Dear Coro Family,
We are all shaken by the mob violence that unfolded at the Capitol yesterday. It is an assault on our democratic institutions, public servants, and our electorate: an attack on our democracy. The disturbing actions in Washington, D.C., although dangerous and disruptive, will not change the outcome of the election or the fact that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris will be sworn in as the next President and Vice President. Our democracy will stand.
Time and again through our history, we’ve seen that thoughtful, committed civic leaders at every level and across all sectors of governance can work across differences and create meaningful change. The Coro community will step up to help our country move forward from this fractious moment and build a stronger, more inclusive, more equitable, and more peaceful democracy.
Coro was founded in the early 1940s to cultivate the courageous, values-based leadership that is essential to preserving and advancing our democratic principles. Seeing the rise of authoritarianism, fascism, economic instability, militarism, and fearing the end of democracy, our founders asked these critical questions:
From these questions, they created a program to further “more effective citizen involvement and more capable political leadership.” Eight decades later, we continue to train, support, and connect leaders to foster a thriving democracy and tackle society’s biggest challenges.
Our work to strengthen and build the connective tissue of democracy — self-awareness, critical thinking, inclusion, communication, and collaboration — has never been more vital. We have always known this is not easy work. But the bright vision of what is possible if we build this muscle as individuals, families, neighborhoods, communities, organizations, and government is what moves us forward. Let’s hold on to this promise as we move through this moment.
We know that the next two weeks are likely to be some of the most challenging our country has ever faced. Coro training focuses on asking hard questions of other people and of ourselves while critically analyzing and addressing the systems we interact with on a daily basis. This work cannot be done without addressing the destructive force of systemic racism. We see the threats of demagoguery in action. We see the stark difference in law enforcement response yesterday and the treatment of peaceful protestors outside the White House in June.
At the same time, we are on the precipice of celebrating our first woman Vice President, a woman of color. And soon we will celebrate the most diverse cabinet in the history of our country.
We have much work to do. On Thursday, January 21, the Coro Centers will host a national, interactive conversation devoted to activating civic leadership. Stay tuned for an invitation next week.
We urge you to use your Coro skills to practice inquiry and lean into self-awareness in the days and weeks ahead. As we process and move through these trying times, remember that Coro is also a community — we are here for each other.
Thank you for your continued support and leadership.
With gratitude,
Natalie Samarjian, President and CEO, Coro Southern California
Gregg Bishop, Interim Executive Director, Coro New York
Laney Whitcanack, CEO, Coro Northern California
Selena Schmidt, Executive Director, Coro Pittsburgh
Colin Dale, Program Director, St. Louis Coro Fellowship
From an initial screening list of more than 15,000 of the best of the best, the 600 women and men featured in the Forbes fifth annual 30 Under 30 are America’s most important young entrepreneurs, creative leaders and brightest stars. Name a business sector, social issue or essential institution, they are taking it on and changing the rules of the game– or creating entirely new playbooks.
In the past, youth was a handicap to professional success. Getting older meant more resources, more knowledge, more money. No more. Those who grew up in the tech age have way bigger ambitions — perfectly suited to the dynamic, entrepreneurial and impatient digital world they grew up in. If you want to change the world, being under 30 is now an advantage.
Some names on this year’s list you already know: NBA champ Stephen Curry, Star Wars: The Force Awakensleading man John Boyega, plus-sized supermodel Ashley Graham, Canadian crooner Shawn Mendes and YouTube gamer CaptainSparklez (Jordan Maron). Others are superstars in their own realms. Clara Sieg is Revolution Ventures youngest and only female partner. Timothy Hwang, cofounder of FiscalNote, takes a “Moneyball” approach to forecasting pending legislation, and Spire Global’s Jeroen Cappaert sends nano-satellites into space to listen to the world’s oceans in order to track shipping, weather — and pirates.
SEE FORBES 30 UNDER 30: EDUCATION
SEE THE FULL LIST: FORBES 30 UNDER 30 CLASS OF 2016
Cofounder, Blendspace
The blended learning company Lin cofounded in 2012, Blendspace, was acquired last year by digital education giant TES Global. Now she leads the product team and oversees a new resource-sharing platform for over 7 million teachers globally. Lin, who was born in China and moved to Seattle when she was 6, is a USC grad and Coro Executive Fellow (LA ’12) and started her career as a Microsoft engineer.
Dear Alumni,
The 2015-2016 Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs is underway and the twelve Fellows are in Santa Monica for this year’s Logic Study. The Logic Study presentation will be on Tuesday, September 15th at the Council Chambers in Santa Monica City Hall from 2:00-3:00PM.
The 58th Class of Coro Fellows Southern California presents:
Santa Monica:
Navigating Progress & Privilege
Through a series of interviews with community leaders, residents, and public figures, the Coro Fellows Southern California have been investigating life in the charming, yet complex Santa Monica, California. In the process, we have gained a deep understanding of local public affairs as well as the value and challenges of thriving here. We hope you will join us in this exploration on Tuesday, September 15th, for a presentation and discussion on our findings. This event is free and open to the public.
Santa Monica City Hall
Council Chambers
Tuesday, September 15th
2:00 – 3:00 PM
1685 Main St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
(310) 393-9975
map and directions
*Metered parking is available nearby along Main St.
Please consider joining us on Tuesday for the Logic Study presentation. This is always a fun way to “introduce” the new Fellows to Coro inquiry. This is your opportunity for you to give them feedback on their presentation.
The presentation and reception will be a total of an hour and a half. Your presence would be invaluable. Please let me know if you can make it.
Thank you!
Dr. Sadie Moore
Director of Training
Coro Southern California
smoore@coro.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(NEW YORK CITY, PITTSBURGH, ST. LOUIS, SAN FRANCISCO AND LOS ANGELES): One of the longest running and most prolific leadership development programs in the nation’s history, Coro is tremendously proud today to announce the emerging leaders who have been selected for its 69th class of Coro Fellows in Public Affairs. Selected from among a highly competitive pool of hundreds of top college graduates, the 64 participants in the 2015-1016 class of Coro Fellows hail from a wide array of universities from across the country.
The Coro Fellowship uses the community as a classroom to train the next generation of change makers. Today’s complex urban environments present constantly evolving challenges and opportunities, creating an increasing need for versatile leaders with the ability to forge connections and lead across the non-profit, business and government sectors. Competitively selected applicants will join an intimate cohort of 12 to 16 participants for the nine-month program, with each cohort encompassing a wide range of communities, interests, ideologies and experiences.
The Princeton Review said of Coro: “Every group has its ultimate challenge, an experience that defines those who participate as the most talented in their field. Track-and-field enthusiasts have the decathlon. Whiz kids have the Odyssey of the Mind competition. Fitness freaks have the Iron Man Triathlon. And aspiring public servants have the Coro Fellows Program.”
More than 10,000 alumni have graduated from Coro programs over the past 70 years. These alumni are currently serving as leaders in national/global businesses, nonprofit organizations, government agencies and elected public office. The United States Senate alone includes three Coro alumni including Diane Feinstein (CA), Tim Kaine (VA) and Michael Bennet (CO). For more information about the program, visit: http://www.corofellowship.org
The following list, grouped by city, includes those selected for the 2015-2016 Coro Fellows Program and the universities from which they graduated:
Coro Southern California (in Los Angeles)
For Information regarding the Coro Southern California Fellows Program contact Executive Director Wesley Farrow at wfarrow@coro.org.
For Information regarding Coro Pittsburgh Fellows Program contact Executive Director Greg Crowley at gcrowley@coropittsburgh.org.
Coro Northern California (in San Francisco)
For Information regarding Coro Northern California Fellows Program contact Executive Director Susan Shain at sshain@coronorcal.org.
For Information regarding Coro St. Louis Fellows Program contact Michelle Miller, Director, Coro Fellows Program in Public Affairs, St. Louis, michellem@focus-stl.org.
For Information regarding Coro New York Fellows Program contact Executive Director Scott Millstein at smillstein@coronewyork.org.
About Coro: Coro began in San Francisco in 1942 to train young people in the leadership skills necessary to assure that our democratic system of government could more effectively meet the needs of its citizens. Since its founding, Coro has grown to include Coro Centers in six cities, including San Francisco, Los Angeles (1957), St. Louis (1972), Kansas City (1975), New York (1980), and Pittsburgh (1999). More than 400 participants a year go through a variety of Coro programs nationwide. At least 10,000 program alumni are currently serving as leaders in local, regional and national/global businesses, non-profit organizations, governmental agencies and elected public office. Coro is a non-profit, non-partisan educational institute supported by foundations, corporations and individuals.
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