Last week in New York City, the Education Pioneers (EP) community came together for the EP Impact Exchange, an evening filled with big ideas, meaningful conversation, and the energy of a room buzzing with new and old connections among Alumni, partners, and friends.
EP Alumnus Michael S. Fletcher II (2014, 2015), Chief Talent and Equity Officer at Coney Island Prep, emceed the event and noted the power of gatherings like this one. “We have to create space intentionally to build community in this work,” he shared. “If we create that space, it becomes the engine to drive our collective vision.”
He also spoke to the role EP has played in his leadership journey, reflecting, “EP is the reason I get to sit in the seat that I’m in.”
Tarik Ward (2010 Alumnus), Chief Operating Officer at Harlem Children’s Zone, built on that theme by sharing how EP shaped his own path: “EP serves as a really important inflection point in my journey. I entered business school as an engineer, but EP gave me the opportunity to pivot and think differently about impact.”
Tarik’s story reflects what EP has helped make possible across Greater New York City for nearly two decades: leaders finding new pathways to impact, more than 800 Fellows placed with over 145 organizations, and a regional Alumni network now 600 strong.
Ross Anderson, EP’s Chief Program Officer, spoke to why that leadership matters, especially in a city where the challenges facing students are bigger than any one classroom, school, or organization. As he reminded the room, “When talented, committed leaders come together in service of students, better outcomes become possible.”
He shared two examples of what that looks like in practice: At Uncommon Schools, Daniel Gennaoui (2010 Alumnus), Chief of Staff to the Co-CEO, helped identify a previously undiagnosed need for a full-day pre-K program in Crown Heights. The community responded in a way that confirmed the need: more than 1,200 applications were received for a handful of spots.
Victoria Bredt (2014 Alumna), Senior Strategy Portfolio Director at the Fund for NYC Public Schools, is helping strengthen student literacy across the city, with early efforts already producing double-digit gains in the South Bronx. EP Impact Fellows helped support the operational backbone behind that work in 2023. Read the story here.
Together, these stories offered a clear reminder: lasting change depends on the people prepared to lead it.
Alumni leaders on our Greater NYC Alumni Board
As Lisa Friscia (2017 Alumna), President and Founder of Franca Consulting, reminded us, investing in the work itself is a given, but we also must invest equally in the people making that work possible.
You can support the people who make this work possible by making a gift to EP, hosting a Fellow at your own organization, or connecting EP to a potential partner. To speak with us about hosting a Fellow, email [email protected].
This month, all Alumni campaign gifts will be matched up to $35,000, doubling the impact of your support.
Special thanks to our speakers and to the members of our Greater NYC Alumni Board for their partnership and support in making this gathering possible.
Photos: Phoebe Wong