Ripples of Hope 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

CulturalImmersion:

NewfellowclassjoinsgraduatingFellow classfora1-2weekimmersion

USA->oddyears

SA->evenyears

Individualized Mentoring

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

Monthly Virtual Workshops

Monthly Fellows join together for virtual workshops focused around a “voyage” curriculum Learn more on page 5

CulturalImmersion:

NewfellowclassjoinsgraduatingFellow classfora1-2weekimmersion

SA->evenyears

USA->oddyears

AlumniCommunity

“Wehavephysicallyand emotionallytransformed. Weimpactedpeople,and thepeoplewemetalong ourjourneyareapartofa broadcommunityfilled withpassionand purpose.”

Athi,SouthAfricanFellow

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:

Cross-Cultural Exchange

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.

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

Throughouthislife,GregoryTheodoreRickschampionedthevoicesandpowerofyouthto makeadifference Atage23,GregbecametheyoungestdeanatNortheasternUniversity Gregpromotedmulticulturaleducationandtaughtcolleaguesandyoungpeoplearoundthe U.S.howtoworkfordiversity,inclusion,andsocialjustice.In1993,hewasinstrumentalinthe foundingofAmeriCorps AttherequestofPresidentBillClinton,hefacilitateditsfirstTown HallMeetinginPhiladelphiaandlatertrainedhundredsofAmeriCorpsmembers Greg becamethefirstdeanatCityYear,aserviceandcivicprograminBoston, helpingtorecruit andgrowitsstaffandsites

ThroughCity Year,Greg eventually pursuedalifelong dream toliveinSouthAfrica.HehelpedbuildtheClinton Democracy Fellowship Hewasalsoinstrumental inthelaunchof City YearSouthAfricain2005 Lateinhiscareer, heworkedatStellenboschUniversity totransform itsstudentbody,staff,andfaculty,andtobuildsupportsforthe successof firstgenerationstudents In2020,Greg passedaway,leaving behindhiswifeFeriel,sisterWendy, daughters,KeijaandChayla,andsonEthan

Our Curriculum

TheFellowshipcurriculumisintentionalaboutbuildinguponFellows’existingcommitmentstoservice andsocialjustice ThiseducationalprogrambeginswithaculturalimmersionintheUS orSouthAfrica Theseimmersionsofferanintensiveexperientialeducationexploringlocal/nationalsocialchange movementsandculturalhistories,leaders,andpractices.Fromthisstartingpoint,theyearlong educationalprogramisdesignedasa“voyage”ofpersonal,vocational,andcollectivegrowththat prioritizes:

Sustainablesocialchange.Whataretheresources,knowledge,andskillsthatayoungchangemakerneedsinorder tosustainanddeepentheircommunity-basedworkwithoutburningout?

Diversesocialchangestrategiesandroles.Thereisnosinglewaytoachievecollectivefreedomandjustice.Howdo communityleadersdiscerntherolesandstrategiesthatareboth1)bestsuitedtotheirownproclivitiesand strengths,and2)responsivetowhattheworldortheircommunityneeds?

Systemicdefinitionsofsocialchange.Theneedforsocialchangecomesfromthewaysinwhichtheinterlocking matrixofoppressionunevenlydistributespower.Howcanyoungsocialagentsbuildself-awarenessabouttheirown power,privilege,andpositionality?Howdoesthatawarenessshapetheiractions?

Thisframeworkforsocialjusticeeducationinformstheyearlongcurriculum,splitintomonthlytwo-hour virtualworkshops Eachgatheringisinspiredbyavoyagethemetoencapsulatesomefacetoftheirsocial changejourney.Below,youcanfindabriefoverviewoftheyear’seducationalprogram.

Voyage to your Soul: Purpose Statements & Goal

What’s your Vision? Setting SMART Goals and Expanding your Networks Sharing your Voice: Social Change Roles & Ecosystems Enhancing your Vitality: Networking, Mentorship, and Narratives Vessel: Telling the Story of Me, We, and Now (Public Narrative) Leveraging your Value: Training and Program Development

Embracing our Village: Fellow-led Holiday and Cultural Celebrations

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

der the renewed motivations of Abe Mederios, a Founding Fellow from ngham, MA, who reflects on his Fellowship experience: “Knowing there eople in my community going through the same kinds of struggles, s me want to help Specifically, I’d love to have a role in helping with the tion of young immigrants or children of immigrants who don’t have the nce or “know-how” of the American education system ” In a similar vein, aas Horn, a South African fellow expressed how he hopes to apply what earned: “I am inspired to [share] my story, the significance of the ship, and what I learned with people who have a similar story as mine, so continually transcending borders and breaking them down. I want to people realise the similarity on a deeper level between everyone and 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 ataglance

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

Sun, 6/23

Mon, 6/24

Arrival in Cape Town

Welcome dinner by Stellenbosch LLL students

Welcome & opening workshops at Stellenbosch

Khayamandi Township visit

Ubuntu night in Stellenbosch

Tues, 6/25

Wed, 6/26

Thurs, 6/27

Unpack indigenous culture and art with the Koena Art Institute

Visit and tour with James Fernie and Uthando

African Feast at Gold Restaurant

Robben Island Museum

Table Mountain

Hop On/Hop Off Exploration & Coastline Drive

Mojo Market

District Six tour Fly to Johannesburg

Dinner with Kliptown Youth Program (KYP) facilitators

Soweto Township Tour

Fri, 6/28

Sat, 6/29

Sun, 6/30

Mon, 7/1

Visit with KYP

Fellow-led workshops with KYP youth

Mzansi Youth Choir performance

Apartheid Museum

Service Day in Alexandra

Ubuntu night in Johannesburg

Plianesburg National Park

Closing workshop and reflections

Plianesburg National Park

Lunch and Market Visit at Rosebank

Travel home

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 USA

Program Associate at the American Association for the Advancement of Science

Athi Ndwebi South Africa Founder and Project Manager of Uyanda Foundation

Danielle Santos USA

Wellness Coach and Mental Health Advocate

Me ws

The Class of 2024

Deborah Silva USA

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

Pontsho Lebepe South Africa

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

Doan Tran USA

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

Lona Magengelele South Africa

Teacher & Entrepreneur Studied Business and International Relations

Sinovuyo Mankayi South Africa

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

Zackeen Thomas South Africa

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

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

Meet the Ripples Leadership Team

As individuals whose lifelong work was shaped by the lega Gregory Ricks, we are champions of service and social chan to build and sustain this Fellowship, in partnership with so be with you on this journey in South Africa, as well as wo follows the Immersion. We look forward to sharing the stor shared with us, as well as our own passions and proj

letta Smith Cindy Laba Director, Ripples of Hope

Recruitment & Partnerships Lead, Ripples of Hope

Meet the Ripples Leadership Team

d so y oa d, Ripples of Hope

Program Lead, Ripples of Hope

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