by Kira Dorvil, with contributions from Rylee Burke and Chrisal Valencia
A note from Kira: I would like to salute my fellow Fellows for their commitment, compassion, and creativity demonstrated in our first couple of months together. We’ve jumped in virtually, working across timezones in unison to create a vision for an engaged alumni community, all while learning as we go. It has been incredibly exciting thus far, and I am truly honored to be part of an amazing team of emerging leaders.
Public Allies Alumni are a growing legacy of movers, organizers, community builders, healers, artists, and trailblazers that span generations. Alumni leadership has made the world a more beautiful and just place. One, ten, or even thirty years may have passed since they’ve served, and at the national level we’re embarking on new projects to learn more about their unique journeys.
The Public Allies Alumni Engagement and Mobilization team recently brought on seven Fellows from across the Public Allies network to support new and upcoming alumni-centered projects. As the Alumni Success Fellows, we’re the first currently serving group of Allies to be placed at the national level, solely dedicated to our alumni. Our focus is to meet alumni where they’re at, to grow the resources they want and need, to witness how they’re living Public Allies’ core values, and to uplift their stories.
In the coming months alumni can expect to hear more from me and the team. Want to reach out to us now? Send us a message at alumni@publicallies.org. (Note that this is a shared inbox managed and viewed by the entire Alumni Engagement & Mobilization team.) In the meantime, get to know our amazing fellows below!
Meet Kira
First Year Ally
Serving out of Brooklyn, New York
Pronouns: She/Her
Hobbies: Arts & crafts, nature walks
My name is Kira Dorvil and I lead narrative projects with the team. In my freetime, I like going for walks and meditating at the park. I find that it helps to balance out all of the energies I encounter on a daily basis. I also enjoy painting in my room, it’s very relaxing!
Meet Je’Men
Second Year Ally
Serving out of New Orleans, Louisiana
Pronouns: He/Him
Hobbies: Reading, writing
My name is Je’Men Daniels, and I lead our alumni outreach campaign with Rylee on the team. In my free time I love to read and write. I also enjoy learning about subjects like math, science, medieval history, and esoterica. I also love listening to music.
Meet Rylee
First Year Ally
Serving out of Cincinnati, Ohio
Pronouns: She/Her
Hobbies: Backpacking, foraging
My name is Rylee Burke, and I lead our alumni outreach campaign with Je’Men on the team. I fancy myself as an outdoorswoman, and I make frequent trips to the scenic Red River gorge. I enjoy foraging for edible fruits and mushrooms.
Meet Jocelyn
First Year Ally
Serving out of Cincinnati, Ohio
Pronouns: She/Her
Hobbies: Reading, listening to music
My name is Jocelyn and I lead database projects with Irving on the team. In my free time I love to spend time with my daughter. I enjoy helping her learn and watching her grow. I love the work that we are doing for the Alumni and hope that we are able to make a positive impact on their continued development!
Meet Irving
First year of service
Serving out of Brooklyn, New York
Pronouns: He/Him
Hobbies: Music, martial arts, tech
Hello my name is Irving Mitchell and I lead database projects with Jocelyn on the team. I am also currently a computer science major at CUNY with a passion for humanitarian effort and justice. I chose to serve with Public Allies because it is the marriage of both of my interests towards the more global community.
Meet Sierra
Second Year Ally
Serving out of Miami, Florida
Pronouns: She/Her
Hobbies: Resin art, music
Hey guys! My name is Sierra and I lead on partnership projects on the team. I spend my free time being creative or performing. I love art & music, and have been writing music and poetry since I was 7 years old. I rap and have performed poetry & spoken word in Jupiter, the Wynwood Art District, at grassroots festivals and more. I love the way we can connect through painting or with lyrics to songs. Music is a way for me to be heard when I feel like nobody’s listening and believe music makes you feel even when you don’t want to.
Meet Brayden
Second Year Ally
Serving out of Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Pronouns: He/Him
Stay tuned for more from Brayden!