Meet our 2023 GO! Fellowship Graduates!
In our Grassroots Organizing (GO!) Fellowship, participants learn the activism and organizing skills needed to advocate for real solutions and change. They are leaving this change-making program with the skills, relationships, and strategic plans needed to launch their own organizing project and start making a difference in their city or town.
We’re proud to introduce our most recent graduating class of GO! Fellows and see the impact they make in their communities! Interested in joining our next Class of GO! Fellows? Be sure to sign up for the AF mailing list to be notified when the applications open!
What They’re Saying
“It is an incredibly helpful learning experience for anyone wanting to start their own organization from the ground up and has no clue where to start!” – Tiffany Brannon
“By participating, you’ll be exposed to a wealth of knowledge, skills, and a network of like-minded individuals who can inspire and challenge you. The experiences you’ll gain can be transformative, providing you with perspectives that can shape your future endeavors. It changed the trajectory of my life..” – Shakira Unique Jackson
Tiffany Brannon currently works as a political media strategist for various candidates and campaigns at the local, state and national level. An award-winning writer, radio news host, and film critic, Tiffany’s work in journalism and media has encompassed everything from entertainment and culture to public policy and theology. She is an inaugural recipient of the Civic Renewal Fellowship with AEI, a 2023 Lincoln Fellow at the Claremont Institute, a political speechwriter, and a former court-appointed mediator. Tiffany has lectured on the loss of classical reason within Western education at the University of Oxford with the C.S. Lewis Foundation and is currently writing a series of children’s books on virtue. She serves as Director of the Board for the Arizona Biltmore, a Precinct Committeeman for LD4, a Daughter of the American Revolution, and a podcast host. She holds an M.Litt in Theology, Imagination and the Arts from the University of St. Andrews, a Masters in Dispute Resolution from the Straus Institute at Pepperdine University School of Law, and a B.A. in English Literature, Film Studies, and Studio Art from Pepperdine University.
Project: The Socratic Club – “Renewing community and strengthening society through civil discourse and civic virtue.”
81 years ago, in December of 1941, a group of Oxford university students petitioned the university to create a new club society – The Oxford Socratic Club. The society was founded with the goal of following the practice of Socrates to “follow the argument wherever it led them.” C.S. Lewis became their President and every Monday evening for the following 31 years, until its disbandment in 1971, the club was the heart of open and free discussion and debate on campus. It hosted anyone – student or non-student – who wanted to bring forward a topic no matter the subject or point of view. It became a breeding ground of new intellectuals and offered a glimpse of community and transformation to those who attended its meetings in ways that are still playing out through teachings, writings, and shared ideas to this very day.
Unfortunately, we have nothing like the Socratic Club in existence on a larger scale today – which is why we are creating it. We have podcasts and lectures, but we are lacking the salon setting The Socratic Club offers and the communal aspect that it creates. We don’t have the meeting houses of old to gather and discuss local issues or politics or initiatives. We especially have a separation of younger people – students usually – with the older. There is a chasm in the community aspect and, due to this, there is a growing lack of misunderstanding between generational ideologies. There is also missing the ancient passing of wisdom in a way that doesn’t feel condescending or out of touch. This is the problem The Socratic Club, in partnership with organizations such as Arizona State University (ASU), hopes to address and make a small step toward rectifying.
What is the biggest lesson you’re taking away from the GO! Fellowship? That every little step matters and is an achievement toward the greater goal of your organization. It also is important to surround yourself with the right people and keep asking questions if you don’t know something.
Elizabeth Chan has worked as a litigator for over a decade. She started her career in the fields of product liability litigation and administrative law. Her pro bono work has included securing compassionate release for a nonviolent felon to be released early during the COVID-19 pandemic, negotiating a complex child custody agreement and extricating a couple from a fraudulent real estate contract. She currently works as an immigration lawyer in Bethesda, Maryland primarily representing asylum applicants. She holds a B.A. and J.D. from the University of Virginia.
Project: Every Student. The idea for Every Student came to me after the Nashville school shooting earlier this year.. Gun control advocates said no one should have so many weapons. The pro-gun side repeats that guns don’t kill people, people kill people. But neither side sits with the idea – why does America have so many people who are obtaining weapons to kill?
The answer may be that we do not have more homicidal people than ever before, but more suicidal people. A trove of research is showing that school shooters have more in common with those who are committing suicide rather than homicide. It’s not news that deaths of despair -including suicide and overdoses – are on the rise, especially among young men. What may surprise some is that the ages of these deaths of despair is increasing rapidly among children. Suicide is now the eighth leading cause of death for children aged 5 to 11 years old.
So what are the solutions? Background checks and red flag laws are not wrong, but they don’t get to the root of the problem. We need to stop deaths of despair, and we have to start young. And we should care about the roots of the problem because at the end of the day, school shooters aren’t groups of outsiders, they’re our own kids.
Having a sense of belonging in school has been found to be protective against deaths of despair. We know that a top down approach doesn’t work. We are bringing students, teachers, parents, and communities together to build belonging in middle schools as a team effort to prevent child suicide and school shootings. We hope that you can partner with us.
What would you say to someone who is considering the GO! Fellowship? I really did not think I would have a finished project at the end of it, but I did. The Go! Fellowship really puts a fire under you to conceptualize and finish your projects.
Caitlin Dexter is the External Relations Officer at the Foundation for Economic Education. With a background in grassroots activism and a keen interest in education policy and educational freedom, Caitlin is committed to educating and empowering the next generation. Her journey is not just about her own growth, but about inspiring and equipping others to join the cause. As a dedicated member of the liberty movement for nine years, she’s honed the skills of cultivating partnerships, elevating brand representation, and fostering meaningful connections to build strong communities. She’s worked on policy issues such as expanding educational freedom in the states of Florida and Georgia, securing open free speech on public college campuses, rideshare regulations, and others. Her enthusiasm and her creative approach to spreading the love of liberty make her a standout advocate in the movement.
Project: Freedom to Teach – a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a supportive community for educators who champion individual liberties, free-market economics, and limited government intervention. In response to the growing need for a network that prioritizes community-building among teachers, our organization has emerged as a beacon of support, offering professional development opportunities, camaraderie, and resources.
What is the biggest lesson you’re taking away from the GO! Fellowship? Always make connections and ask for advice. The more fellows talked to each other and asked questions, you could see their projects expand and and improve based on feedback.
Shakira Unique Jackson graduated from the University of Pittsburgh with degrees in History and Political Science. As an active volunteer and political advocate in Philadelphia, she aspires to unite environmental coalitions. Serving as the Director of Advocacy and Community Engagement for Mental Health on Purpose and hosting the video series Capitol Pink, she challenges societal norms for impactful change. Jackson stands out as an environmentalist, fossil fuel activist, and civic commentator. Her campaigning and research showcase a commendable work ethic. Fueled by her passion for community organizing, Jackson envisions a world that treasures civic engagement, the planet, and all its beings.
Project: Uniquely Engaged Citizen. Uniquely Engaged Citizen is a nonprofit that empowers Generation Z candidates by providing crucial financial support and training, nurturing informed, engaged, and innovative leaders for tomorrow. We envision a political realm enriched by the diverse, passionate, and unique insights of Generation Z.
What is the biggest lesson you’re taking away from the GO! Fellowship? My biggest takeaway has been the importance of immersive, experiential learning. While classroom knowledge and traditional education are invaluable, interacting with diverse groups, and facing real-world challenges has taught me adaptability, resilience, and the significance of interdisciplinary collaboration. I’ve also come to deeply appreciate the power of a like-minded community. The networks and friendships formed during the fellowship have not only enriched my professional journey but also provided a support system and a reservoir of shared knowledge and resources. It’s reaffirmed my belief that when passionate individuals come together with a shared purpose, remarkable change is possible.
Raquel Lesser graduated from Manhattanville College with a Bachelor degree in Digital Media. Raquel has written five self-published books since she was 16 years old. Raquel also made her own advocacy organization called Dare for Genocide Awareness and Hope to help refugees. Additionally, Raquel won the New Jersey Jefferson Certificate and taught middle schoolers after school.
Project: I am making libraries in homeless residencies across New York and I am making classes in Homeless residences. I work with Volunteers of America. So far I have made four libraries across New York
What is the biggest lesson you’re taking away from the GO! Fellowship? You have to start small to make it big.
Chelsea Schick is Director of Strategic Operations at Atlas Network. Chelsea works closely with all parts of the organization to help shape Atlas Network’s future path, identify new organizational and programmatic opportunities, facilitate effective collaboration across departments in delivering key initiatives, and analyze our performance against organizational and departmental goals. Chelsea graduated from Florida State University in 2012 with her bachelor’s degree in international affairs, a double major in German & Spanish and a minor in business. She works remotely from the Philadelphia region and lives with her handsome and supporting husband, and three extraordinary sons all named after Superman.
Project: The 5:00 to 9:00 Club. The 5:00 to 9:00 Club empowers moms and their families with opportunities to engage in community and contribute solutions to issues that affect their families. Our vision is that every family in the Collegeville, PA area has an invitation to participate in and benefit from an inclusive network of generous and ambitious women. We host events and initiatives that cultivate relationships and drive local solutions in support of challenges that families face.
What is the biggest lesson you’re taking away from the GO! Fellowship? Baby steps are still steps, but still they were not enough if I was going to achieve what I hoped to achieve. It can sometimes feel hard to take big action when you aren’t sure that you’ve figured everything out but participating in the GO! Fellowship helped give me the motivation and courage to incorporate the 5:00 to 9:00 Club and to ask others in my community who shared my vision to join in. Being a part of a regular cohort with others who are making a difference and founding organizations sparked a competitive spirit in me. If they can do it, so can I and I need to get on it!
Justin Tucker is a libertarian activist and working Chicagoan. His hobbies include reading, writing, and cinema. As Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Illinois, he helps develop relationships with donors, recruit candidates and volunteers, and strategize campaigns. He was part of a team that helped establish the Libertarian Party in Cook County and elect the first Libertarian to Chicago municipal government. He is also on the board for the Chicago chapter of America’s Future and contributes to the AF blog. He founded Initiatives for Harmony and Commerce to advocate for policies that grow the local economy, promote peaceful, mutually-beneficial interactions to insure domestic tranquility, and advance those principles through art and culture. He invite you to join him in making The City that Works work even better.
Project: Initiatives for Harmony and Commerce. Initiatives for Harmony and Commerce is dedicated to advancing peaceful cooperation and seeks practical market-based reforms to expand economic growth and ensure thriving in our communities. To bring our vision into focus, we aim to engage community leaders and grassroots in implementing reforms, participate in artistic and cultural endeavors, and celebrate the classical liberal tradition of every community.
What has been the most valuable part of your GO! Fellowship experience? There have been so many valuable things from my GO! Fellowship experience. Making new friends in the liberty movement to help develop my project has been incredibly valuable. The lectures were very informative and reading “Rules for Radicals” was a pleasure.
Sara Vasquez is the Field Representative for Americans for Prosperity.
Project: Hispanic Heritage Liberty Project. The purpose of HHLP is to expand on the traditional stereotypes of the American Latino. This creation project expands on this by educating the community about past political and cultural leaders. Showing breaking barrier moments provides an opportunity to expand on the current representation of the Hispanic community. Introducing new icons allows for inspiration.
What would you say to someone who is considering the GO! Fellowship? I would recommend getting involved and submitting to become a fellow. There’s a lot of information available through the Go! Fellowship that they may not think to find somewhere else. I’d also recommend to keep an open mind while remembering the fellowship is mostly independent work. It is what each of us make of it while having guides to help answer questions along the way.
Aaron White is a Los Angeles-based consultant and Founding Executive Director of Kultur Mercado, an organization working to advance liberty and democracy through its diversity. He has worked in policy, fundraising, and programming across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East. Aaron holds bachelor’s degrees in Politics and Environmental Studies from UC Santa Cruz where he founded Slugs for Liberty, and a Master’s in Environmental Policy from Tel Aviv University. In his free time, he can be found translating from Yiddish or Spanish, making art with his wife or, out with friends at a park or trail.
Project: Kultur Mercado was established on a belief that you cannot mandate diversity, but you can build it. We bring together America’s vibrant and diverse constituents and their constitutive cultures, in order to learn from one another, identify commonality, and strengthen our civil society.
What is the biggest lesson you’re taking away from the GO! Fellowship? My background is in Fundraising and Operations. I excel in plugging into organizations and helping them to build capacity, financial or operational to ensure success. The GO! Fellowship has helped to provide a kind of start-up manual to allow me to grow into the places where I am less proficient or knowledgeable. In particular, the Go! Fellowship has taught me two vital lessons, the first being how to network to grow a project or organization. The second, to be your own strongest advocate, which many times boils down to simply asking. In this case, asking you to check out Kultur Mercado, sign up for our newsletter, follow us on social media, or help us by partnering on events!