The Zag

2020 NLC LA Fellows Michael Deegan-McCree and Sean Angst join The Zag to discuss the lynching of Ahmaud Arbery in Georgia earlier this year. We talk about the history of lynching, what white people must do to move beyond allyship, and how we begin to undo racist policies like Stand Your Ground.

Cairo Eubanks, NLC Broward County 2020 Fellow, recently competed in her first pageant in March and was crowned Miss Broward County 2020 as a Miss America Local Titleholder. A big part of the reason she decided to compete was to become more engaged within her community especially after being surrounded by likeminded progressive leaders within her NLC Cohort. Hear her story on this latest episode of...

New Leaders Council Board Chair Emeritus Chris Kelly joins The Zag to talk about the probability of the NBA season resuming and what Facebook is doing to support relief efforts during COVID (and keep out bunk medical science). Plus, parenting in COVID times. Don't miss it.

As Executive Director of Sakhi for South Asian Women, Kavita Mehra, NLC New Jersey 2013 Fellow, is on the frontlines ensuring that domestic violence survivors’ basic needs are met during this unstable moment. The fallout from COVID-19 disproportionately affects Sakhi's clients who are overwhelmingly immigrant women of color with little to no income—and if employed, often in hourly wage work in ser...

Through the Community Foundation for the Greater Capital Region, Jonathan Richardson, NLC Capital District NY 2016 Fellow, launched the Capital Region Community COVID-19 Response Fund in partnership with our local United Way to rapidly deploy financial resources to nonprofits on the frontlines of the pandemic. Behind the scenes, Jonathan created the grant application infrastructure online to make...

Marlin Jenkins, NLC Maryland 2016 Fellow, a member of the Maryland National Guard, has been activated to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. As a Lieutenant Colonel, he is a senior logistics officer in charge of acquiring and distributing PPE to Soldiers conducting COVID-19 screening sites and distributing meals throughout Maryland. When not on military duty, as the community liaison to Delegate...

Hernán Carvente Martinez, NLC NYC 2016 Fellow, is working with leaders across the U.S. through the #FreeOurYouth to demand that governors in all 50 states release youth from juvenile facilities to protect incarcerated children against COVID-19. Don't miss this important and inspiring episode.

Founding NLC San Antonio Board Member Andrew Solano joins The Zag for Mental Health Awareness Month. In COVID times as much as any time, he reminds us it's incredibly important to prioritize your mental wellbeing and push through any stigmas one may have about seeking out help. Inspiring stuff. Don't miss it.

Craig Montuori, NLC Silicon Valley 2016 Fellow, is on the leadership team of the C19 Coalition, which is bringing crucial partners together to help build an efficient, unified supply chain for PPE and lifesaving medical devices. He walks us through this vital enterprise and also shares details of his actual day job. Don't miss it.

2020 NLC South TX Frontera Fellow Amanda Dave joins The Zag to talk healthcare services and support in Brownsville, TX. Plus, we learn what it was like to be in the inaugural class of NLC Fellows for the STX Frontera chapter. Don't miss it.

2019 NLC SF Fellow Shrina Kurani joins The Zag to talk about leveraging the best of tech to help with COVID realities. Plus, she shares strategies for engaging South Asian communities as we head toward the November election.

Krissy Gutierrez, NLC San Antonio 2019 Fellow, created a Little Free Pantry to provide household items to her neighbors. Similar to a Little Free Library, the pantry works on an honor system, where neighbors can take or leave canned food, supplies and personal care products. Hear more about this project as well as the power of NLC on latest episode of The Zag.

Enjoy our final episode for #TeacherAppreciationWeek with 2020 NLC Austin Fellow Tiffanie Harrison. We chat about staying connected to her high school students and their upcoming commencement plans. Plus, why NLC is worth considering in 2021.

#TeacherAppreciationWeek continues with 2019 NYC Fellow Milan Reed joining The Zag to talk about teaching kindergarten and what it's like working for the NYC DOE. Plus, she makes a plug for joining NLC in 2021. Don't miss it.

2019 NLC Tampa Bay Fellow Keto Nord joins The Zag for #TeacherAppreciationWeek to share his story about supporting students during COVID 19 times. He also shared his insights as a digital organizer and the power of 10 second commutes via Zoom for an elected. Check it out.

2017 NLC LA Fellow Wade Dean joins us from Georgia to talk about Ahmaud Arbery's lynching and trying to turn fear into hope. We also discuss the future of higher education in a COVID world and what he pictures his dissertation defense at UCLA later this fall will be like. Don't miss this episode.

#TeacherAppreciationWeek continues with a new Zag episode featuring our favorite 2013 NLC LA alum and high school English teacher Kelly Maloney. He recounts how he got a head start on Zoom teaching, his students providing needed support in tough times, and what a reimagined school schedule could look like. Don't miss it.

More great guests for our #TeacherAppreciationWeek series. 2009 NLC San Francisco Fellow Leora Wolf-Prusan joins The Zag to talk about her work researching trauma in schools and what we can do about it. Plus, her favorite teacher ever.

2019 NLC LA Fellow and former middle school teacher Steven Almazan joins The Zag as we celebrate #TeacherAppreciationWeek. We swap stories of teacher gifts, discuss educational equity in COVID times, and what type of food Washington, DC is really missing. Don't miss it.

We're celebrating #TeacherAppreciationWeek on The Zag. We caught up with 2020 NLC Los Angeles Fellow Michelle Sanchez to hear about her work supporting students and families during the lockdown as well as how valuable unions and traditional schools will be moving forward. Plus, her favorite teachers of all time.

Don't miss this episode of The Zag featuring the work of Dr. S. Atyia Martin, 2015 NLC Boston Fellow. She shares how her nonprofit, Next Leadership Development Corporation, is synthesizing resources in Boston into a searchable, regularly updated tool for Black residents who are disproportionately bearing the economic and health burdens of COVID-19 in Boston (MA is now has the third highest numbers...

2017 NLC Atlanta Fellow YT Bell joins The Zag to share insights on how she's serving her community outside of Atlanta on the local city council.

2020 NLC Detroit Fellow Shadora Ford works for the City of Detroit Mayor's office and has spearheaded efforts to deliver sanitation products and floor decals for social distancing to grocery stores, gas stations and local essential business open during this time. Tune in to hear more details about her work.

2017 NLC New York Fellow and incoming Chapter Co-Director Emily Santos returns to The Zag for a spirited conversation about her new roommates (mice) and hunting for bears (stuffed animal ones). Don't miss it.

Pearl Gabel, NLC New Jersey 2020 Fellow, serves as the State of New Jersey's digital director, ensuring New Jersey residents and workers receive COVID-19 state updates in real time on multi social media platforms. We caught up with to get advice on managing comms. in COVID and how to find trusted resources for news and information.