“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
5.14.2026
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
Board Meeting Agenda
05.14.2026
4:00 pm – 6:00 pm EST
Board Members: Kristen Atwood, Holly Bonomo, Jennie Eplett Reilly, Vanessa Kirsch, Kyle Umemba Guests: Cindy Laba Venue: TBD
● Welcome and Ripples 4:00 pm
● Fellowship Update
● Creative Visions Update
● Approval of Board Minutes
○ March 20, 2026
● Immersion Update
○ Schedule, Engagement
● Financial & Legal Update
○ Budget to Actuals & Ubuntu Circle Update
○ Cash Flow Report
● Discussion Items
○ Retreat – Timing, Goals, Facilitators
○ Lekgotla 2026 – 2027
○ Draft Reserve Fund Policy
○ Board Development
○ Development Staff
○ Alumni Program
● Executive Session
● Adjourn 6:00 pm Attachments:
The pages that follow are reprentative of the Fellowship since February, 2026
Alumni Check-in with Arthur
The Students Rebuild: Unique and United Project helps students explore what makes them special while celebrating how everyone is different in wonderful ways. Through art and sharing, students learn that being unique is something to be proud of and that differences make communities stronger and more interesting.
Last year, Ripples of Hope received $25,000 to participate in the Spark Peace Project. We brought together five organizations in a collaborative effort to advance peacebuilding and leadership development. We distributed $15,000 and were alotted $10,000 to lead the effort.
This year, the project has expanded to include seven organizations plus Fellowship Alumni initiatives. We received $50,000, of which we distributed $20,000 to partners and used $30,000 to lead it and invest in the Fellows and Alumni.
Click image to watch
$3,000
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
Upon notice duly given, a meeting of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ripples of Hope, Inc. (the “Organization”) was held by means of videoconference on Zoom (the “Meeting”). This Meeting was originally scheduled for February 19, 2026, and was subsequently rescheduled.
Board Attendees: Kristen Atwood, Holly Bonomo, Jennifer Eplett Reilly, Vanessa Kirsch, Kyle Umemba
Other Attendees: Cindy Laba, Aletta Grace Smith
Call to Order; Meeting Agenda
Kristen Atwood acted as Chairman of the Meeting. Cindy Laba acted as Secretary of the Meeting and recorded the minutes. The Chairman called the Meeting to order at 4:00 PM EST. A quorum of directors was present. The Meeting, having been duly convened, was ready to proceed with business. Kristen Atwood reviewed the agenda for the Meeting.
The Board reflected on the recent Montgomery experience, noting its profound impact on participants. Several members shared that the experience was deeply meaningful and, in some cases, transformative, with clear evidence of “ripples” emerging in participants’ personal and professional lives following the trip. Examples discussed included new community-based initiatives, strengthened partnerships, and increased engagement with issues of history, justice, and leadership.
The Board discussed the opportunity to build on this momentum by making the Montgomery experience more accessible and scalable, while maintaining its depth and integrity. The importance of capturing and communicating the impact of these experiences particularly through storytelling and participant follow-up was emphasized.
The Board discussed whether the Montgomery experience should be developed as a recurring program, a fundraising vehicle, or a hybrid model. Members emphasized the importance of clearly defining purpose, target participants, and success metrics. The potential role of anchor partners and repeat participants was noted as critical to long-term viability.
The Board reviewed the Ryan family’s recent visit to South Africa and its potential as a model for deeper donor and partner engagement. While the visit created meaningful connections with Fellows and community leaders, the discussion highlighted the need for more intentional follow-up and clearer strategies for translating these experiences into sustained relationships and support. The Board acknowledged an opportunity to strengthen the organization’s approach to making thoughtful and timely asks.
After being introduced to the concept of a “No Interest Loan Program,” the Board engaged in a substantive discussion regarding financial support for Fellows, including increasing requests for assistance and the role of coaches in responding to those needs. Members emphasized the importance of maintaining the Fellowship’s positioning as an investment in leadership rather than an expectation of financial support.
Building on this, the Board discussed a broader strategic concept: positioning Ripples of Hope itself as a fund that invests in the Fellowship program as a whole. In this framing, the Fellowship is not only a programmatic offering, but the primary vehicle through which the organization deploys capital, relationships, and experiences to develop leaders and catalyze impact.
The Board discussed broader questions related to fundraising and positioning, including whether Ripples should be framed primarily as a leadership fellowship, a fund supporting Fellows and their work, or an experiential learning platform for donors and partners. The need for greater clarity and intentional trade-offs between these approaches was emphasized as critical to strengthening messaging, fundraising, and long-term sustainability.
The Board discussed current organizational capacity and the significant operational demands on staff, particularly in relation to program execution, recruitment, and travel logistics. Members expressed the need to better align roles, responsibilities, and resource allocation with strategic priorities. The Board agreed to further explore organizational structure and capacity needs in a dedicated session.
The Board reviewed the current Fellowship recruitment cycle, noting that 15 of 16 positions had been filled. The discussion highlighted the need to strengthen nomination strategies and outreach efforts to ensure balanced representation across gender, geography, and background. The importance of tracking applicant demographics more intentionally throughout the process was also noted.
The Board discussed challenges related to international programming, including variability in participant interest and broader considerations impacting travel. The decision not to proceed with a Lelgotla event in South Africa due to limited participation was noted. The Board emphasized the importance of ensuring sufficient demand and strategic alignment before committing resources to future programs.
Chelsea Engagement and Let It Fly Event
The Board discussed the upcoming Let It Fly event in Chelsea as an opportunity to engage the Ripples network in a community-based setting. The potential to organize a group experience around the event, including a pre-event gathering, was discussed as a way to strengthen relationships and expand community engagement.
The Board agreed on the following next steps:
Ryan Family Engagement (Vanessa Kirsch & Aletta Smith)
Develop and propose a structured follow-up plan, including a Zoom conversation and consideration of an appropriate next-step request.
Fellowship Financial Support Strategy (All Board)
Explore the development of a structured fund or program to support Fellows, including forming a small committee, defining guiding principles, and establishing a review process.
Benchmarking and Partnerships (Kristen Atwood, Cindy Laba & Aletta Smith)
Research peer organizations (e.g., Gray Foundation, WorldConnect) and assess potential partnerships or model adaptations.
Montgomery Program Development (Cindy Laba)
Draft proposed goals, structure, and positioning options for a recurring Montgomery program.
Montgomery Outreach (Cindy Laba)
Engage key contacts (including Erica, John, Saskia, and Nadia) to assess interest and report back to the Board.
Storytelling (Kyle Umemba)
Develop and share a short-form video capturing the Montgomery experience.
Organizational Review (Board, led by Kristen Atwood)
Schedule a focused executive session to discuss structure, roles, and resource development.
Staff Time Allocation (Cindy Laba & Aletta Smith)
Prepare summaries of current time allocation, strengths, and areas of focus for review.
Cohort Introduction (Aletta Smith)
Send invitation for the April 11 (9:00–9:30 AM EST) cohort introduction meeting.
Partnership Connections (Jennie & Vanessa)
Jennie to connect Raymond with Cindy; Vanessa to connect Aletta with Gray Foundation contacts in South Africa.
Let It Fly Event (Kyle Umemba)
Share event details and coordinate potential participation.
Baton Rouge Engagement (Jennifer Eplett Reilly & Kyle Umemba)
Follow up with Sneaker Politics and coordinate local connections.
Board Retreat (Kristen Atwood, Jennifer Eplett Reilly & Cindy Laba)
Schedule and plan full board retreat for Summer 2026
Executive Session
At 10:50 AM EST, the Board entered into executive session.
At 11:10 AM EST, the Board exited the executive session. No formal actions were taken during executive session.
Adjournment
There being no further business, upon a motion duly made and seconded, the Meeting was adjourned at 11:10 AM EST.
Cindy Laba
Secretary of the Meeting
Attachments
Board Book 2.19.2026
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
Board Meeting Financial Update
5.10.2026
This report represents financials from 07.01.2025 – 06.30.2026 – our new fiscal year.
15,000
2,500
0 Lekgotla: EJ
50,000 $ 61,848
Lekgotla: SA $ 10,000 (Keller)
Visions
50,000 $ 50,000
(3.9.2026)
Trot
78,125 $ 75,864
215,000
$527,832 $ 540,540
As an organization, we manage five accounts, with the following cash balances as of 3.9.2026
● Ripples Operating $ 97,643
● GHC/Gomez $ 541
● South Africa $ 10,839
● Hoops for Hyde $ 61,900
● Investment Account
$1,113,745 (Cash: $1,411) as of 5.11.26
Ubuntu Circle: $300,000 As of 5/10/2026 Platinum $100,000+ Gold $50,000+ Silver $25,000+ Bronze $10,000
Kristen and Jim Atwood
Jennie Eplett Reilly and Sean Reilly
Marni Grossman Holly and Rich Bonomo
Anne Lovett and Steve Woodsum
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
Cash Flow: 5.10.2026
Kip Hollister
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
Draft Retreat Agenda
5.10.2026
Wednesday, July 8, 2026
10:00 am Arrival & Welcome
11:00 am Opening Session
● Warm up
● Goals
● Schedule
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Facilitated Session
● Vision
● Strategy
● Implementation
3:00 pm Break
3:30 pm Facilitated Session Continued
5:00 pm Real fun begins!
Thursday, July 9, 2026
8:00 am Breakfast 8:30 am Session TBD 10:00 am Break
10:30 am Session TBD 12:00 pm Lunch 1:00 pm Optional Afternoon Fun
NOLA 2025 Actual
23 Participants
Cost $1,481/pp
Income
13 @ $950 $12,350
Cash donations $ 3,700
Reilly in-kind donation $ 4,850 Total $16,050 $20,900
Expenses
Note: The trip cost approximately $1,481 per person overall. If 18/23 participants paid full price, each paying participant would have needed to pay approximately $1,892 to cover costs.
Montgomery 2026 Actual
34 Participants
Cost $855/pp
Income
19 @ $2,500 $47,500
5 @ $700 $ 3,500
Reimbursements $ 1,398
In-kind (Peggy) $ 5,000
Donations $ 8,750 Total $52,398
Expenses
BR / NOLA 2027 Projections
23 participants
$2,043/pp Income
Montgomery October 2026 Projection
30 participants Cost $855/pp
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
May 2026
The purpose of the Reserve Fund is to provide financial stability and continuity for the organization during periods of unexpected financial need, cash flow interruption, strategic transition, or extraordinary opportunity.
Policy
Transfers from the Reserve Account to the Operations Account may occur only upon approval of the Board of Directors.
Such transfers should be considered only when:
● Operating cash flow is insufficient to meet approved budgeted obligations;
● Unexpected or emergency expenses arise;
● Temporary timing differences in revenue create operational strain; or
● The Board determines that use of reserve funds advances the organization’s strategic priorities and long-term sustainability.
Any transfer from the Reserve Account to the Operations Account shall require:
● Approval by a majority vote of the Board of Directors, documented in meeting minutes; and
● A recommendation from the Treasurer and/or Finance Committee when practical.
● Documentation
The following shall be documented for each approved transfer:
● Amount transferred;
● Purpose of the transfer;
● Expected duration or repayment plan, if applicable; and
● Resulting reserve balance.
When feasible, the Board will establish a plan to replenish reserve funds following a transfer to maintain the organization’s long-term financial health.
Review
This policy shall be reviewed periodically by the Board of Directors and amended as necessary.
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
Board Development
5.10.2026
Peter Bauer is a South African-born entrepreneur, technology executive, and philanthropist based in the United States. He is best known as the co-founder and former CEO of Mimecast, a global cybersecurity company that grew into an international leader in email and cloud security. Beyond his business accomplishments, Peter has remained deeply committed to leadership development, education, and expanding opportunities for emerging leaders across South Africa and the United States.
Noel Bekkers serves with Stellenbosch University in South Africa, where he is engaged in work centered on student leadership, civic engagement, and strengthening community connections across the university environment. Passionate about helping young people develop both personally and professionally, Noel brings a strong commitment to dialogue, collaboration, and building bridges across cultures and experiences.
Daylene Van Buuren is the Executive Director of City Year South Africa, where she leads efforts to develop young leaders through national service, education, and community impact. A passionate advocate for youth empowerment and social justice, Daylene has dedicated her career to helping young people realize their potential as changemakers in their communities. She is also recognized as an Obama Foundation Africa Leader and is widely respected for her leadership in the nonprofit and education sectors.
Fellowship Aletta Smith
Program Director Ariane Hoy
Program Director Quinton Apollis
Coaches Program Director Aneesha Vahle
Alumni Manager Arthur Tartee
Administrative Assistant Neo Sello (Transitioning)
Special Projects Manager (Proposed)
Board of Directors
Director Cindy Laba
Travel Consultant (Proposed)
Design & Operations
Danielle West
Social Media Intern Eliza Shaughnessy
Social Media Intern Thando Mzimela
Green roles indicate proposed positions
“Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring those ripples build a current which can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance.”
Senator Robert F. Kennedy Day of Affirmation speech to young people in Cape Town, South Africa in 1966
5.10.2026
Sandra Lopez Burke
Chief executive leading high-growth organizations through change with a relentless focus on prioritizing outcomes, creating an inclusive culture, and exceeding revenue goals to deliver on community impact. Core competencies in activating strategy, building high-performance teams, catalyzing networks, cultivating deep partnerships, and engaging stakeholders in shared purpose, connectedness, and success. Bold, committed, and centered; authentic, decisive, and thrives in shared success in service of mission and measurable change.
Prepared by: Arthur T., Alumni Lead
This executive summary provides an overview of alumni engagement efforts, key accomplishments, challenges, and strategic opportunities to strengthen the Ripples of Hope Fellowship alumni network. The focus has been on building sustainable systems for connection, increasing participation, and identifying pathways to better support alumni-led social impact and professional development.
A major milestone has been the successful integration of the Community Box platform into the Ripples website through Squarespace. This system enables alumni to create personalized profiles, access a centralized directory, and connect more easily across cohorts and regions. This infrastructure represents a critical step toward building a more cohesive and scalable alumni network.
In parallel, one-on-one check-in calls have been conducted with alumni to better understand their current work, interests, and availability. These conversations have strengthened relationships, provided valuable insights into alumni needs, and confirmed a strong willingness among alumni to remain connected and give back to the fellowship. While response rates varied, those who engaged expressed enthusiasm for continued involvement.
The Unique and United grant initiative has also played an important role in supporting alumni-led community work. Alumni are actively contributing to social change in their respective contexts and have demonstrated a desire to expand their impact. However, limited funding remains a constraint, preventing many from scaling their initiatives or pursuing additional opportunities for professional development.
Several challenges continue to shape alumni engagement efforts. Alumni availability remains a key barrier, as many are balancing demanding professional, academic, and personal commitments. Engagement levels are uneven, with a small group of highly active alumni carrying a significant portion of participation. This raises concerns about sustainability and the risk of overburdening those who are already engaged, while others remain less connected.
Additionally, the global nature of the fellowship introduces logistical challenges, including time zone differences and cross-cultural coordination. Despite these constraints, international diversity remains a core strength of the network and underscores the
importance of maintaining inclusive and accessible engagement strategies.
Looking ahead, there are several opportunities to strengthen alumni engagement and maximize impact. Establishing a dedicated annual budget for alumni programming would provide consistent support for events, regional gatherings, and alumni-led initiatives. Expanding funding pathways through additional grants or partnerships would enable alumni to grow their social impact work and access professional development opportunities.
Diversifying engagement options is also critical. Creating flexible, tiered opportunities for involvement will allow alumni to participate at varying levels without feeling overextended. Short-term projects, volunteer roles, and peer-led initiatives can help activate a broader segment of the network while reducing reliance on a core group.
The continued use and expansion of the Community Box platform will be essential for maintaining connectivity across the network. Encouraging profile completion, integrating the platform into communications, and using it as a hub for opportunities and updates will strengthen its effectiveness as a central engagement tool.
Finally, sustained investment in relationship-building is key. Ongoing check-ins, informal gatherings, and opportunities for alumni storytelling will reinforce a sense of belonging and shared purpose within the community.
In conclusion, the Ripples of Hope alumni network is composed of committed and capable individuals who are eager to stay engaged and contribute to meaningful change. With targeted investments in funding, infrastructure, and engagement strategies, the alumni network can become an even more powerful driver of impact, collaboration, and leadership across global communities.