Partner Statements on the Atlantic Philanthropies New Fellowship Program at Columbia

Black Organizing for Leadership and Dignity (BOLD)

“This is an exciting opportunity to expand the possibilities for deeper and broader racial justice interventions, while addressing the need to restore black leadership to the forefront of the movement,” said Denise Perry, co-founder and executive director of BOLD. “This program will provide leaders the chance to think beyond our American context and connect across geographies and disciplines.”

Center for Community Change

“The history and ongoing reality of structural racism is the great challenge facing our country,” said Deepak Bhargava, executive director of the Center for Community Change. “We’re proud and excited to be part of this bold effort to build a better, more inclusive future and invest in leaders who can imagine and create that future.”

Nelson Mandela Foundation

“The legacies of colonialism and apartheid continue to burden South Africa,” said Sello Hatang, CEO of the Nelson Mandela Foundation. “Race remains a fundamental fault line threatening realization of Nelson Mandela’s dream of a truly free society. In this context we are honored to partner with US-based organizations in a program premised on the need to challenge anti-black racism in all its forms both locally and globally.”

NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund

Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund said, “This moment in our country demonstrates the need for an intentional investment in the leadership of young activists, leaders and visionaries who are committed to the hard work of tackling racism. I could not be more encouraged than I am by the decision of The Atlantic Philanthropies to undertake this bold initiative and to seed into our collective future by supporting the development of a dedicated corps of racial justice leaders who will be equipped to confront the complex and global dimensions of racism.”

Haas Institute

“The entire world is going through profound shifts, much of it centered around identity, around who belongs,” said john a. powell, director of the Haas Institute. “Within the US, our transformation and development as a society cannot be understood without understanding racism, and specifically anti-black racism, which affects all people in our society, albeit in different and unequal ways. In effort to address race and racialized outcomes in this country and abroad, strong leadership will be essential. The Haas Institute is incredibly honored to help launch the Atlantic Fellow for Racial Equity and to bring to bear our established history and diversity of research and scholarship to this effort.”

October 25, 2016