On August 12-13, 2007, the 26 diverse men and women of the Generation Change Class of 2007 gathered in Washington, DC for a capstone reunion meeting and graduation reception to reflect and celebrate their summer long internship placement at various community organizations in New York, Washington, DC; Tennessee, and North Carolina.
The Generation Change interns convened for a reunion meeting facilitated by Gerald Taylor (IAF affiliated organizer) and shared their experiences. Each intern shared personal insights gained from their own work experience, and the reunion also included developmental workshops. Paul Getsos, former Executive Director of Community Voices Heard and co-author of Tools for Radical Democracy: How to Organize for Power in Your Community, led a workshop on reviewing the practical elements of organizing and enacting strategic campaigns. Additional sessions included a panel discussion, "Truth in Advertising: Real Life As An Organizer" with panelists Leigh Dingerson (Center for Community Change), Sarita Gupta (Jobs With Justice), and Coleman Milling (Washington Interfaith Network).
The gathering ended with an exciting graduation reception attended by over 100 guests. Leaders in the progressive movement, including Anton Gunn, South Carolina Political Director for Obama for America and Anna Lefer, Program Officer for Open Society Institute, spoke about the importance of getting more young people involved in politics and community organizing as a key strategy for social change. Representatives from organizations attending included the United States Student Association, Neighborhood Funders Group, Unite Here, Generational Alliance, Posse Scholars, People for the American Way, National Jobs with Justice, and the Gay and Lesbian Taskforce. The reception was a wonderful way to end as attendees enjoyed the open bar, fabulous hors d'oeuvres and meeting the Generation Change 2007 Interns!
Our featured speakers included:
Anton Gunn
South Carolina Political Director
Obama for America
Anton J. Gunn is currently the South Carolina Political Director of the Obama for America Presidential Campaign and a founding member of the Generation Change Advisory Committee. He is on leave from the position of Executive Director of South Carolina Fair Share, a nonpartisan, statewide membership organization made up of low income, moderate income and everyday South Carolinians. Mr. Gunn is a frequent commentator and advisor to community groups on politics and social issues including weekly guest appearances on the WIS-TV program "Awareness". He also serves as a guest lecturer and speaker at Benedict College, Columbia College and the University of South Carolina. Currently, Mr. Gunn serves as board member on the SC Association of Nonprofit Organizations and Grassroots Leadership. He is a past board member for the Lifting New Voices Project of the Center for Community Change, the Youth Empowerment Project of the Southern Regional Council & Southern Center for Studies in Public Policy, and the National Association of Social Workers, South Carolina Chapter. Gunn holds a B.A in History (1994) and a Master of Social Work (2001) from the University of South Carolina where he played Division I college football.
Anna Lefer
Program Officer
Open Society Institute
Anna Lefer oversees OSI's strategic grantmaking focused on developing progressive youth activism and leadership. The initiative seeks to build infrastructure that enables campus-based and community-based youth to lead social-change work and to build power. She is also a founding member of the Generation Change Advisory Committee. From 1998 to 2005, Lefer coordinated OSI's Youth Media Program, which provided low-income youth with opportunities to affect public debate and to develop critical thinking and communication skills. Prior to her tenure at OSI, Lefer was the after-school coordinator at Rosie and Harry's Place, a homeless shelter in East Harlem. She worked for the NYC Public Advocate Mark Green, studied documentary radio production at the Duke Center for Documentary Studies, and worked at Ramapo for Kids, a residential program for emotionally disabled youth in the child welfare system. Lefer was a member of the 2004-2005 class of Coro Leadership New York, and is currently on the board of directors of the Urban Justice Center and the League of Young Voters. Lefer earned a B.A. in Sociology from Wesleyan University. A lifelong New Yorker, Lefer moved to Washington, DC in 2005 and is focused on improving her driving skills.
