Arab American Museum Director Selected As 2016-17 NGen Fellow

posted on: Nov 28, 2016

Press release: Arab American National Museum

Independent Sector, the only national membership organization that brings together nonprofits, foundations and corporations to advance the common good, recently announced its 2016-17 cohort of American Express NGen Fellows, which includes Arab American National Museum (AANM) Director Devon Akmon.

 The 12 outstanding charitable-sector leaders aged 40 and under will engage over the next year in a range of activities that deepen individual capabilities, expand collective knowledge and grow professional networks.

This selective fellowship program continues to build the next generation of charitable leaders as part of Independent Sectors’ NGen: Moving Nonprofit Leaders from Next to Now initiative. Through professional and leadership development opportunities, networking and peer support, and connections with established sector leaders, the NGen program empowers next generation leaders to contribute to their organizations and communities.

“I’m very honored to have been selected to join such a talented and accomplished cohort of nonprofit professionals,” says Akmon.

 “Our involvement within the fellowship program raises AANM’s presence on a national scale, making more people aware of who we are, what we do and how we do it,” says Akmon. “This experience allows a space for deep thought and reflection while increasing our ability to create new networks and amplifying the Museum’s voice within the sector.”

 Marking its 8^th anniversary, the program is now partnering with the American Express Leadership Academy, an industry-defining program that has developed more than 2,500 global, nonprofit and social-purpose leaders.

 Over the course of the course of year, Fellows will also take part in a group-led project which contributes to the knowledge of the charitable sector. The program runs from November 2016 – October 2017, which began with the Fellows’ appearance at this year’s Independent Sector Conference. The conference is the meeting ground for leaders and change makers looking to drive momentum for the charitable community, set the sector’s agenda for the coming year and collaborate on strategies for success.

The complete list of 2016-17 NGen Fellows includes:

·         Devon Akmon, Director, Arab American National Museum, Dearborn, MI

·         Ivan Canada, Executive Director, The National Conference for Community and Justice of the Piedmont Triad, Greensboro, NC

·         Jane Cheung, Vice President of Programs, The Pablove Foundation, Los Angeles

·         Paul Daugherty, President and CEO, Philanthropy West Virginia, Morgantown, WV

·         Radha Friedman, Director of Programs, World Justice Project, Washington, D.C.

·         Lisa Fasolo Frishman, Senior Program Officer, Health Foundation for Western and Central New York, Buffalo, NY

·         Jeremie Greer, Vice President of Policy & Research, Corporation for Enterprise Development, Washington, D.C.

·         Abby Laine Sienkiewicz, Interim Executive Director/CEO, Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Colorado Springs, CO

·         Neesha Modi, Program Officer, The Kresge Foundation, Troy, MI

·         Ola Ojewumi, Founder, Project ASCEND, Beltsville, MD

·         Kashif Shaikh, Founder and Executive Director, Pillars Fund, Chicago

·         Jamie Smith, Co-Executive Director, Young Nonprofit Professionals Network, New York