Current Fellows

Class of 2023

Sam Battan
Sam BattanExecutive Director, Colorado Youth Congress
As the founder of the Colorado Youth Congress, Sam Battan organizes diverse communities of young people to lead systems-level change. Read more and watch video
Papa Dia
Papa DiaExecutive Director, African Leadership Group
Papa M. Dia is Founder and Executive Director of the African Leadership Group (ALG), an established Colorado nonprofit created in 2006 to help improve the quality of life for African immigrants and members of the diaspora. Read more and watch video
Shannon Francis
Shannon FrancisExecutive Director, Spirit of the Sun
Shannon Francis, is Hopi and Dineh from Arizona and New Mexico. She is from the Towering House clan born for Red Running into the Water clan. Her Hopi clans are Massau’, Bear Sand, and Snake Clan. Shannon comes from twelve generations of earth caretakers, ethnobotanists, and seed keepers. Read more and watch video
Carmen Medrano
Carmen MedranoExecutive Director, United for a New Economy
As Executive Director of United for a New Economy, Carmen guides the organization to deliver on its mission of building people power for racial and economic justice. Read more and watch video
Carla Mestas
Carla MestasExecutive Director, CIRCLE
Carla is the proud Founder and Executive Director of the Denver nonprofit, C.I.R.C.L.E. Organization. She has worked in the area of equity, social justice and inclusiveness for nearly 20 years. Read more and watch video
Viniyanka Prasad
Viniyanka PrasadExecutive Director, The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary, Inc
Viniyanka Prasad (she/her) is an advocate for cultural equity and criminal justice, including through her service as founder and executive director of The Word, A Storytelling Sanctuary. Read more and watch video
Paula Smith
Paula SmithChief Impact Officer, Clayton Early Learning
Paula Smith currently serves as the Chief Impact Officer at Clayton Early Learning, a position that reflects more than 25 years of front-line leadership experience in Early Head Start and Head Start programs where she has passionately served a population of culturally diverse children from birth to age five, and their families. Read more and watch video
Rita Valente-Quinn
Rita Valente-QuinnProducing Director, Motus Theater
Dr. Rita M. Rufino Valente-Quinn is a first-generation immigrant from Portugal. She has 15 years’ experience working as a performing arts administrator, producer, and curator in the nonprofit sector. Read more and watch video
Learn more about our Alumni Fellows