The Open Society Foundations (OSF) has announced its Leadership in Government Fellows for 2022.

Founded in 2016 to support former senior-level government staff who have left public service after dedicating their careers to advancing economic, social, and racial justice, the program provides fellows with a stipend ranging from $100,000 to $133,000 in support of projects lasting between 12 and 18 months.

The sixth cohort of OSF Leadership in Government Fellows includes Ivonne Roman, former police chief of Newark, New Jersey, who will work to integrate evidence-based research on policing into policies and practices to help diversify the American police workforce and improve outcomes for police departments and the communities they serve; Josh Wallack, former New York City Department of Education deputy chancellor for early childhood and student enrollment, who will partner with states and cities to help implement and expand effective, equitable early care and education programs; Laura Wood, former chief democracy officer for New York City, who will promote voter participation and civic engagement while combating disinformation about elections and democracy by working with cities and community-based organizations to catalyze local action; Michelle Maziar, founding director of the Atlanta mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs, who will educate organizations, journalists, advocates, and civil society actors on available COVID-19 pandemic resources to help those excluded from local pandemic responses receive the benefits they deserve; Raquel Castañeda-López, the first Latina to serve on the Detroit City Council, who aims to create a holistic coaching program that supports and builds the capacity of women of color in elected office as they transition out of public service; and Stephanie Gidigbi Jenkins, former Washington Metropolitan Transit Authority board member, who will work to advance community-centered projects, racial equity practices, and climate resilience principles to promote economic opportunity for all through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

“We at the Open Society Foundations look forward to working with the sixth cohort of Leadership in Government Fellows,” said Open Society-U.S. chief of office Elizabeth Guernsey. “We are at a crossroads in the fight for racial and economic justice in this country, and this group of diverse and experienced fellows will help bring much-needed perspectives to advance the values of an open society and a fairer country.”

(Photo credit: Open Society Foundations)