five staff
members, we are limited in capacity,
and I‘d like to see our programming
flourish – managed and led by alumni.
Our board, and our wide network of
volunteers, is multigenerational. Our
two newest programs, Community
Volunteers and Emerging Leaders,
embody Princeton AlumniCorps‘ re-
cent growth, and the involvement of
alumni of all ages with the organiza-
tion. Our aim is to encourage and de-
velop alumni who have the capacity
and passionate leadership to deliver
and manage their own innovative pro-
grams. I think the fundamental goal of
AlumniCorps should be to continue
thriving as an organization run by
alumni for alumni, across the genera-
tions.
Interview with Chair John Fish ’55, Cont’d.
John Fish ’55 is a founder of Princeton AlumniCorps and served as the Pro-
gram Leader of the Project 55 Fellowship Program for 20 years. He developed
the PP55 program in Chicago, and after a few years encouraged Northwestern
University and the University of Chicago to create similar programs. The three
programs work closely together, offering joint programming and a wide like-
minded community for fellows.
For nearly 50 years John has been involved in numerous community organi-
zations and associations in Chicago. From 1969 to 1997 he was on the faculty
of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest Urban Studies Program, an off-
campus experiential semester for students from 13 Midwest colleges. John was
appointed as the Chair of the Board of Princeton AlumniCorps on October 1.
Rachel Benevento is the newest member of the Princeton
AlumniCorps team. Most recently, she worked at Volunteer-
Connect in Princeton, creating a skills-based volunteer pilot
program. Rachel also served as a VolunteerConnect board
member, helping to create a new service model for the or-
ganization. Previously, she engaged corporate employees in
cancer education and fundraising initiatives for the American
Cancer Society. Rachel has also worked at Columbia Univer-
sity where she founded the Alumni Partnership Program,
connecting current and former students on a personal level
through various forums. As a board member for Community
Impact at Columbia, she advised staff and student coordina-
tors on programmatic challenges and evaluated new program
proposals. She earned an M.S. from the Medill School of
Journalism at Northwestern University and has worked as a
freelance writer and editor. Rachel holds a B.A. in history
from Columbia.
Regarding Community Volunteers, Rachel writes: “I am
excited to help Community Volunteers reach its potential
in engaging mid-career alumni in meaningful public ser-
vice opportunities. Matching the professional expertise of
program participants to the needs of local nonprofit or-
ganizations will provide critical outlets for alumni to
channel their passions and make a difference in their
community.”
Contact Rachel to learn about Community Volunteers in
ton Szymanski ’05, Helen Amick ’87, Erin Ebbel ’06
and welcomes new members Elisha Smith *09 and Julie
Rubinger ’09. Elisha and Julie have fit right in: Elisha
planned the closing dinner for the 2010-11 fellows and
Julie, who spent the last two years at Education Through
Music in New York, is planning the PP55 seminars and
coordinating with SPIN and CPIC. Bay Area alumna Leesy
Taggart ’78 also recently joined the AlumniCorps Board
of Directors in October.
The AlumniCorps DC Area Committee officially greeted
our fourteen 2011-12 fellows on July 21st, with a welcome
dinner at Zorba‘s Café in Dupont Circle. Several weeks
later, a group of current and former fellows spent the morn-
ing of Saturday August 20th volunteering together at Stuart
-Hobson Middle School through the DC Public Schools
Beautification Day initiative. In preparation for the first
day of school on Monday, our group helped distribute text-
books to classrooms, cleaned the blacktop playground, and
swept the sidewalks in front of the building. It was a great
way not only for us to become acquainted with one an-
other, but to spend time in the community and meet Stuart-
Hobson students and parents working alongside us.
Lisa Lazarus '02 and Elizabeth Pillion '05, Mentoring
Chair and Vice-Chair, led a successful training session for
all new and returning mentors in August. With the help of
our mentors, DC AlumniCorps will look to expand the
mentors-at-large program this year as well.
The DC Area Committee will be chaired this year by Ari
Altman ’97, after a successful year under the leadership of
Kate Lewis-LaMonica ’08. Local alumni and a significant
number of 2010-11 fellows will be assisting in the leader-
ship effort.
Our pilot year of the AlumniCorps Emerging Leaders
Program for professional development continues to be a
success; read about the program on pg.3 to learn more!
New York
Philadelphia
Washington, DC
San Francisco Bay Area
Fall 2011 Page 5
10-11 San Francisco fellows at their closing dinner: Claudia
Flores *05, Brandee Tate ’09, Vince Kim ’95, Jeff Campbell
’10 , Lori Bishop *06 , Elisha Smith *09, Meredith Bock ’10, Cameron White ’09, Loe Chyi *06, Camille Logan-Weekes
’95, Emily Chiswick-Paterson ’05
Are you connected to any organizations doing innovative public interest work in Boston, Chicago, Connecticut, New York City, Philadelphia, San Francisco, or Washington, DC?
If you think they may be a good fit for a fellow for the 2012-13 fellowship year, please contact Sara McCord
Princeton Project 55 Fellowship Program Manager at [email protected] to learn more and be con-
nected with a local program. Remember the partner organization deadline is Friday, December 2, 2011.
For over 20 years, PP55 fellowships have given recent Princeton graduates opportunities to work in the public interest
and be connected with a supportive like-minded community. The program continues to grow under the direction of Pro-