Ontay Johnson (he/him) I will never be the same and haven’t been since.” The National Urban Fellows program took Ontay on a journey that catapulted his personal and professional growth. As part of that experience, Ontay was compelled to critically evaluate his lived experiences and how they fit into the larger narrative of racial equity […]
Essen Otu (he/him) Essen reached a point in his career where he knew he wouldn’t progress without furthering his education. When his boss told him he needed to get a Master’s, Essen knew he needed more than just a degree. In search of mentorship and community, he found a program that would clarify his path […]
Benita Benavides (she/they) As a public servant motivated by labor empowerment, Benita recognized something was missing, hindering them from effectively building more inclusive communities. They knew something needed to change. When Benita found National Urban Fellows, they were thrust into a space they’d never seen coming. While placed at the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Benita […]
Calvin Williams (he/him) Calvin Williams reached an inflection point in his career. He was stuck in positions that didn’t allow him to make the level of impact he knew he could, if he were only given the opportunity. Seeing colleague after colleague with the same level of work and educational experience achieve promotion after promotion, […]
Angelique Salizan (she/her) Angelique spent years building her career on Capitol Hill, but continued to hit a ceiling, seeing some of her colleagues with the same level of education moving through their careers at a faster pace. National Urban Fellows became her catalyst to break through those barriers, obtain an advanced degree and increase her […]
Erik Estrada (he/him) As a teacher, Erik Estrada felt limited in his ability to impact the lives of his students. He knew he needed a more holistic understanding of the societal and systemic challenges they were facing everyday. He needed to strengthen his leadership capacity in order to more effectively answer his call to service […]
Miles Sandler (she/her) Before becoming a National Urban Fellow, Miles was a single mother with a three year old running an after school program. Even with the most supportive family, she was struggling to make ends meet and have the impactful career she’d imagine. Pursuing a Master’s degree felt like the way to do that, […]
