The 2026 MAP Fellowship

Challenge Statement: Create compelling, concise messaging to convey Advance Pathways’ vision, potential, and impact.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will develop an updated website and print content, a marketing/PR plan, and an online engagement strategy with recommended tools and guides.

Deliverables Overview: Updated content, strategic marketing plan, and detailed online strategy.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in communications, social media, web design, and nonprofit marketing.

Mentor: Jim Goebelbecker is the Executive Director of Advance Pathways, with over 25 years of leadership experience as a nonprofit CEO and entrepreneur. He holds a Ph.D. in organizational development and is an executive coach and facilitator.

Challenge Statement: Create the strategy and systems for an ambassador program to grow Adventure Scientists’ reach, volunteer base, and impact.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will analyze ambassador programs from outdoor and conservation sectors, outline resource needs, design a recruitment strategy, develop onboarding and retention workflows, and propose website integration.

Deliverables Overview: Comparison summary of ambassador models, recruiting strategy, resource plan, onboarding process flow, and a website integration proposal.

Fellow Qualifications: Marketing experience with brand or influencer management; creative problem-solving; and passion for conservation and the outdoors.

Mentor: Nathan Trappe has nearly 20 years of experience at the intersection of business, outdoor adventure, and conservation. As Head of Programs at Adventure Scientists, he leads the design, operations, and marketing of domestic and international projects. Nathan is pursuing a Ph.D. in recreation and conservation and has held leadership roles in product, marketing, and operations.

Challenge Statement: Assess the long-term economic and social impact of EforAll’s programs on job creation, wealth generation, and community resilience in Massachusetts from 2010–2024.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will create a theory of change, collect and analyze data, and synthesize findings into an initial impact report with a roadmap for deeper study.

Deliverables Overview: Research framework, theory of change, preliminary findings, and roadmap for a full impact study.

Fellow Qualifications: Research experience; data analysis skills; and strong communication abilities.

Mentor: Meralis Hood is President & CEO of EforAll, a nonprofit accelerating economic and social impact through inclusive entrepreneurship. A former City Year Market President and veteran educator, she is committed to equity, mental health advocacy, and community leadership. She holds degrees from Marquette University, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, and National Louis University.

Challenge Statement: Identify best practices and create a space for fostering strong youth–adult partnerships at HealthMPowers that leverage lived experience, creativity, and vitality across generations.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will analyze leading youth programs to assess how they incorporate youth–adult partnerships, identify barriers and facilitators, and develop effective data collection methods. They will synthesize findings into actionable insights and design a convening to explore strategies for strengthening these partnerships.

Deliverables Overview: A comprehensive report with analysis and strategies, plus four proposed workshop topics for the convening.

Fellow Qualifications: Research experience; ability to blend creativity with analytical thinking; and a passion for youth leadership and cross-generational collaboration.

Mentor: Sequoya Howard is the Director of Youth Strategy at HealthMPowers, where she leads initiatives such as Girls Empowering Movement and the HealthMPowers Youth Advisory Board. With deep experience in public health program development, youth engagement, and strategic planning, she has designed programs that increase physical activity and leadership opportunities for young people across Georgia. Sequoya is a passionate advocate for youth leadership, cross-generational partnerships, and community health.

Challenge Statement: Design the Spark Lab Alumni Network for Homegrown Pathways to sustain engagement, connect rural innovators, and support program growth.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will design a model for ongoing engagement among Spark Lab alumni, recommend tools to host the network, and develop strategies to connect youth entrepreneurs to resources and opportunities.

Deliverables Overview: Strategic plan outlining program design and tactical next steps.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in program and ecosystem design, youth engagement, rural community connection, and platform/tool evaluation; strong communication and project management skills.

Mentor: Colin Lacy is the founder and CEO of Homegrown Pathways. He has led social entrepreneurship efforts in education and workforce development for over 15 years. He co-founded MakerUSA, directed Makers + Mentors Network, and has been recognized among the Top 100 Entrepreneurs and Innovators. He holds degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder and Harvard Kennedy School.

Challenge Statement: Design a framework to expand participation in Jane Goodall Institute’s archival efforts through structured volunteer roles while maintaining archival integrity.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will research peer institutions with volunteer-supported archives, define meaningful roles, create draft role descriptions, develop onboarding and training materials, and propose systems for task management and quality control. Stakeholder feedback will be incorporated into a final, practical framework.

Deliverables Overview: A documented framework, role descriptions, training outline, onboarding materials, task management proposal, and guidelines for archival standards.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in archives, information management, or museum studies; strong writing and systems-thinking skills; and commitment to ethical stewardship.

Mentor: Shawn Sweeney is Associate Vice President of Communications & Partnerships at the Jane Goodall Institute, where he supports global teams in advancing ethical storytelling and knowledge sharing. Since joining JGI in 2007, he has led media projects, brand storytelling, and merchandise programs while developing systems for cross-continental collaboration. Shawn holds a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s in psychology, specializing in conservation psychology and animal behavior.

Challenge Statement: Deepen Just Value’s understanding of the barriers marginalized homeowners face in maintaining and upgrading their homes to maximize value.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will conduct 3–5 in-depth homeowner interviews in 1–2 target cities (e.g., Boston, LA, or others) to understand housing concerns, desired improvements, and challenges in finding contractors, pricing, and financing. The project will explore trends across demographics and geographies and provide actionable insights for future pilots.

Deliverables Overview: A report detailing the interview process, participant demographics, key findings, and recommendations for standardizing interviews into a survey for future use.

Fellow Qualifications: Strong interpersonal skills to build trust across diverse communities; analytical mindset; interest in safe housing and wealth building; and ideally, a network in target cities.

Mentor: Charu Singh is the CEO and Founder of Just Value Inc., which uses AI-powered analytics and equitable lending to combat systemic undervaluation of homes in communities of color and help BIPOC homeowners build wealth fairly. Previously, she was Managing Director of Portfolio Management at Emergent Capital Partners, scaling its Southeast Asia business from start-up to an institutional platform. Charu also served as Assistant Vice President at the NYC Economic Development Corporation and worked in the nonprofit sector advancing environmental justice and equitable food systems. She holds a B.A. in Political Science and International Development from McGill University and dual master’s degrees in Real Estate Development and City Planning from MIT.

Challenge Statement: Recommend and pilot ways to incorporate AI into MIT Solve’s workstreams to increase global impact and operational effectiveness.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will identify priority areas for AI adoption, research and test tools, create an implementation plan, and share Solve’s approach with the philanthropic sector.

Deliverables Overview: Priority AI use list, tool recommendations, possible implementation, and a knowledge-sharing article.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience with AI tools; strong analytical and communication skills; and passion for tech for social good.

Mentor: Pooja Wagh is Director of Operations & Impact at MIT Solve, where she has been a founding team member for over eight years. She has two decades of experience in international development, program evaluation, and data analysis, and holds degrees from MIT and Harvard Kennedy School.

Challenge Statement: Develop the scope and cost estimates for adding a scenario planning feature to the Bicycle Network Analysis tool at PeopleForBikes.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will research comparable scenario planning tools, assess integration options for the current codebase, evaluate computing and scalability needs, conduct stakeholder interviews, and prepare an RFP for contractors.

Deliverables Overview: Comparative matrix, technical reports, cost estimates, stakeholder synthesis, and an RFP document.

Fellow Qualifications: Technical background with software or GIS tools; strong analytical and writing skills; and interest in infrastructure planning.

Mentor: Grace Stonecipher is the Infrastructure Analytics & Research Manager at PeopleForBikes, where she manages mapping and analysis tools, translating data into actionable insights for cycling infrastructure improvement. With a background in spatial technologies for conservation, she holds an MSc in Environmental Observation and Informatics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a B.A. from Yale University.

Challenge Statement: Develop a media and thought leadership strategy positioning SIRUM as a national voice on prescription drug affordability.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will analyze peer organizations, conduct expert interviews, and develop a strategy with goals, messaging, audiences, tactics, and metrics, along with a content and event calendar.

Deliverables Overview: Competitive analysis report, media strategy deck, content calendar, sample op-eds, and event calendar.

Fellow Qualifications: Marketing and communications expertise, strong writing skills, strategic thinking, organizational ability, and interest in healthcare policy.

Mentor: Jen Chin is the Chief of Staff, Impact, at SIRUM, bringing over 15 years in marketing, fundraising, and strategy for social good. She has worked with organizations such as Google and Education Pioneers, and is a graduate of Stanford University.

Challenge Statement: Launch a youth-focused media campaign and engagement framework for UL Research Institutes – Office of Research Experiences & Education’s Youth Advisory Council to increase understanding of safety science.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will develop and execute a campaign to introduce the YAC and OREE to youth stakeholders, produce and edit video interviews with YAC members, and create a long-term engagement framework to foster sustained participation.

Deliverables Overview: Introductory video production, curated video series, engagement framework, and a final implementation report.

Fellow Qualifications: Digital content production skills; program management experience; and ability to conduct insightful interviews.

Mentor: Nyla McFadden is the Director of Education Programs at UL Research Institutes’ Office of Research Experiences & Education. A former secondary educator and nonprofit leader, she specializes in instructional design grounded in Critical Literacy. Nyla holds degrees from Johnson C. Smith University and Wake Forest University, as well as National Board Certification in Adolescent and Young Adult Literature.

Challenge Statement: Develop a strategic plan to maximize mission-aligned earned revenue from Zora’s House’s café, space rentals, and retreats.

Scope Overview: The Fellow will conduct stakeholder interviews, assess operations and finances, benchmark peer models, and design a strategic plan with restorative pricing, marketing, and capacity recommendations. They will also create an implementation roadmap and toolkit of templates and resources.

Deliverables Overview: Strategic plan, implementation roadmap, toolkit, and final presentation.

Fellow Qualifications: Experience in revenue development for mission-driven organizations; understanding of equity-centered business models; and strong analytical and planning skills.

Mentor: Liz Gordon-Canlas is the Managing Director of Zora’s House, a community space in Columbus, Ohio, for women and gender-expansive people of color. With a decade in higher education and leadership in advocacy, Liz is a champion for equity, inclusion, and restorative economic practices.