“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
July 8 – 9, 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
3pm Wednesday, July 8 – 1pm Thursday, July 9, 2026
Jennie and Sean Reilly’s Home 671 Old Post Road Cotuit, MA 02635
Board Attendees: Kristen Atwood, Holly Bonomo, Jennie Eplett Reilly, Vanessa Kirsch, Kyle Umemba
Staff Leadership: Cindy Laba, Aletta Grace Smith
Retreat Purpose
The purpose of this retreat is to begin imagining the next chapter of Ripples of Hope Our goal is to affirm Ripples of Hope’s vision and mission and begin to build a three-year roadmap, focused on clarifying and strengthening the organization’s current and future capabilities, staff evolution, board evolution, and fundraising/sustainability plan.
Wednesday, July 8
Framing, Reflection, and Shared Learning
● Welcome, Introduction, and Immersion Reflections Kristen, Cindy, & Aletta 3:00pm Kristen opens the retreat and Holly reviews the goals for the time together. Kristen, Cindy, and Aletta share highlights, learnings, and insights from the recent Fellowship immersion
● Vision and Mission Cindy 4:30pm Reflect on Ripples of Hope’s current vision and mission.
○ Discussion Questions:
■ What feels most true and powerful in our current vision and mission?
■ What should continue to be honed or clarified?
■ How do we affirm that the Fellowship remains the centerpiece of Ripples?
■ What must remain central as Ripples of Hope grows and evolves?
○ Desired Outcome:A shared understanding of the current mission and vision, along with areas that may need continued refinement.
● 15-Minute Break 4:30pm
● Michael Porter’s Cascade of Choices Vanessa 4:45pm Introduce Michael Porter’s Cascade of Choices as a framework for thinking about Ripples’ next stage
○ Purpose:To situate the retreat within a strategic framework that moves from aspiration to action, with particular focus on the capabilities, structures, and systems needed to achieve Ripples’ vision.
● Staff and Board Interview Learnings Holly & Vanessa 5:00pm Holly and Vanessa share key learnings from recent staff and board interviews.
○ Purpose:To lay out the major themes and “buckets” for deeper board discussion on Thursday.
■ What themes feel most important?
■ What surprised us?
■ What feels most urgent to address?
■ What should carry into Thursday’s deeper board discussion?
● Approval of Board Minutes: May 14, 2026 Kristen 5:55pm
● At your leisure 6:00pm
● Drinks 6:30pm
● Dinner and Informal Conversation Kyle 7:00pm Dinner with Chef Dan Camerota
■ As Ripples becomes a more professional organization, what culture do we want to maintain? What is the magic of Ripples?
■ What is the impact we want to be and see in the world?
Thursday, July 9
Board Discussion, Decisions, and Next Steps
● Casual Breakfast 8:00am
● Opening Reflection Jennie 9:00am
Recap Wednesday’s themes and frame the day around the key decisions needed to usher in Ripples’ next chapter.
○ Framing Questions:
■ What did we learn yesterday?
■ What are the decisions or areas of clarity that feel most important?
■ What challenges must we resolve to move forward?
● Future Executive Director Role Kyle 9:30am Discuss the role of executive leadership Ripples needs going forward.
○ Discussion Questions:
■ What has worked well in the current executive leadership model?
■ What needs to evolve?
■ What executive director functions are essential for the next chapter?
■ What skills and capabilities are needed in the role?
■ What should be addressed in the short term versus over the next three years?
● Staff and Organizational Structure
Kristen 10:00am
Discuss the staff structure and organizational capabilities needed to support the Fellowship and Ripples’ future growth.
○ Discussion Questions:
■ What staff structure is needed to support the Fellowship well?
■ What should be led and managed in the United States, and what should be led and managed in South Africa?
■ How may Aletta’s role evolve?
■ How may Ripples think about part-time staff and accountability? Effectiveness?
■ What staffing or consulting capacity is needed for fundraising? How can we best leverage board and partner relationships?
■ What structure is needed now, in the next year, and over the next three years?
● 15-Minute Break 10:30am
● Founder and Board Roles and Evolution
Jennie & Vanessa 10:45am
Clarify how founder roles should evolve as Ripples becomes a more mature organization. Discuss how the board’s role should evolve in the next stage of Ripples’ growth
○ Discussion Questions:
■ How is the board’s role evolving?
■ What should the board be responsible and accountable for?
■ What should staff be responsible and accountable for?
■ When should Ripples add additional board members?
■ What skills, networks, or perspectives will be valuable to add to the board?
■ How should the board become more global and include deeper South African representation?
■ How does the board best support the organization without stepping into staff roles?
● Fundraising and Sustainability Plan
Holly 11:15am
Clarify fundraising opportunities, responsibilities, and the staffing needed to raise more money in both the short term and the longer term.
■ What are the biggest current fundraising opportunities for Ripples?
■ What funding is needed over the next year and next three years?
■ Who is responsible for fundraising?
■ What role should the board play?
■ What role should staff play?
■ What fundraising capacity is needed?
■ What materials, relationships, or systems are needed to support fundraising?
● Decision-Making Rubric: Growth Opportunities & What Lies Ahead Vanessa 12:00pm
Develop a simple process for evaluating new partnerships, projects, trips, events, or initiatives
○ Discussion Questions:
■ How may Ripples decide whether to pursue a new opportunity?
■ How does this relate to the current array of work Ripples leads?
● Close by identifying concrete priorities, owners, and timelines. 1:00 pm
“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
Ripplesof Hopewasfoundedin2009 by KristenAtwood.Asthe daughterof aministerandfrom abig family,Kristenhasalwaysbeen committedtobringing peopletogetherforacommonpurposeand cause.Asayoung adult,sheparticipatedinalife-changing experience, CrossRoadsAfrica,whereshedevelopedadeep commitment-- atthe heightof Apartheid-- tothevisionof afreeandnon-racial South Africa.Shevisitedmany timesthereafter,evenhaving herself surreptitiously broughtintopartsof SouthAfricawherewhitepeople werenotallowedtovisit.Inlateryears,togetherwithherCity Year colleagueJenniferEplettReilly,Kristenwouldplay acritical roleinthe founding andbuilding of City YearSouthAfrica.
Uponhearing thevisionforwhatwouldbecomethestartup of City Year,anational youthservicecorps,ataconferenceatBrown University in1988,KristenjoinedtheCity Yearteam asafounding staff member,recruiting thefirstseveral yearsof diversecorpsmembers foranorganizationthatwouldbecomealeading model forthe inspirationof AmeriCorps.Deeply committedtoprojectsthatunite people,buildcommunity andpromotejustice,KristenfoundedRipples of Hope,leading civically inspiring journeystoSouthAfrica,Haitiand India,andservicejourneyshereintheUS inherhometownof Boston andinNewOrleansfollowing thedevastating impactof Hurricane Katrina.
In2022,theRipplesof HopeInternational Fellowship waslaunched withyoung leadersfrom SouthAfricaandtheUnitedStates.In2024, RippleslaunchedtheLekgotlaJourney,bringing togetherestablished civicleadersfrom all sectorscommittedtobuilding amorejustand inclusivesociety tojoinandsupporttheFellowswiththeirvisionand work.
In2024,Ripplesof HopeannouncedthatCindy Laba,founderof BeaconAcademy,joinedtheorganizationasitsfirstExecutiveDirector andthatJenniferEplettReilly,hasjoinedtheboardof directorsas ViceChair.
RipplesofHopeisbuilttoputintoactionthechallengepresentedby RobertKennedyinSouthAfricain1966:tostandupforanideal,to acttoimprovethelotofothers,andtostrikeoutagainstinjustice.By collaboratingwithindividualsandorganizationsfromallsectors–public,private,andnonprofit–weworktobuildanetworkofsupport andinnovationthataddressesthechallengesfacingourcommunities, nationandworld.
OurworkisorganizedaroundourthreecentralPillarsofPurpose:
We believe that investing in leaders and the leaders is essential to positive social change and progress. We cultivate a cadre of people who embody the spirit of humility, integrity, and responsibility – and are called to courageous action. By providing them with the resources, mentorship, and opportunities necessary to develop their skills, they become community builders and agents of positive change. The investment in their potential is an investment in a brighter, more connected, and more just future for all.
Ripples of Ho ples of Hope
Fellowship engages young leaders from the United States and South Africa in a year-long cohort experience of learning across boundaries and builds a values-driven pipeline of social entrepreneurs. Selected fellows commit to a year of monthly virtual workshops, two intensive cultural immersions in the U.S. and in South Africa, and regular meetings with a personalized coach. As a result, fellows become a part of a lifelong international learning community composed of educators, activists, and social change agents with diverse life experiences from all walks of life and backgrounds.
We seek to build a beloved community in the spirit of the vision of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An inclusive community built on shared purpose encourages collaboration and unity and addresses social inequalities and injustices. We center our community building activities on sharing experiences dedicated to the common good and engaging in respectful dialogue that promotes empathy understanding and common cause.
g ys: We engage people in meaningful, often lifechanging, journeys of purpose, goodwill, and service in the U.S. and across the globe. We call them “Lekgotla” journey’s after the SoutH African concept of a gathering of wise, thoughtful leaders with sharp minds and big hearts. Our Lekgotla programs emphasize education and curiosity, rather than traditional tourism, and encourage participants to explore new ideas and perspectives. Our journeys often include humanitarian and physical service initiatives that have made a difference in communities facing various challenges. Our destinations have included New Orleans, Boston, Haiti, India, the Bahamas, and South Africa. To ensure our journeys unite a diverse cadre of participants from a wide variety of backgrounds and experiences, we offer discounted levels of participation fees.
In Spring 2025, we will be embarking on a Lekgotla Journey to New Orleans.
We seek to put the ripples of hope effect that Robert Kennedy spoke of into practice and to amplify its impact. The ripples of hope effect serves as a powerful reminder that our actions -- and interactions -- can create waves of impact, and inspire others to take action. When one person creates a “ripple” it can inspire others to follow suit, leading to a cascade of similar actions within oneself or a community. To promote the ripples of hope effect, we provide a platform for dialogue, connection and commitment and expose our diverse community to inspiring people and ideas.
Joyous Community Building Events and Fundraisers: We host vibrant community-building events that foster relationships, celebrate diversity, enhance connections, and raise funds for community-based organizations. These events foster a sense of collective purpose, allowing participants to learn more about, support and engage with the Ripples of Hope extended community. For example, our annual Turkey Trot road race engages 2,000 participants and distributes more than $30,000 annually to vital community-based organizations.
Asa501(c)3nonprofitorganization,RipplesofHopesissupportedby generousgiftsandgrantsfromphilanthropies,corporationsand philanthropicindividualsandfamilies.
Launchedin2024,theUbuntuCircleisournewmajorgiftprogram, unitingacommunityofengagedandthoughtfuldonorswhomakean annualcommitmenttosupportthevitalworkofRipplesofHope.Our goalistoraise$525,000inannualdonationsfromthisveryspecial communityofphilanthropicfamilies.
TheUbuntuCircleGivingLevelsareasfollows:
PlatinumLevel:$100,000
GoldLevel:$50,000
SilverLevel:$25,000
BronzeLevel:$10,000 MembersofTheUbuntuCircleareprovidedwithspecial opportunitiesforservice,speakersandjourneys.Allphilanthropic familieswhomakeathree-yearpledgetotheUbuntuCirclebefore January1,2026willbedesignatedasFounderMembers.
RipplesofHopeispoweredbysignificantvolunteerenergies andwewelcomeyoutojoinus!
KristenAtwood,Founder&Chair CityYearFoundingStaffMember
JenniferEplettReilly,ViceChair
AdvancedLeadershipFellow,HarvardUniversity Co-Founder,CityYear;Co-Founder,EchoingGreenFellowship
HollyBonomo
FormerCivicEngagementCoordinatoratNoble&GreenoughSchool
VanessaKirsch
AdvancedLeadershipFellow,HarvardUniversity Founder,NewProfit;Founder,PublicAllies
CindyLaba,ExecutiveDirector
RipplesofHope
SamanthaHaDiMuzio,FellowshipProgramLead DirectorofLocal&RegionalPartnerships&Programs,DickinsonCollege
ArianeHoy,AlumniProgram&USImmersionLead VicePresident,TheCorella&BertramF.BonnerFoundation
AlettaSmith,FellowshipDean
PostGraduateDegreeCandidate,UniversityofCapeTown
DanielleWest,Operations&DesignLead
SpecialEducation/ESLTeacher,BostonPublicSchools
“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
MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF RIPPLES OF HOPE, INC.
MAY 14, 2026
Upon due notice, a meeting of the Board of Directors (the “Board”) of Ripples of Hope, Inc (the “Organization”) was held at the home of Vanessa Kirsch and Alan Khazei (the “Meeting”) from 4:00 p.m. to 6:15 p m
Board Attendees: Kristen Atwood, Holly Bonomo, Jennifer Eplett Reilly, Vanessa Kirsch, Kyle Umemba Other Attendees: Cindy Laba
Call to Order; Meeting Agenda
Kristen Atwood acted as Chair of the Meeting. Cindy Laba acted as Secretary of the Meeting and recorded the minutes The Chair called the Meeting to order at 4:00 p m EST A quorum of directors was present, and the Meeting, having been duly convened, was ready to proceed with business. Kristen Atwood reviewed the agenda for the Meeting
Summary of Discussion
Fellowship Update
The Board was presented with materials highlighting Fellowship activities from February through May 2026, including updates on preparations for the South Africa Immersion (June 19–29, 2026) and the Creative Visions Program.
Approval of Prior Board Minutes
The Board approved the minutes of the March 20, 2026 Board Meeting.
South Africa Immersion Update
The Board reviewed the themes and schedule for the 10-day South Africa Immersion and discussed how best to leverage the participation of the Chair and Vice Chair. A draft Engagement List was presented, discussed, and expanded
Review of Financials
The Board reviewed financial statements, including a revenue and expense report as of May 10, 2026, and a cash flow projection through December 2026.
The Board reviewed actual financial results for Lekgotla: NOLA 2025 and Lekgotla: Equal Justice 2026, along with financial projections for future programming. The Board then discussed the feasibility of Lekgotla: Equal Justice in October 2026 and Baton Rouge/New Orleans in 2027 It was decided to pursue both programs.
The Board reviewed a draft Reserve Fund Transfer Policy, intended to guide transfers of funds from the Organization’s brokerage account to its checking account. The Board determined that additional review and discussion would be needed before adoption.
The Board began a discussion of Board expansion and reviewed three potential candidates: Peter Bauer (U.S./South Africa), Noel Bekkers (South Africa), and Daylene Van Buuren (South Africa). The Board agreed that further conversation was needed
Organizational Structure
Recognizing the need to adjust staff capacity to effectively support the programs Ripples of Hope has committed to delivering, the Board began discussion of the Organization’s 2026–2027 staffing structure and budget. Sandra Lopez Burke was presented as a potential short-term fundraising consultant. In addition, Arthur Tartee, the Organization’s part-time Alumni Lead, shared an executive summary of his work during the current program year for the Board’s consideration.
Board Retreat
The Board agreed that a longer, in-person strategic discussion with all Board members would be valuable. A draft agenda for a Board retreat was presented and discussed.
The Board agreed on the following next steps:
Board Retreat
Kristen Atwood and Jennie Eplett Reilly
● Develop the retreat agenda
● Confirm dates (July 8–9, 2026)
● Confirm location (home of Jennie Eplett Reilly and Sean Reilly)
● Determine whether an outside facilitator will be needed
Lekgotla Program Development and Participant Outreach
Cindy Laba
● Engage key contacts to assess interest in upcoming Lekgotla programs and report back to the Board
Reserve Fund Transfer Policy
● Continue review and discussion and prepare a revised draft for the next Board Meeting
Executive Session
The Executive Session was suspended.
Adjournment
There being no further business, and upon motion duly made and seconded, the Meeting was adjourned at 6:15 p.m. EST.
Cindy Laba
Secretary
of the Meeting
Attachments
Board Book – May 14, 2026
Design & Operations
Danielle West
$7,500 Fellowship
$2,500 RoH/TT
Alumni Program Fellow
Arthur Tartee
$6,000
Program Director (US)
Arianne Hoy
$12,000
Director
Cindy Laba
$125,000
Health Insurance
$20,000, 403(b) and FSA Access
Fellowship Director
Aletta Smith
$36,000
Health Insurance
$6,000
Program Director (SA)
Quinton Apollis
$9,000
Coaching Program Director
Aneesha Vahle
$9,000
Total Staff Budget: $210,600 (+ Benefits: Health insurance 80%, Access to 403(b) and FSA = $26,000) = $236,600
Fellowship Staff Budget: $83,100 (+ Benefits: Health insurance $6,000) = $89,100
Part-time Staff = 10/hours/week
Operations Coordinator Fellow
Neo Sello
$3,600
Profit and Loss by Class - Ripples only
July 1, 2025 - June 30, 2026
Accrual Basis Monday, July 06, 2026 6:42 PM
As of 2026-07-06 13:23:19
Filtered By
• Generated by Cindy Laba
Date Field: Close Date equals Custom (7/1/2025 to 6/30/2026) Show: All opportunities
Opportunity Status: Any Probability: All Stage equals Pledged,Closed Won,Posted
Lekgotla
Lekgotla
Ripples of Hope Fellowship Fundraising