John Gardner Fellowship Blogs

Ever since I began my journey in public service as a teenager, I have been deeply committed to amplifying underrepresented voices through community advocacy across all levels of government. Over time—and especially through my Gardner Fellowship—I’ve come to understand that...Read more about 2024 Gardner Fellows: Amplifying Voices, Advancing Justice: My Journey in Local Public Service

As a 2024–2025 John Gardner Public Service Fellow, I had the opportunity to work at the Possibility Lab at UC Berkeley, where I contributed to the Abundance Project—an ambitious research initiative focused on equity in public investment across California. For someone like me, a...Read more about 2024 Gardner Fellows: Reimagining Public Investment Through Lived Experience

When I began my Gardner Fellowship on a swampy September day, I was hopeful of building meaningful professional relationships, learning the ins and outs of Congress, and maybe even making an impact. But I was also fearful of the unknowns that lay ahead – Would my mentor and I get...Read more about 2024 Gardner Fellows: Making My Mark: A Gardner Fellow's Capitol Hill Story

Community engagement has always been a passion of mine. There is a sense of altruism and belonging when collaborating with community members to promote collective impact. Coming from a lived experience with minimal resources (homelessness, food insecurity, poverty), I believe in the power...Read more about 2023 Gardner Fellows: Public Impact with Private Philanthropy

As a Political Science major passionate about LGBTQ+ and reproductive rights, I entered my Gardner Fellowship with two main goals: to explore how I can make the most meaningful impact on the issues I care about, and to build a strong relationship with a mentor who could help...Read more about 2023 Gardner Fellows: Insights into Advocacy with the ACLU

Growing up in the Bay Area, a field trip to the Oakland Museum of California (OMCA) is a rite of passage for many elementary school students, but it is also a well known gathering place for the community. When I was searching for a placement with the Gardner Fellowship, OMCA was...Read more about 2022 Gardner Fellows: Rebecca Jacobson and her mentor, Caitlin Evans

As an undergraduate, I was drawn to public health due to the breadth of topics that play a pivotal role in community health. When selected to be a John Gardner Fellow, I knew I wanted to pursue health policy and continue advocating for traditionally marginalized communities. I am...Read more about 2022 Gardner Fellows: Equal Pay and its Implications on Health