Michael Rubinger Community Fellowship Selects Three Rural Leaders for 2019

The Rubinger Community Fellowship invests in exceptionally talented leaders with an entrepreneurial spirit and deep ties to their communities. Each of LISC’s 2019 fellows has shown a unique commitment to the community development field. 

Of the nine 2019 fellows, three serve America’s rural areas working with three Rural LISC partner organizations:

• Lahela Williams hails from Hawaiian Community Assets in Honolulu.  Her project involves research into succession planning/leadership for nonprofit Pacific Islander organizations and community development corporations, and developing a guide to facilitate planning.
• Juanita Woods works with NOVA Workforce Institute of Northeast Louisiana in Monroe, LA.  She plans to develop an apprenticeship and life-skills training program to address economic and social factors that disrupt the lives of youth in Northeast Louisiana.
• Javier Zapata-Rodriguez is employed by PathStone Corporation in Ponce, Puerto Rico.  His fellowship project will survey the disaster response to Hurricane María, assembling data and stories that will become part of a documentary to help better inform efforts in the future.

“We are thrilled to have three stellar rural leaders in this cohort,” said Suzanne Anarde, LISC Vice President and Rural LISC Director.  “Each of the rural participants brings a unique, diverse perspective.  We are excited to see the outcomes.”

For a full profile of each rural fellow, please see:
Lahela Williams
Juanita Woods
Javier E. Zapata-Rodriguez.

LISC awarded $40,000 to each fellow to support a project that addresses critical challenges in rural and urban America — from economic development and financial literacy to affordable housing and community engagement. Their overarching goal is to develop innovative solutions that improve the quality of life for people and places, and connect them to the broader economy.

2019 class of Rubinger fellows, including three serving rural America: Javier Zapata-Rodriguez (standing, left), Lahela Williams (third from right), and Juanita Woods (standing, right).

“This is a remarkable group of innovators and thought-leaders,” said Maurice A. Jones, LISC president and CEO. “We want to give them the chance to explore creative ideas for impact in their own communities, while fueling economic opportunity across the country and developing as leaders in their fields.”

The Rubinger Fellowship program was launched in 2017 in honor of Michael Rubinger, LISC’s long-time CEO, who was passionate about lifting up community leaders throughout his 40-year career. (Read more about the impact of the first cohort of fellows here.)

“All of us in community development stand on the shoulders of local leaders,” said Rubinger, who stepped down from LISC in 2016. “When we nurture them, we expand the nation’s capacity to create jobs, build housing, improve health and fuel cohesive communities. I’m so proud to be associated with this important program and these remarkable fellows.”

For more information on the LISC Rubinger Community Fellowship and the 2019 cohort of fellows, please visit Rubinger Community Fellowship.