Many of Stoneleigh’s Fellows continue to pursue critical work to improve the lives of young people and their families in our communities long after their Fellowships conclude. To underscore our ongoing commitment to these Fellows and their work, Stoneleigh is proud to support several former Fellows this year through Alumni Grants. This year’s recipients include:
Danielle Sered
Former Stoneleigh Fellow
Common Justice
Danielle’s grant will support Common Justice, a restorative justice program launched during her Stoneleigh Fellowship that serves both victims and perpetrators of violence without relying on incarceration. The funding provides direct material support (e.g., housing assistance, clothing, food) to program participants as they navigate the COVID-19 pandemic. Common Justice will also use these funds to launch a fundraising campaign for increased material support for victims of violent crimes.
Natasha Felder
Former Emerging Leader Fellow
Rock to the Future
Natasha’s grant will support Rock to the Future (RTTF), a nonprofit that helps youth build life skills through student-driven music programs. The funding provides COVID-responsive, safe, in-person programming for Philadelphia youth, including mentoring, post-secondary educational guidance and support, and a virtual performance showcase. RTTF also integrates restorative justice and trauma-informed practices into its work and provides material support to program participants, such as meals and SEPTA transit passes.
Rashni Stanford
Former Emerging Leader Fellow
Young Artist Program
Rashni’s grant will support the Young Artist Program (YAP)—also a Stoneleigh Youth Partnership Grantee—which works with primarily BIPOC and LGBTQ+ young people to explore art and build relationships to grow their confidence, leadership, and political consciousness. The funding compensates young participants for their time and contributions to YAP’s programming. In addition, YAP hosted an End of Year Exhibition with Stoneleigh’s support to elevate students’ work, publish a magazine featuring participants’ thoughts on their art-making process and theory of change, and interview students and facilitators about the importance of collaboration for social change.
Catie Buttner
Former Emerging Leader Fellow
Rutgers University
Catie’s grant will support her research on the experiences of Black women in accessing and receiving reproductive healthcare. Catie is filming her research interviews, thereby centering the voices and experiences of the women featured in her study. She is also organizing an external panel of community members to serve as advisors for the project’s findings and deliverables. Participating women collaborate with Catie on the dissemination of their research (e.g., via presentations, trainings, publications).
Dominique Mikell
Emerging Leader Fellow: 2016-2018
Better Youth Inc.
Dominique’s grant will support her research with Better Youth Inc., a collective of young people working together to develop life skills through mentorship and media arts training. The funding compensates youth members who produce a photovoice study exploring how youth in foster care define wellness and how child welfare systems can better center youth narratives. The participants use photography, creative writing, and video-recorded discussion sessions to share their knowledge and learn from one another about each member’s experiences with child welfare. The participants then synthesize their art, create a filmed presentation of their findings, and develop a call-to-action statement directed at policymakers. Dominique will also incorporate the research findings into her doctoral dissertation.
Leslie Acoca
Former Stoneleigh Fellow
Leslie’s grant will allow her to interview young immigrant girls detained in Customs and Border Patrol and Health and Human Services facilities to explore their experiences and health needs. Leslie will leverage the interviews to increase the girls’ visibility, give them a platform to share their stories, voice their physical and emotional needs, and launch policy and practice conversations to improve their overall health and safety.