Fall 2024 Equity Storytelling Fellowship

Fridays, September 6 - October 11, 1:00-3:00 pm ET

Are you interested in issues related to equity, education and philanthropy? Would you like to interact with other values-aligned funders in a safe and creative space? Would you like to learn how to create, share and learn from other storytellers?

If so, join us for the third offering of the EdFunders Equity Storytelling Fellowship. The fellowship is structured to work with a small cohort of fellows to:

• Learn about and experiment with different forms of expression for personal storytelling.
• Develop a personal story in a genre or form of their choice, which will be performed by professional actors.
• Explore their own history, lineage and identity as they relate to core values and work in philanthropy.
• Engage in multi-modal learning through writing and performance.
• Support and provide feedback to other participants in the fellowship.

Over five virtual sessions, Equity Storytelling Fellows will receive hands-on training and an opportunity to practice storytelling and sharing their own stories. These interactive sessions will take them through an arc of content and writing prompts to imagine what it means to you to show up for equity. Participants are encouraged to attend all sessions, but each will be recorded for those who cannot attend. This series of sessions will culminate with a showcase on October 11, when fellows will have their stories performed by professional actors!

If you are also interested in an in-person version of this program, join the October 15 preconference session, A Workshop for Equity, Empowerment and Storytelling, at our annual conference, which is open to conference registrants who identify as funders of color. Learn more here. You are welcome to register for one or both programs.

This event is exclusive to Grantmakers for Education members. Registration closes September 3.

There is no cost to attend this Grantmakers for Education program. By registering for this program, you agree to our Learning Environment Commitment. Thank you for your patience; we review each registration in advance.

About the Facilitators

Marc Chun
Senior Manager
Chan Zuckerberg Initiative

Marc is is currently a grantmaker at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, and previously worked at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation and The Overdeck Family Foundation, and supported work for Lucas Education Research and Grantmakers for Thriving Youth. He was also a learning experience designer at the Stanford d.school. He has extensive teaching and training experience, and has taught at Stanford University, Teachers College – Columbia University, The New School University, and Vanderbilt University. He is also a published playwright, with productions of his plays in New York, Los Angeles and Hong Kong.

Jessica Mele
Principal
Jessica Mele Creative

Jessica Mele is a writer, educator, grantmaker and performer based in California. She is currently principal and founder at Jessica Mele Creative. Prior to that, she was a program officer in Performing Arts at the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation where she managed a diverse portfolio of grants with a particular focus on arts education policy and advocacy. Before she made grants, Jessica was alternatively a nonprofit executive director, a union organizer and a higher education administrator. Jessica holds a B.A. in anthropology and French studies from Smith College and an M.Ed. from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.