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 along? Would I fit into the office culture? Would I have something to contribute?
During the first three months of my fellowship, I struggled to navigate complex legislative text on critical minerals, oil and gas development, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA...
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 formerly incarcerated student turned policy advocate, this year was about more than research. It was about building bridges between personal experience and public systems that too often overlook people like me.
The Possibility Lab is committed to partnering with...
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 grassroots organizing and advocacy can take many different forms. Throughout my life, I’ve consistently been involved in community-based efforts, always drawn to the power of organizing from the ground up.
During my Gardner Fellowship, my primary goal was to understand how...
Do I need to have a specific organization lined up to apply for the Gardner Fellowship?
No, you don’t need to apply with a predetermined organization or mentor. However, strong candidates should demonstrate a clear interest in a specific issue area and be familiar with potential organizations that align with their goals. After selection, Fellows will work with program staff to find a placement and mentor.
Can I use the Gardner Fellowship to launch my own organization?
No. The Fellowship is designed to place fellows...
Having grown up in California, Karishma Goswami observed from a young age how climatic events like wildfires were having increasingly devastating impacts on her home state, the health of her community and the wellbeing of young and future generations. She was raised by strong, trailblazing women—including her mother, a female entrepreneur; her aunt, the first South Asian female judge in Southern California; and her grandmother, who defied norms to advocate for her daughter to immigrate alone to the U.S. in pursuit of higher education. Their strength inspired her to become...
