Ripples of Hope International Fellowship Overview

Ripples of Hope Fellowship Program Overview

About the Fellowship Founded in 2022 to honor the life and legacy of social entrepreneur Greg Ricks, the Ripples of Hope Fellowship selects 12 young adult leaders each year from South Africa and the United States to participate in a life changing experience in both countries.

The Fellowship targets motivated change agents who share a commitment to breaking down barriers to opportunity, equity, inclusion, and hope. They are selected for their passion and demonstrated unique commitment and potential as community leaders, driving social change and community-led movements for justice.

This distinctive international Fellowship engages fellows in a 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 mentor. As a result, fellows become a part of a lifelong international learning community, comprised of educators, activists, and social change agents from all walks of life and backgrounds.

Our Model Cultural Immersion: New fellow class joins graduating Fellow class for a 1-2 week immersion

USA -> odd years SA -> even years

Individualized Mentoring

Monthly Virtual Workshops

Fellows are matched with a mentor in their field of interest. Throughout the year the mentors and fellows meet.

Monthly Fellows join together for virtual workshops focused around a “voyage” curriculum.

Learn more on page 5.

Cultural Immersion: New fellow class joins graduating Fellow class for a 1-2 week immersion

SA -> even years USA -> odd years

Alumni Community

“We have physically and emotionally transformed.

We impacted people, and the people we met along our journey are a part of a broad community filled with passion and purpose.”

Athi, South African Fellow

Who we look for Exceptional young leaders who embody the core values that define a true Ripples of Hope fellow to join our Beloved Community.

Changemakers driven by a profound sense of purpose and an unwavering commitment to making a lasting impact the communities they serve.

Actively and significantly engaged in building community or working for social change and committed to the ideals of Beloved Community.

Interested and willing to participate in an international cohort, with monthly online meetings, scheduled mentorship discussions, and two immersion experiences.

Between ages 20 and 26, as of start of the program year (June) Commitment to being involved for a year. Bookending the experience with two cultural immersions: USA and South Africa.

Benefits of the Fellowship A Year-long Journey of Leadership Development: Participants embark on an interactive program featuring workshops, mentorship, and practical projects aimed at refining their leadership skills and fostering a deeper understanding of social justice issues.

Cross-Cultural Exchange The program brings together young leaders from South Africa and the United States, cultivating an environment of cultural diversity, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas. This experience will broaden their perspectives and enhance their ability to address complex social issues in a global context.

Opportunities for Collaboration The fellowship opens doors to exciting collaborative opportunities, enabling fellows to engage with likeminded individuals from diverse backgrounds. This collaborative environment fosters innovation and shared learning, propelling fellows to think beyond boundaries and discover fresh perspectives.

Through such collaborative endeavors, they strengthen their ability to effect transformative change by drawing on collective wisdom and diverse skill sets.

A Global Network Fellows have the chance to connect with subject matter experts, mentors, and thought leaders, both from their own country and from our network of broader partner organizations. This invaluable network supports them in their leadership journeys and offers guidance for creating sustainable social change.

Mentorship As part of the Ripples of Hope Fellowship Program, selected fellows have the privilege of being paired with experienced and accomplished mentors. These mentors provide invaluable guidance, support, and insights throughout their journey, helping them navigate challenges, refine their goals, and develop essential leadership qualities. This personalized mentorship will foster a strong sense of guidance and encouragement, empowering the fellows to realize their full potential and make a lasting impact in their respective fields.

About Greg Ricks Throughout his life, Gregory Theodore Ricks championed the voices and power of youth to make a difference. At age 23, Greg became the youngest dean at Northeastern University.

Greg promoted multicultural education and taught colleagues and young people around the U.S. how to work for diversity, inclusion, and social justice. In 1993, he was instrumental in the founding of AmeriCorps. At the request of President Bill Clinton, he facilitated its first Town Hall Meeting in Philadelphia and later trained hundreds of AmeriCorps members. Greg became the first dean at City Year, a service and civic program in Boston, helping to recruit and grow its staff and sites.

Through City Year, Greg eventually pursued a lifelong dream to live in South Africa. He helped build the Clinton Democracy Fellowship. He was also instrumental in the launch of City Year South Africa in 2005. Late in his career, he worked at Stellenbosch University to transform its student body, staff, and faculty, and to build supports for the success of first generation students. In 2020, Greg passed away, leaving behind his wife Feriel, sister Wendy, daughters, Keija and Chayla, and son Ethan.

Our Curriculum The Fellowship curriculum is intentional about building upon Fellows’ existing commitments to service and social justice. This educational program begins with a cultural immersion in the U.S. or South Africa.

These immersions offer an intensive experiential education exploring local/national social change movements and cultural histories, leaders, and practices. From this starting point, the yearlong educational program is designed as a “voyage” of personal, vocational, and collective growth that prioritizes: Sustainable social change. What are the resources, knowledge, and skills that a young change maker needs in order to sustain and deepen their community-based work without burning out?

Diverse social change strategies and roles. There is no single way to achieve collective freedom and justice. How do community leaders discern the roles and strategies that are both 1) best suited to their own proclivities and strengths, and 2) responsive to what the world or their community needs?

Systemic definitions of social change. The need for social change comes from the ways in which the interlocking matrix of oppression unevenly distributes power. How can young social agents build self-awareness about their own power, privilege, and positionality? How does that awareness shape their actions?

This framework for social justice education informs the yearlong curriculum, split into monthly two-hour virtual workshops. Each gathering is inspired by a voyage theme to encapsulate some facet of their social change journey. Below, you can find a brief overview of the year’s educational program.

Dec June/ July

Connect with coaches!

Sept

Cultural Immersion

Aug Immersion Reflections & Debrief

Voyage to your Soul: Purpose Statements & Goal Setting with Hanna Finnisi

May June/ July Cultural Immersion

Celebrating your Victories!

Reflecting on your Journey

Oct

What’s your Vision?

Setting SMART Goals and Expanding your Networks

Apr Venture: Exploring Social Entrepreneurship

Nov Sharing your Voice: Social Change Roles & Ecosystems

Embracing our Village: Fellow-led Holiday and Cultural Celebrations

Enhancing your Vitality: Networking, Mentorship, and Narratives

Jan

Mar Leveraging your Value: Training and Program Development

Feb Vessel: Telling the Story of Me, We, and Now (Public Narrative)

Learning Outcomes As a result of Fellows’ participation, fellows should achieve the following learning outcomes, organized into three categories of aims: skills, knowledge, & habits; personal and professional achievements; and relationships to self & others.

Skills, Knowledge, & Habits

Personal and Professional Achievements

Relationships to Self & Others

Learning outcomes Develop skills in areas that are often part of effective social change work, including budgeting, and harnessing professional resources (e.g. Linkedin).

Engage in and foster critical consciousness through continued reflection about one’s intersectional identities, power, privilege, and pride.

Stoke leadership skills that embody and promote the Ripples of Hope core values.

Think outside the box to solve problems and be able to show creativity and innovation.

Communicate effectively in different formats including speaking, writing, and visually (graphics), including marketing ideas.

Learning outcomes Feel empowered to articulate a personal vision and build shared vision with a team.

Learn and practice selfcare and community care through activities such as rest, relaxation, arts, meditation, and journaling.

Build and leverage diverse relationships and grow a powerful network of friends, colleagues, and partners.

Be supported through a guided process to pursue goals and plans.

Develop and manage initiatives, including the skills to start or grow an entrepreneurial initiative to address a public challenge and purpose.

Learning outcomes Create and sustain meaningful personal and professional relationships.

Build and enrich fellowship, to create a shared foundation of trust, solidarity, and collaboration.

Sustain inspiration and hope through the tribulations of enacting change.

Nurture participants’ reflexive practice with rich opportunities for individual introspection and collective discussion

Our Impact Over the course of an ambitious pilot of the program, the Ripples of Hope Fellowship has shown to impactful in three key areas.

Deepening Youth-Based Community Movements and Social Innovation.

Building and Sustaining Global Connections in the United States and South Africa.

Cultivating Inspiration & Practicing Joyful Sustenance.

Below read about how three of our Fellows were impacted across these three areas. What you will find is how the fellowship serves as a source of critical motivation and inspiration that sustains Fellows for years to come, regardless of their professional of personal path.

1. Deepening Youth-Based Community Movements and Social Innovation.

This yearlong Fellowship bolsters the efforts of young people committed to service and invested in bettering their local communities. One of the goals of the program is to amplify Fellows’ leadership potential and community impact. We have found our interactive, monthly educational program to be effective in this vein. The Ripples of Hope educational curriculum focuses on supporting fellows in setting and achieving their personal, professional, and community goals. Each monthly session prioritizes developing the critical knowledge, skills, and resources needed for fellows to sustain and amplify their social change work.

For example, inaugural 2022 Fellow Neo Sello from Soweto, South Africa launched an initiative called The Melanin Ladies Menstrual Awareness Movement, which works to combat period poverty. Her initiative organizes events, menstrual product drives, and public awareness campaigns to destigmatize menstruation and work toward the empowerment of young girls. This was an initiative that Neo had been long passionate about, and the fellowship served as a catalyst to push her toward actualizing her vision.

2. Building and Sustaining Global Connections in the United States and South Africa.

This Fellowship recognizes the dire need for international coalitions to address our contemporary social problems. In this spirit, the Fellowship builds an international, beloved community that serves as the bridge between two great nations: the U.S. and South Africa. One strategy that has been effective in forging these partnerships is book-ending the Fellowship experience with two cultural immersions that alternate between countries each year. The first intensive experience was hosted in 2022 by South Africa in the cities of Cape Town and Johannesburg, followed by the U.S. immersion in 2023, across the cities of D.C., NYC, and Boston. These experiences were designed to offer deep and critical perspectives about each country’s history, its legacies of freedom and resistance, and its diverse communities. The immersion is characterized by excursions to local museums and historical sites, service opportunities to work alongside community leaders, and a taste of local culture and cuisine.

Jack Burgess, a 2022 Founding Fellow from Sandwich, MA, speaks beautifully about the impact of the South African immersion on his own justice journey: “As I watched the growing young adults perform the story of the Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) and the story of Thulani, I could feel the pride that each and every one of them took in being a part of this school. It was funny, I began to not feel out of place in a distant country, as this quality of pride and dignity rubbed off on me. I also began to feel hope, a part of the greater KYP family. It feels like a spark being lit in your heart, but also under your feet. A continuous driving force to ignite the flames of change across the world.” Jack puts into words how the immersion helped to stoke the spirit of Ubuntu (shared humanity) that ripple out long afterwards.

3. Cultivating Inspiration & Practicing Joyful Sustenance.

As Nelson Mandela admits, the walk to freedom is often long and full of hardship; however, we do not need to walk it alone. Likewise, this fellowship prioritizes building deep relationships between fellows, community organizers, social entrepreneurs, and other change agents in the United States and South Africa. The Ripples of Hope Fellowship prioritizes building deep relationships—between fellows, fellows and their coaches, within the broader Ripples network— that set the foundation for lifelong collaboration. It is through these acts of recognition that we are able to spread joy, inspiration, hope, and love–the sustenance of social change work.

Consider the renewed motivations of Abe Mederios, a Founding Fellow from Framingham, MA, who reflects on his Fellowship experience: “Knowing there are people in my community going through the same kinds of struggles, makes me want to help. Specifically, I’d love to have a role in helping with the education of young immigrants or children of immigrants who don’t have the guidance or “know-how” of the American education system.” In a similar vein, Nicolaas Horn, a South African fellow expressed how he hopes to apply what he’s learned: “I am inspired to [share] my story, the significance of the fellowship, and what I learned with people who have a similar story as mine, but also continually transcending borders and breaking them down. I want to help people realise the similarity on a deeper level between everyone and that 'I really am because all of us are.’”

About the 2024 Immersion In South Africa , in June 2024, we will welcome two Classes of Ripples of Hope Fellows – 11 from South Africa and 10 from the United States. Each individual brings their own experiences and commitment to community service, social justice, and lifelong learning.

Together with coaches and mentors who shared deep relationships with Dean Ricks, the cohort will travel in June 2024. This booklet is designed to introduce Fellows, and supporters, to what will surely be a life-changing experience. Through a 9-day Immersion, Fellows interact with and learn from educators, activists, and social change agents from diverse backgrounds. While visiting and immersing themselves in Stellenbosch, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Fellows will meet with and learn from change makers of many backgrounds, ages, and pathways.

Together the cohort will learn about the history, current issues and challenges, and hopes for the future in South Africa and, through reflection, the United States and the world. They will engage in arts and culture; visit important places, campuses, and organizations; and interact with youth, adults, professionals, alumni, and community leaders. They will expand their networks; share their own stories; and learn valuable lessons for their own efforts as emerging leaders working for a more equitable, safe, and just world.

The South Africa immersion is the second trip for the Class of 2024, but just the beginning for the Class of 2025. At the conclusion of the immersion, 2025 Fellows will continue to meet monthly, primarily online, with individuals whose lives and work was shaped by Dean Ricks. These workshops focus on values, knowledge, and skills that equip Fellows as lifelong change agents. Each Fellow will be paired with a coach who can expand their networks and share their own experiences.

The Ripples of Hope Fellowship energizes us all to tackle the issues we are passionate about and to work for positive community impact. If you are a Fellow or Coach, prepare for a transformational journey. If you are a supporter, we are grateful for your contributions of time, resources, and talent.

While the Fellowship is just a year long, its impact will certainly last a lifetime.

2024 IMMERSION

at a glance

Below is an overview of the main activities that are planned for each day of the immersion.

Johannesburg Johannesburg

Cape CapeTown Town

Date

Activities

Sun, 6/23

Arrival in Cape Town Welcome dinner by Stellenbosch LLL students

Mon, 6/24

Welcome & opening workshops at Stellenbosch Khayamandi Township visit Ubuntu night in Stellenbosch

Tues, 6/25

Unpack indigenous culture and art with the Koena Art Institute Visit and tour with James Fernie and Uthando African Feast at Gold Restaurant

Wed, 6/26

Robben Island Museum Table Mountain Hop On/Hop Off Exploration & Coastline Drive Mojo Market

Thurs, 6/27

District Six tour Fly to Johannesburg Dinner with Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) facilitators

Fri, 6/28

Soweto Township Tour Visit with KYP Fellow-led workshops with KYP youth Mzansi Youth Choir performance

Sat, 6/29

Apartheid Museum Service Day in Alexandra Ubuntu night in Johannesburg

Sun, 6/30

Plianesburg National Park Closing workshop and reflections

Mon, 7/1

Plianesburg National Park Lunch and Market Visit at Rosebank Travel home

3

Meet the Fellows

The Class of 2024 We are delighted to present the 2024 Class of Ripples of Hope Fellows, who have spent nearly one year together growing and learning as change agents. Their journey began with the 2023 U.S. Immersion and since then they have been meeting at least monthly to enrich their purpose, define their social impact goals, and practice community-based leadership.

We are so proud of the people they are and are becoming, and we’re grateful for the leadership roles they will take on during the South Africa Immersion. They will continue to do extraordinary work in their communities, and we look forward to how they will shape this fellowship experience in future years.

Arthur Tartee

Athi Ndwebi

Danielle Santos

Program Associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Founder and Project Manager of Uyanda Foundation

Wellness Coach and Mental Health Advocate

USA

South Africa

USA

Meet the Fellows The Class of 2024

Deborah Silva

Doan Tran

Lona Magengelele

Youth Outreach & Special Projects Manager at Campaign for America’s Kids and Families

Undergraduate Student at the University of Chicago studying Economics and Global Studies

Teacher & Entrepreneur Studied Business and International Relations

Pontsho Lebepe

Sinovuyo Mankayi

Zackeen Thomas

Software Developer and Peer Coach at Ikusasa Lethu Outreach Program and Sizanani

Entrepreneur committed to youth empowerment & undergraduate student at University of Cape Town

Master’s Student and Project Administrative Assistant at the University of the Western Cape

USA

South Africa

USA

South Africa

South Africa

South Africa

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

Dolly Modise

Eliza Shaughnessy

Production Assistant and Script Supervisor at Dennis Reed II Productions

Former City Year Service Leader currently involved in Early Childhood Development

Administrative Assistant at the Berkeley Institute for Accessible Arts Education (BIAAE)

Gabrielle Adams

Jenine Scott

Kevin James

Marketing and Outreach Coordinator at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Pittsburgh

Finance Intern at Bain & Company and Student Volunteer at Kliptown Youth Program (KYP)

Law Student at Columbia Law; Institutional Giving Manager at Breaktime

USA

USA

South Africa

South Africa

USA

USA

Meet the Fellows The Class of 2025

Kgosi Tshabalala

Lorena Munoz

Lucky Kubeka

Former City Year Service Leader

Undergraduate student at Boston College studying Education & Spanish America

Volunteer at Haus Martha and Kliptown Youth Program (KYP)

Nicholas Miso

Paul Semedo

Wicus Cronje

Support Clerk at Anderson and Krieger Law & Behavioral Health Associate

Undergraduate student at Stellenbosch University studying Conservation Ecology

South Africa

South Africa

Postgraduate student and LLL resident at Stellenbosch University studying Musical Performance

USA

USA

South Africa

South Africa

Meet the Ripples Leadership Team The 2024-2025 Class As individuals whose lifelong work was shaped by the legacy of international educator and leader Gregory Ricks, we are champions of service and social change. We are so honored to work together to build and sustain this Fellowship, in partnership with so many others around the world. We will be with you on this journey in South Africa, as well as working on the Fellowship in the year that follows the Immersion. We look forward to sharing the stories, wisdom, and perspectives that Greg shared with us, as well as our own passions and projects throughout our trip together.

Senior Program Lead, Ripples of Hope

Aletta Smith

Recruitment & Partnerships Lead, Ripples of Hope

Cindy Laba

Danielle West

Jean Seigle

Jennie Eplett-Reilly

Ariane Hoy

Operations Lead, Ripples of Hope

Coaching Program Lead, Ripples of Hope

Director, Ripples of Hope

Founding Vice-Chair, Ripples of Hope Advisory Board

Meet the Ripples Leadership Team The 2024-2025 Class

Kristen Atwood Founder & Chair of Advisory Board, Ripples of Hope

Sam Ha DiMuzio Program Lead, Ripples of Hope

Mpho Maboee 2023 Ripples Founding Fellow, Immersion Logistics Support

Neo Sello

2023 Ripples Founding Fellow, Immersion Logistics Support

Thank you for joining and supporting the Ripples of Hope Fellowship.

We are profoundly grateful to our Founding Sponsors, whose belief and generosity launched the Ripples of Hope Fellowship in honor of a great man, Gregory Theodore Ricks.

Ripples of Hope Fellowship Founding Partners Alex and Jim Allen Jenny Brown and Michelle Alvarez Kristen and Jim Atwood Kylie, Hanna, Sophie, Chapin, and Teagan Atwood Spencer Blasdale Charlotte Mao and Michael Brown Cecile Cummings Sandy and Paul Edgerley Saskia and Paul Epstein Ariane Hoy Kip Hollister and Warren Hyde Julia and Pete Johannsen

Vanessa Kirsch and Alan Khazei Cindy Laba Brooke and Will Muggia Marion and David Mussafer Allyce Najimy Jennie Eplett Reilly and Sean Reilly Carol Downs and Charlie Rose Nancy Routh Maureen Coffey and Eric Schwarz Aletta Smith Noel Torres Mary Zients

Thank You and Sawubona!

Thank you to our South Africa and United States partners who helped us build our Fellowship and Lekgotla journey. We would also like to acknowledge Vanessa Kirsch and Jennie Eplett Reilly for their vision and wisdom in helping to create the Lekgotla Journey.

Note: This publication is not for sale or redistribution. It is only intended for use by the individuals involved in the Ripples of Hope Fellowship. All images therein are freely available via the Internet or via Canva.