Meet the Fellows
The Class of 2025
We are excited to introduce the third cohort of Ripples of Hope Fellows who each bring diverse cultural backgrounds, experiences, and passions while all share a zest for service and inciting social change. These Fellows kick off their Fellowship in South Africa!
Dannah Wilson USA
Production Assistant and Script Supervisor at Dennis Reed II Productions
Dolly Modise
South Africa
Former City Year Service Leader currently involved in Early Childhood Development
Eliza Shaughnessy
USA
Administrative Assistant at the Berkeley Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE)
Gabrielle Adams USA
Marketing and Outreach Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh
Jenine
Scott
South Africa
Finance Intern at Bain & Company and Student Volunteer at Kliptown Youth Program (KYP)
Kevin James
USA
Law Student at Columbia Law; Institutional Giving Manager at Breaktime
Meet the Fellows
The Class of 2025
Kgosi Tshabalala
South Africa
Former City Year Service Leader
Lorena Munoz USA
Undergraduate student at Boston College studying Education & Spanish America
Nicholas Miso
South Africa
Postgraduate student and LLL resident at Stellenbosch University studying Musical Performance
Paul Semedo USA
Support Clerk at Anderson and Krieger Law & Behavioral Health Associate
Lucky Kubeka
South Africa
Volunteer at Haus
Martha and Kliptown Youth Program (KYP)
Wicus Cronje
South Africa
Undergraduate student at Stellenbosch University studying Conservation Ecology
Dannah Wilson
Creative, Passionate, Empathetic she/her
Dannah Elise Wilson is a native Detroiter, multidimensional artist, historian and activist. Her story is birthed in education justice advocating against the nomination of Betsy DeVos, the country’s Secretary of Education during the President Trump administration. Prior to beginning her collegiate career, she took a year off focused on self discovery and life experience. In this year, she worked at a law firm, attended the Inaugural Obama Summit, and volunteered in Kenya for two months. She earned a bachelor’s degree at the University of Michigan in Afro American and African Studies. Michigan granted Dannah many opportunities such as an internship at The Daily Show with Trevor Noah along with conferences at Harvard University and in South Africa. Dannah has a wide variety of interests ranging from education, equitable medical access, and conscious media absent of the white gaze. She is also head of marketing for her family's new community center that recognizes trauma as one of the biggest barriers to education in the city of Detroit. Currently, she works as a property master for a local film production company.
“A journey is called that because you cannot know what you will discover on the journey, what you will do with what you find, or what you find will do to you.”
—James Baldwin
Dolly Modise
Brave, Sympathetic, Kind she/her
Dolly was born in 1998 in Soweto. After graduating from Morris Isaacson High School, she went to study sports administration, which she completed in 2021. Afterwards, she started working at Grassroots Soccer as a programme coordinator. Grassroots Soccer is an adolescent health organization that leverages the power of soccer to equip young people with the life-saving information, services, and mentorship they need to live healthier lives. Dolly also participated in a City Year Service Leader Programme and obtained an Outstanding Service Leader Award. She is also a founder of four sense of art organizations which only started last year. During her spare time, she usually goes to the gym or reads books. Dolly lives up to the motto that impossible is just a word.
“Not a secret, just not your history.”
Eliza Shaughnessy
Ambitious, Caring, Loyal she/her
Eliza Shaughnessy was born and raised on Cape Cod, Massachusetts. After graduating from Barnstable High School in 2018, she attended the University of Vermont, where she pursued her B.A. in Psychological Science and a minor in Special Education and Gender, Sexuality, and Women's Studies. During the fall of her senior year, Eliza participated in the Semester in the City program through the College for Social Innovation, where she was a fellow for the Berklee Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE), a non-profit organization working with disabled students of all ages at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA. During her fellowship, she helped design and pilot the Nurturing Leaders Program. This program allows young adult and adolescent BIAAE students to undergo Career Readiness training and gain working experience with a paid internship. Promptly following graduation in May 2022, Eliza rejoined the BIAAE as an Administrative Assistant, working under the leadership of Dr. Rhoda Bernard, where she has been working since.
"For we walk by faith, not by sight." —2 Corinthians 5:7
Gabrielle Adams
Dynamic, Compassionate, Open-minded she/her
Gabby currently serves as Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh's Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, where she works to cultivate meaningful community partnerships by leveraging the strengths of people and environments throughout Allegheny, Washington, and Greene counties. Gabby is a graduate of Carlow University with a Bachelor’s in Social Work and Communications with a concentration in Advocacy and Social Change. Gabby is the 2022 recipient of The Carlow University Joseph G. Smith Award for Academic Achievement and Distinguished Service. The entirety of her working career has centered around expanding her perceptions of the by engaging in various capacities with diverse people and environments. Gabby is deeply committed to the social work value of upholding an individual's inherent dignity and worth. Building an accessible community that seeks to provide a space where all feel welcome is a lifelong mission of Gabby's.
"I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one Person of Color remains chained. Nor is any of you."
—Audre Lorde
Jenine Scott
Bold, Courageous, Honest she/her
Jenine is a dedicated finance intern at Bain & Company, specializing in auditing London expenses. Her educational background at Jeppe Girls High School and professional experience at Vodacom and Clientele as a consultant for 2.5 years equipped her with sharp analytical and multitasking abilities. She possesses strong leadership and coaching skills, effective communication, a goaloriented mindset, and collaborative interpersonal skills. She thrives in taking initiative and is open to constructive feedback, making her a valuable asset to any team.
"Aspire to inspire before you expire."
—Eugene Bell
Kevin James
Passionate, Ambitious, Authentic he/him
Kevin James, a Townsend, MA native, became a Project 351 Ambassador in 2015, showcasing early dedication to youth-led service. Graduating summa cum laude in International Political Economy from Fordham University, Kevin demonstrated a keen intellect and earned recognition as a Columbia Leadership Experience Admission Deferral (LEAD) Fellow for his forthcoming Juris Doctor pursuit at Columbia Law School. As the Institutional Giving Manager at Breaktime, Kevin led a team to exceed philanthropic goals, securing over $9.5 million in two years. In addition to his work at Breaktime, Kevin re-engaged with Project 351 in 2023 as the Fundraising and Development Manager. Kevin displayed strategic vision, assisted in boosting operational capacity, and contributed to the organization's growth. As a former Congressional Intern for Rep. Stephen F. Lynch, Kevin demonstrated his commitment to public service, engaging in casework and op-ed publications. As a published author in The Boston Herald and Fordham Undergraduate Law Review, his Op-Ed on the "Wet Foot, Dry Foot" immigration policy showcases his expertise in legal and policy issues.
“One day you’ll leave this world behind, so live a life you will remember.”
—Avicii
Kgosi Tshabalala
Creative, Spiritual, Fun they/them
Kgosi Tshabalala is neither woman nor man. They're an intellectual soul, deeply rooted in spirituality. They are a creative, fun, and innovative being. They are kind and loving. They love to dance and write poetry. They love to engage in community development and motivate young people to never give up on themselves no matter how hard it gets. They love meeting people and networking to create room for new opportunities to come. They are passionate about making a difference in issues such as unemployment, depression and anxiety, and other problems related to social justice. Youth and young adults around the world are suffering due to trends and pressures that create hard living circumstances, so Kgosi believes in the changing of the mind because mental health is important.
“Whether I run, walk or crawl. I will set my goals and achieve them all.”
Lorena Muñoz
Hardworking, Empathetic, Genuine she/her
Lorena Muñoz is the daughter of Mexican immigrants. Raised in the Southside of Chicago surrounded by rich culture, Lorena values the importance of building and uplifting communities. She is currently a Questbridge Scholar at Boston College pursuing a Bachelor’s of Arts in Elementary Education and Perspectives in Spanish America. As a first-generation college student she is involved in community organizing among low-income and students of color on campus through the Boston College Questbridge Chapter and the Mexican Association of Students. She has also sought out service learning opportunities in the greater Boston area with immigrant communities, as well as abroad in the Dominican Republic. Additionally, Lorena has an extensive relationship with Northwestern Academy for Chicago Public Schools where she attended as a student and has now come back to serve as a mentor and assistant. As a teacher, Lorena has served in a variety of diverse classrooms where she has enjoyed building relationships and collaborating with educators and students. Lorena is passionate about culturally relevant teaching for social justice, hoping to become a bilingual educator working to empower immigrant youth and families.
"Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today."
—Malcolm X
Lucky Kubeka
Innovative, Hard Worker, Enthusiastic he/him
Lucky, aged 25 years old, is born and bred at Kliptown which is in Soweto. He is a hard worker who believes in shared leadership and equality for young adults. He loves dancing and singing during his spare time. Mostly though, he enjoys spending his time writing about his past and reflecting on what he should achieve for the long career path that he has taken. He believes in his heart that the more young adults are educated and inspired by the same people who have matured right in front of them, they will also be innovative and inspired. His passion lies mostly in developing schools for the betterment of the kids, as schools are lacking proper infrastructure and equipment to learn. He believes that schools can be helped through good leadership and accountability of leaders.
“ It always seems impossible until it is done.”
—Nelson Mandela
Nicholas Miso
Passionate, Ambitious, Energetic he/him
Born and bred in Cape Town, Nicholas Miso is a dynamic performer whose repertoire includes Western Classical Music, Jazz, Afro-Pop and Musical Theatre. Nicholas is currently completing his postgraduate studies, a BMus Honours in performance, and is also a resident within the Listen Live and Learn-Programme (LLL Programme) at Stellenbosch University. He has had the opportunity to perform alongside both local and internationally acclaimed jazz musicians including Ramon Alexander, Don Vino and Alexis Morrast – a two-time winner of Amateur Night at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. Miso has always seen his contribution in the world going further beyond entertainment, including humanitarian work in his community. His work as an alumnus at the Jazz Yard Academy, a non-profit organization in Bonteheuwel, is a testament to this, as he has mentored young aspiring musicians in music performance. Nicholas is a passionate and driven individual who aims to share his testimony of following his dreams and creating spaces for the creative and talented youth of South Africa to reach their potential regardless of the odds against them, including socioeconomic challenges that he has experienced.
“People must learn to hate, and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.”
—Nelson Mandela
Paul Semedo
Determined, Motivated, Level-Headed he/him
Hailing from the state of Massachusetts, Paul Semedo is interested in the legal profession and feels a calling to serve his community and neighboring communities. His interest in the legal world stemmed from high school where he took criminal justice classes and held internships in not only the court systems but in different areas of practices as well. Paul is humbled and excited to meet this amazing cohort. As this is his first fellowship experience, he is eager to not only learn from his peers but make life-long memories.
"Hard work doesn't guarantee you anything. But without it, you got no chance."
Wicus Cronje
Empathy, Generosity, Humility he/him
Wicus Cronjé was born and raised in Durbanville, Cape Town in South Africa. In December 2015, he moved with his family to Stellenbosch, attending high school at Paul Roos Gimnasium (PRG). Wicus has participated in sports throughout his life, but also developed a passion for writing and wrote about politics and sport in the Semper, which is PRG’s newspaper. In 2020, he joined the Academy for Environmental Leadership (AEL), a gap year programme which focused on conservation ecology, where he attained a deeper understanding of nature and knew that he would play a role in protecting it. He attained an NQF Level 5 Diploma in Conservation Ecology when he graduated from AEL. Wicus is currently in his final year of studying for a Bachelor’s degree in Conservation Ecology. During that time, he joined Joshua Generation Church and played soccer for Oude Molen, a private student organization at the university. He realized that nature conservation cannot be successful without including people, including the local communities. For example, he had to start a campaign addressing improper disposal of e-cigarettes (mainly vapes) and created an information sheet which students could read by scanning a QR code at a coffee shop.
"I've noticed when I fear something, if I just end up doing it, I'm grateful in the end."
—Colleen Hoover
