They're Dope. Meet the 2021 Camelback Fellows.
A NOTE FROM THE CAMELBACK TEAM:
The Camelback Fellowship is growing and we are giddy with excitement to introduce the newest members to a group we lovingly call the #CamelbackFam. Don’t get it twisted - this group of founders is tenacious, talented, and laser focused on making the world a more equitable place - fully embodying what it truly means to be #RuthlessForGood. The 2021 cohort proudly joins our community of 83 fellows (and growing).
How did we get here?
During our Search + Align recruitment process this spring we received 350+ applications for the Camelback Fellowship from a talented pool of BIPOC and women founders across the country. If we could have, we would have welcomed every founder that applied into the Fellowship. Good news, in 2022 we will be offering multiple fellowship cycles for the first time in our history! More to come on that this fall. If you’d like to learn about this year’s selection process check out Caroline Lutkewitte’s blog . She is Camelback’s Manager of Search +Align.
Meet the 2021 Fellows
We are excited to welcome our 2021 Education and Conscious Tech fellows who are joining our fellowship program that supports entrepreneurs of color and women leading innovative social impact ventures. These founders are tackling pressing issues across the United States including systemic racism, education inequities, accessibility to civic participation, student career readiness as well as health and wellness.
“Too often, the entrepreneurial space around social impact generates ‘solutions’ pointed at communities of color without solving for the lack of opportunities in those same communities to allow for them to lead, innovate, and build. This is why Camelback Ventures exists today,” said Aaron T. Walker, Camelback Ventures CEO and Founder. “We believe and trust that entrepreneurs of color and women have solutions to their own problems and now more than ever, we have a responsibility to invest in their genius in order to ensure a post-pandemic equitable recovery.”
A little more about how we roll. Camelback Ventures identifies local leaders with promising ideas, and assists them to enact change within their communities through an intentional blend of coaching, capital, connections, community, and curriculum. Over 90% of Camelback’s founders identify as people of color and 60% as women. Fellows receive up to $40,000 in unrestricted funding from Camelback to support their ventures. This year’s 15-week fellowship kicks off in August and will remain fully virtual due to the pandemic.
Okay, okay. Without further interruption, meet the Camelback 2021 Fellows...
2021 Camelback Fellows
Education
Fellows are listed alphabetically by venture name, and share details as provided by leaders. Education Fellows may be nonprofits, for-profits, hybrids, or schools.
Jakita Thomas - Pharaoh’s Conclave
Atlanta, GA - Hybrid - https://www.pcxnow.com
Pharaoh's Conclave prepares K-16 youth for eSports careers through its online learning platform, eSports league (YeL) and an apprenticeship program. Similar to professional sports, there are a range of careers in the competitive $150 billion video gaming industry.
Jakita on Why Camelback? “I want to be a Camelback Fellow to be a part of a community of other founders of color who are trying to leverage entrepreneurship as a vehicle and a catalyst for social justice and for change.”
Jonathan Santos Silva - The Liber Institute
Rapid City, SD - For Profit - https://theliberinstitute.org/
The Liber Institute emboldens and equips Indigenous young people, families, and educators to lead in the transformation of schools and communities.
Jonathan on Why Camelback? “I’ve been working on this venture for two years and I want to take it to the next level through Camelback’s curriculum, capital, and community supports.”
Joyelle Naomi- Denver Independent School
Denver, CO - Nonprofit- https://www.denverindependentschool.org/
Denver Independent School is a liberated education space that functions as a “broker of equity,” connecting families with resource-rich communities, programming and experiences that leverage agency in home-based education.
Joyelle on Why Camelback? “I can’t believe there’s something out there that exists with me in mind to help me take this idea that I have, that I believe so passionately in, cultivate it and strength me as a leader. This fellowship will provide the resources and support I need to build a school with a foundation that will last and empower Black homeschooling families to succeed.”
Lisa María Rhodes - ALAS
New Orleans + Baton Rouge, LA - Nonprofit - https://freealas.org/
ALAS creates educational access for and with immigrant and court impacted youth, primarily by training educators with trauma-informed supports and approaches to remove barriers to constitutional rights by doing two things: advocating for arrested students by writing mitigation letters to criminal court judges, and connecting undocumented students with pro bono or low bono legal representation.
Lisa on Why Camelback? “When Camelback’s mission talks about making generational wealth accessible for everyone that means you want to be affiliated with ALAS. I would like to learn about maximizing Board engagement and best hiring practices through the fellowship.”
Marshall Pollard - The Creative School
Washington, DC - Nonprofit - https://thecreative.school/
The Creative School empowers aspiring school board members and engaged citizens with the knowledge, skills, and network to drive systemic change.
Marshall on Why Camelback? Network building and community. “I believe in and actively leverage the power of networks. The work of The Creative School is to equip a generation of young people to disrupt what they’ve inherited, the systems they’ve inherited, and to design new ones. The work is dangerous it’s not about what you know but who you know.”
Shawon Jackson - Vocal Justice
Standord, CA - Nonprofit - https://www.vocaljustice.org/
Vocal Justice empowers undervalued Black and Brown youth to become socially conscious leaders through a culturally affirming public speaking program.
Shawon on Why Camelback? “I had the opportunity to meet [former Camelback fellows] Ashley Edwards from MindRight, Will Jackson from Village of Wisdom, Myron Long from Social Justice School and every time I had a conversation with them I walked away thinking: ‘If I can be around people like this all the time that would bring me a lot of joy and inspiration to my work.”
Conscious Tech
Fellows are listed alphabetically by venture name, and share details as provided by leaders. Conscious Tech Fellows may be nonprofits, for-profits, or hybrids.
Beverly Leon - Local Civics
New York, NY - For profit - https://www.localcivics.io/
Local Civics enables students and educators to build civic engagement and community leadership skills through game-based learning.
Beverly on Why Camelback? “I love the organization’s mission focused on the American Dream in making it accessible to everyone. For me that lever of entrepreneurship hasn’t been more clear in how I can use my own resources, passions, talents and gifts to give back to the community.”
D’Seanté Parks - 1000 More
New York, NY - For Profit - https://www.1000more.com/
1000 MORE is an app that eliminates barriers to civic participation and harnesses collective power, not only once every two or four years when most people vote, but year-round.
D’Seanté on Why Camelback? “Having a space with accountability partners, structure, and support is exactly what I’m looking for and it seems that’s what Camelback does. I think your mission is very aligned with the way I choose to live my life.”
Devshi Mehrotra - Justice Text
Irvine, CA - For Profit - www.justicetext.com
JusticeText is an audiovisual evidence management platform designed to produce fairer, more expedited outcomes for indigent criminal defendants by expediting the review of body camera footage, interrogation videos, jail calls, and other crucial discovery.
Devshi on Why Camelback? “The fact that past Camelback Fellows like Brandon Anderson from Raheem have done such an incredible job of leveraging the capital and resources that there are within the technology and innovation ecosystem and redirecting those to issues that are so regularly overlooked is inspiring.”
Gabriella Wong - accesSOS
San Francisco, CA - Nonprofit - https://accessos.io/
accesSOS makes emergency help accessible by providing a free mobile web app to help anyone communicate with 911 - from people with disabilities, to those who cannot communicate in English.
Gabriella on Why Camelback? “I want to be a Camelback Fellow because my vision for the world is a place where people who feel left out, to bring them in, show them that they belong, show them that they matter, and that they are a part of our community. I believe that some of the best solutions that come out in the world come from listening to people who are very different from me with diverse viewpoints and that’s what I’m hoping to get from the Camelback family.”
Jaime-Jin Lewis - Wiggle Room
New York, NY - For Profit - https://www.wiggleroomnow.com/
Care Finder by Wiggle Room is where parents book as-needed childcare with daycares in their community.
Jaime-Jin on Why Camelback? “I’m facing so many tough decisions every day on how to grow the business model as things are changing so quickly. I need resources: capital and being part of a community of other driven, socially minded entrepreneurs who are in my position, and who I can learn and grow with.”
“When I look at our incoming 2021 Fellows I am reminded of the generations before us. I am reminded of their genius that lifted our communities but the opportunity to expand their impact had its limitations. Our 2021 fellows are rewriting this script and are breaking down barriers so that their work aims to promote wealth for future generations within BIPOC communities,” said Karolina Villagrana, Camelback Fellowship, Senior Lead of Education. “It is an honor to be a partner on our fellows journey and I look forward to seeing how they will continue to challenge what it means to be an entrepreneur.”
Since our inception, Camelback Ventures has provided more than $4-million of seed funding to emerging entrepreneurs across the country. The 2021 Camelback Fellowship is supported by generous support from the Carnegie Corporation of New York, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Philanthropies, Kenan Charitable Trust, Margulf Foundation, and Walton Family Foundation.
You can learn more about the Camelback Ventures’ Fellowship and meet past fellows. Interested in joining our 2022 fellowship cohort? Fill out our interest form today!