Announcing the 2015 Barr Fellows

Following my arrival in May, one of the very first activities I instigated was to gather with small groups of alumni of the Barr Fellowship, to share meals together in neighborhoods throughout Boston. Through these wide-ranging and engaging conversations, I came to learn what an extraordinary group of leaders Barr had identified and supported, and what a powerful experience the Barr Fellowship had provided to them. I also understood the sense of community the Fellowship had created for these dedicated and effective leaders. And that's what excites me about our announcement today.

Four times since 2005, Barr has named a class of twelve fellows, making a long-term commitment to each of them and facilitating their connections with one other. In its first ten years, the Barr Fellowship has established a rich legacy of impact in Boston and beyond. For those unfamiliar with the Barr Fellowship, I invite you to read more about it.

In my most recent President’s message, I introduced Barr’s core values, including our commitment “to invest in effective, visionary, and collaborative leaders, who motivate others, drive change, and produce results.” In that context, we couldn't be more pleased to introduce the 2015 Class of Barr Fellows:

• Sandra Lopez Burke, vice president & executive director, City Year Boston, City Year
  
• Carole Charnow, president & CEO, Boston Children’s Museum
• Emmett Folgert, executive director, Dorchester Youth Collaborative
  
• Jesús Gerena, director, Family Independence Initiative-Boston, Family Independence Initiative
  
• Bob Giannino, chief executive officer, uAspire
  
• Miguel Gómez-Ibáñez, president, North Bennet Street School
  
• Tiffany Cooper Gueye, chief executive officer, BELL (Building Educated Leaders for Life)
  
• Chrystal Kornegay*, president & CEO, Urban Edge
  
• Diana Lam, head of school, Conservatory Lab Charter School
  
• Arthur Pearson, president & CEO, Thompson Island Outward Bound Education Center
  
• Nam Pham*, executive director, Vietnamese American Initiative for Development
  
• Wayne Ysaguirre, president & CEO, Nurtury
  

These Fellows were selected for their outstanding contribution to our community and their potential to drive positive change for years to come. To read their bios and learn more about their inspiring work, please visit our Barr Fellows page.

As we launch this fifth class of Barr Fellows, we are also engaged in a retrospective assessment of this decade-long investment in leadership. Consistent with planning that will occur across Barr in 2015, we be reflecting upon the Fellowship’s contributions and determining how best to shape its next chapter for continued impact. We look forward to sharing more about that next year.

For now, please join me in congratulating an extraordinary group of leaders. We are excited to welcome them as Barr Fellows.

*Following this announcement, Chrystal Kornegay and Nam Pham were both appointed to leadership roles in the new administration of Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker. As a result, they are not able to participate in the Barr Fellowship. Obviously, Barr is not alone in recognizing Nam’s and Chrystal’s extraordinary leadership. We are grateful for their contributions to Boston and for their willingness to rise to new levels of leadership and service. –JC

Updated January 13, 2015