ANNUAL REPORT 2023
Fellows take center stage in our story, working toward positive change across an interdisciplinary, global landscape. Their commitment makes our vision of an equitable and regenerative future possible.
Take a look at some of our incredible Fellows from 2023 below.
DIVE INTO THE STORIES
Our Fellows are Global Changemakers Creating a Regenerative and Equitable Future
Committed to prioritizing voters and reshaping the landscape of American governance.
Nick Troiano, the dedicated Executive Director of Unite America, stands at the forefront of a movement committed to prioritizing voters and reshaping the landscape of American governance. Nick leads Unite America with a bold vision of creating a more representative and functional government through innovative electoral reform.
As highlighted on his Unite America profile and LinkedIn, Nick's journey is marked by a passion for fostering positive political change. His personal website, nicktroiano.com, provides insights into his advocacy for a more inclusive democracy.
Nick's commitment to the cause is evident in his writings, including The Primary Solution, a book that delves into rescuing democracy from the fringes. He shares his perspectives on platforms like C-SPAN and The Atlantic, contributing to the discourse on improving the electoral system and bridging political divides.
A respected figure, Nick's voice resonates in interviews and articles, such as those on Forbes and MSNBC. His dedication extends to multimedia platforms, evident in his C-SPAN appearances and Fox News features.
Nick Troiano, a driving force behind Unite America, exemplifies leadership in the pursuit of a more inclusive and responsive democracy. His journey, advocacy, and influence shape a vision where voters come first, setting the stage for transformative change in American governance.
To learn more, visit www.uniteamerica.org.
Mission
Unite America is a movement of Democrats, Republicans, and independents working to put voters first by fostering a more representative and functional government. We invest in campaigns to enact reforms and elect candidates so that the right leaders have the right incentives to solve our country's greatest problems.
Program Objectives
Nick joined the fellowship with a clear goal of spreading awareness for what he calls “The Primary Problem,” and gaining further bi-partisan support for a wave of state-by-state electoral reform that has the potential to create a truly representative democracy in the US.
Program Highlights
Nick began his fellowship with a focus on clarifying his messaging and gaining some traction on Summit stages and at intimate luncheon events. At his first Summit flagship, he introduced the Summit community to the power and potential of rank choice voting, through a dynamic participatory game and a mainstage keynote you can view here:
Coming Up Soon
As we gear up for the final months of the fellowship, we’re squarely focused on supporting Nick’s book launch and release of a full-length documentary!
Lookout for Nick’s talk at Summit at Sea 2024, sign up to follow their efforts below, and join Unite America in this critical election year so we can create a better future together:
Revolutionizing the landscape of civic engagement.
Tatenda Musapatike, the visionary Founder and CEO of the Voter Formation Project based in Washington, DC, is revolutionizing the landscape of civic engagement. With an unwavering commitment to increasing participation in elections, Tatenda leverages innovative digital marketing strategies to register and mobilize new and infrequent voters of color.
As highlighted in her LinkedIn profile and Emerson Collective biography, Tatenda brings a wealth of experience and passion to her role. Her leadership at the Voter Formation Project is reshaping the dynamics of voter mobilization, focusing on empowering communities often underrepresented in the political process.
Tatenda's influence extends beyond the organization, as seen in her profile on The Org and recognition in The Disruptive Quarterly. She is not just changing voter mobilization; she is redefining the narrative of democracy.
Her commitment to amplifying voices is evident in podcast appearances and features like TechCrunch. Tatenda is a catalyst for change, bringing voter registration into the digital age and making it more accessible than ever before.
Tatenda Musapatike's work at the Voter Formation Project, as highlighted on Cause IQ, showcases the intersection of technology, activism, and civic responsibility. Her innovative approach is not only transforming the political landscape but also inspiring a new generation to embrace their role in shaping the future of democracy.
To learn more, visit https://www.voterformationproject.or
Mission
The Voter Formation Project is dedicated to increasing participation in local, state, & national elections through digital communication, experimentation, & knowledge sharing. VFP fills a significant gap as the sole digital-only, Black-led organization to focus on year-round, ongoing pro-civic engagement messaging to communities of color. This sustained messaging is key to bringing new voters of color into the electorate and works to push back on the disinformation campaigns that are often targeted at these communities.
Program Objectives
With big plans to scale her reach, Tatenda began the fellowship aiming to increase the foundation of support that will allow VFP to grow. From board management to refining her brand storytelling strategy to expanding her funding pipelines for greater stability, Tatenda is focused on creating a sustainable organization with a healthy culture and the capacity to change the landscape of civic engagement.
Program Highlights
During her fellowship years Tatenda has demonstrated remarkable organizational leadership and commitment, finding solutions to continue her work in a challenging funding cycle. Using our Summit Impact Board Structure & Governance 101 Guide as well as connections to experts in our Summit network, Tatenda has made large strides in crafting a thorough and effective board management system, and building the kind of support needed for her leadership and the growth of VFP.
Coming Up Soon
To kickoff 2024, we are facilitating a Creative Brainstorm with key leaders from the Summit Community to support Tatenda and her team on inclusive and culturally relevant design. Lookout for more storytelling coming your way soon!
Leading a mission to bridge the gaps in today's polarized media landscape.
Isaac Saul, the visionary Founder of Tangle, is on a mission to bridge the gaps in today's polarized media landscape. With a commitment to building a media company that resonates across political spectrums, Isaac has created Tangle as a platform where diverse views converge. His approach is centered on trust, bringing together voices from the right, left, and middle, exposing readers to a broad spectrum of perspectives daily.
Isaac's journey, as outlined on his LinkedIn profile and Wikipedia page, reflects his dedication to reshaping the way we consume news. Tangle, featured on Substack, is not just a newsletter; it's a movement towards a more informed and connected society.
As a thought leader, Isaac extends his influence through podcasts and The Progress Network, where he engages in high-level conversations. Forbes recognizes Isaac's impact, featuring him in their profile.
Isaac's commitment to fostering understanding is evident in events like the High Court Chat in Philly and Tangle Live. His transparency about media bias and dedication to clarity, highlighted in Equal Rights Institute, underscores his commitment to creating a more informed and engaged society.
Tangle, as portrayed on their website, is not just a news source; it's a movement led by Isaac Saul, reimagining political news and fostering a space where diverse opinions thrive.
Learn more at https://www.readtangle.com
Mission
Tangle’s mission is to build a news outlet that is trusted by millions of readers from across the political spectrum and that helps get Americans out of their political bubbles.
Program Objectives
Isaac has been steadily growing Tangle from a passion project into a full-fledged business, with tens and thousands of subscribers reading his trademark political newsletter that includes “what the right is saying,” “what the left is saying,” and Isaac’s take. Isaac joined the fellowship with hopes to expand his audience, enhance his business model, and ignite a new live-event strategy.
Program Highlights
With support from strategic introductions made to experts in growth, marketing, social media and customer acquisition, Isaac has been refining his growth strategy and expanding his team. In his time in the fellowship, Isaac has largely expanded Tangle’s subscription base, developed new advertising revenue stream, and launched their YouTube channel. Additionally, he launched the very first Tangle Live! Event in Philadelphia in August, drawing on Summit event support and guidance.
See the highlight reel here:
Isaac also hosted Summit Fellow Nick Troiano on his podcast, tune in here for the episode:
Coming Up Soon
Isaac is bringing Tangle Live! To NYC this April! Stay tuned for tickets and sign up to follow Tangle News today:
The creative who almost never was: from life in prison to an inspiring leader, producer, and storyteller.
Artie Gonzales, the visionary founder of Lessons from a Lifer, is transforming lives by bridging narratives to create connection and shared humanity. His extraordinary journey, documented in various media, reflects a powerful story of redemption, resilience, and the transformative impact of embracing one's humanity.
Artie's platform, including insightful talks like this one, serves as a catalyst for change. Through Lessons from a Lifer, Artie brings profound insights and perspectives from his own life, transcending the boundaries of incarceration to become a beacon of hope..
As showcased on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Artie's impact reverberates in discussions on emotional wellness, the importance of recognizing the humanity of incarcerated individuals, and the adventure of isolation.
His story extends beyond personal growth. Artie is the author of a children's book, emphasizing the lessons learned in life that are universal. His advocacy work, such as From Inmate to Emotional Wellness Children's Book Writer, underscores the transformative power of storytelling.
Artie Gonzales is not just a former inmate; he's a force for change. His collaboration with OMG Culture and features in esteemed publications like the Los Angeles Times highlight the broader impact of his work.
Whether it's through podcasts or the warmth of one-on-one connection, Artie Gonzales is shaping a narrative of hope, resilience, and the profound capacity for transformation. His story serves as a testament to the enduring power of the human spirit.
To learn more, visit https://www.artiegonzales.com
Mission
"Lessons from a Lifer" is a multimedia platform led by Artie Gonzales, leveraging personal experiences within the prison system to shift public perceptions of incarceration. Through storytelling and educational outreach, it advocates for a compassionate approach to incarceration, emphasizing second chances and personal transformation. The multimedia initiative, including a book, video podcast series, and a short film, aims to foster empathy and understanding through universal themes of forgiveness, love, and compassion.
Program Objectives
Artie enthusiastically joined Summit Impact with a clear mission — to amplify the impact of his personal narrative, detailing his experiences of being incarcerated as a minor and sentenced to life in prison. His goal was to share his story in meaningful spaces and foster connections with individuals and organizations dedicated to criminal justice reform.
Program Highlights
Over the course of the fellowship, Artie made his debut on Summit stages speaking in front of hundreds of Summiters at flagship events. Thanks to connections from Summiters, he made his way to new stages and events, sharing his profound message of hope and transformation. He secured funding for his pilot episode on Forgiveness, and produced the inspiring episode on Forgiveness that you can watch here.
Leading systems-change and supporting revolutionary leaders, all from love.
Cristine Soto DeBerry, the Founder and Executive Director of The Prosecutor's Alliance in San Francisco, CA, stands as a formidable force in reshaping California's criminal justice system. Her commitment to reforming the broken justice system through smart, safe, and modern solutions is both unwavering and inspiring.
As detailed on The Prosecutor's Alliance website, Cristine's mission revolves around advancing public safety, upholding human dignity, and enhancing community well-being. Her legal expertise, showcased through her California Bar Association profile, has positioned her as a key player in advocating for transformative change.
In a compelling Dr. Phil interview, Cristine articulates the urgent need for reformative justice, capturing the essence of her visionary approach. Collaborations with progressive district attorneys are highlighted in her efforts, such as those detailed in KQED News and San Francisco Chronicle.
Cristine's impact extends to the YouTube platform, where she discusses critical issues surrounding criminal justice reform. Her leadership role in navigating challenges and pushbacks is explored in a feature on Impact Justice.
Through her continuous advocacy and involvement in initiatives like the Select Committee on Retail Theft, Cristine Soto DeBerry is not only reshaping California's criminal justice landscape but also paving the way for a more just, equitable, and humane legal system.
Mission
"At the Prosecutors Alliance we dedicate ourselves to finding solutions to harm and violence that are rooted in love and peace because we believe that creates a virtuous cycle - one that catapults us further towards the kind of communities we want to live in."
The Prosecutors Alliance is a California-based organization committed to reshaping the criminal justice system. Their mission is to champion fair, equitable, and accountable prosecution practices, advocating for policies that place emphasis on public safety, rehabilitation, and community well-being. By prioritizing collaborative initiatives, fostering partnerships among prosecutors, communities, and other stakeholders, they are driving substantial criminal justice reforms making impacts nation-wide. Their approach involves implementing intelligent, secure, and modern solutions that not only enhance public safety but also uphold human dignity and community well-being.
Program Objectives
Cristine embarked on her Summit Impact fellowship journey with a clear vision — to advance the mission of the Prosecutors Alliance (PA) to transform California’s criminal justice system. Her multifaceted project objectives combined a strategic approach to storytelling and organizational growth: she wanted support establishing a compelling storytelling framework, initiating targeted efforts to engage and secure support from individual donors, and developing structured plans for growth.
Program Highlights
Cristine and Artie collaborated in both storytelling and on-the-ground operations, leading to phenomenal outcomes. At their first Summit flagship event, they combined forces for this powerful session:
And in the past year they’ve collaborated on 5 complex and exceptional prison visit activations, bringing over 100 District Attorneys who will be in positions of power and decision-making into prisons to gain new perspectives and imagine new, compassionate and love-based possibilities for the future.
Building a Better LA.
Through the vision and leadership of Summit Impact Criminal Justice Fellows, Pete White and Mike De La Rocha, a new project called EcoHood looks to build a better Los Angeles, with a sustainable and innovative approach to combating homelessness.
Pete White, Founder & Co-Director LA CAN in Los Angeles, CA, stands as a stalwart advocate for reforming California's criminal justice system. As the founder and co-executive director of the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN), Pete has been a tireless grassroots organizer since 1992, championing the human right to housing, health, and security in Los Angeles.
Mike de la Rocha, the founder of Revolve Impact, continues to drive transformative change in California's criminal justice landscape and in social justice issues nationwide. Through Mike’s dedicated leadership, Revolve Impact has built up an impressive track record of shifting narratives, amplifying movements, and creating powerful change.
Together, Mike and Pete work to amplify the Ecohood initiative created by Pete White and the LA CAN team, and to decriminalize poverty through innovative housing solutions in Los Angeles. Los Angeles’ homeless population increased by 14% over last year, with tents and makeshift dwellings clogging sidewalks. Billions in government funds have been allocated towards costly, inefficient public-private partnership housing deals that take years to complete.
From Pete and Mike’s perspective, “Housing is not a commodity. Housing is a human right. It is a public good,” and the city needs a new alternative that utilizes the government’s vast inventory of vacant or underutilized public and private properties.
The EcoHood development is creating a template for a new housing paradigm. Combining prefabricated, modular-built small-footprint residences with solar power and other energy performance features, LA CAN’s EcoHood pilot project will feature twelve 275 to 325 square foot fully-equipped 1BR and 2BR units. This complex with include an organic gardening space, fostering a relaxing sense of community, and enabling residents to pursue educational and employment opportunities.
According to Pete and Mike, what makes the EcoHood model unique is a faster, more affordable solution, with an average price per unit of $85,000; a more dignified home design, in contrast to the tiny home, pallet shelters projects designed for disaster relief; and a longer term solution, filling the gap between temporary housing solutions and permanent supportive housing.
Adding to the efficiencies, the EcoHood neighborhood will be located on donated land and will not rely on public resources, with funding for the innovative $4 million project coming from individual and foundation giving and events.
Mission
Dynamic powerhouse duo Mike de la Rocha and Pete White unite with a bold mission: to decriminalize poverty and combat public health crises by reshaping the housing landscape in Los Angeles, CA. Their vision advocates for a cultural shift towards prioritizing care, well-being, and housing over punitive measures and incarceration.
Their advocacy centers on addressing the escalating homelessness crisis and establishing supportive environments, exemplified by the EcoHoods initiative under the Los Angeles Community Action Network (LA CAN), founded by Pete White. EcoHoods aims to provide stable, affordable, and environmentally sustainable housing solutions for vulnerable community members.
Program Objectives
Mike and Pete set out to lead the movement for sustainable, affordable housing in LA, with the Ecohood model that is more effective and remarkably less expensive than any current government funded alternative. Their objective was to increase awareness of the Ecohood model, and to spark conversations about the power of community-led solutions.
Program Highlights
Working together with Summit Impact, Mike and Pete hosted a CJ Lab LA Action Day, held at LA CAN near Skid Row. The Action Day featured interactive sessions, activations, a food distribution activity, and uplifting musical performances.
Pete also promoted the Ecohood model on the Summit mainstage, joining Susan Magsamen in conversation about designing for community:
The Solution is Social: The Neuroscience of Community, Home, and Wellbeing.
Pete White, founder of the homeless advocacy nonprofit LA CAN, shows off architectural drawings for the housing project he’s working to build on donated land between Imperial Highway and the 105 Freeway. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times)
Is there a market solution to L.A. homeless housing?
White raised $250,000 from Black Lives Matter and crowd-sourcing, and commissioned an architectural plan that arranged 11 free-standing structures in the blade portion of the lot, leaving room for a community garden on the handle — an amenity that will be open to anyone in the neighborhood.
“We wanted to erase this idea that this land can’t be used and these plans don’t pencil out,” White said. “We wanted to show what a project could cost when we kept the city as far away from it as possible.”
Our Origin
Pilots. Pivots. People. The story of Summit Impact.
This is the story of Summit Impact. A story of community. A story of shared humanity.
We’d like to remind you where we started, what we’ve learned, and how we got to where we are today.
The story of Summit Impact starts way before it became a nonprofit organization, when a group of visionaries had an idea for a community where people could openly explore new ideas through meaningful connections.
The determination of Summit’s founders[1] (along with their belief that anything is possible) helped them bring leaders together from all parts of the globe — entrepreneurs, academics, athletes, artists, astronauts, authors, chefs, engineers, painters, explorers, philanthropists, singers, spiritual leaders, scientists, and beyond.
After 10 years of Summit, the Fellowship Program was born, thanks in large part to the efforts of Gabe Quintela, Kevin Vilken and Jeff Rosenthal and our incredible founding partners who took a bet on the possibilities of this community. The group of inaugural fellows was nothing if not bright-eyed and hopeful. Each one brought a fresh perspective on important global issues to the Summit community. Each fellow imagined positive, critical solutions that change the way we live our lives.
Each Fellow brought heart, passion, and talent to the evolving Summit ecosystem, and contributed to a more dynamic and vibrant community with a fuller representation of lived experiences.
Moreover, the Summit Fellows opened a new door for Summit community members to step into action, and a new chapter deeply aligned with the community’s core values to Make No Small Plans. The fellows program was a doorway into a world where climate change is solved, racial justice is accomplished, queer equality is realized, gender equity is a reality, disability rights are prioritized, coral reefs are regrown, children are saved from trafficking, food waste is a thing of the past, homelessness is eradicated, economic opportunity for the poor and underserved is abundant.
All of this came with a unique set of challenges.
How was Summit going to continue fostering a global community, producing talks, hosting performances, centering wellness, highlighting arts and food, and add programs to support the Fellows and truly center social impact?
Shira Abramowitz, formerly VP of Programming on the Summit Series team, had been leading various impact initiatives, programs, and collaborations over the years, and dreaming of launching an innovative impact arm of Summit Series.
Simultaneously Emma Cappiello had been dreaming of what the Fellows program could become, while stewarding the programming for the most recent cohort. They began exploring how the Fellows program could become a doorway to a new, dedicated platform for impact in the Summit ecosystem.
In the height of the pandemic, in June of 2020, the global reflective pause provided a profound opportunity. Through a series of brainstorms, topical conversations, Zooms, budget planning sessions, called-in favors, and most of all, discussions about how to balance the abundance of Summit with the needs in the world and the possibilities of amplifying the work of Summit Fellows, we successfully launched a new nonprofit to lead us to a new future.
Summit Impact’s roots are ancient. It's born out of the idea that community is all we need. Our work draws on the collective wisdom of every heart in the community. When we gather, something magical happens: we unveil our common story. We illuminate opportunities for collaboration. We connect across lines of differences that span the spectrum of political ideology, faith traditions, and many other lived experiences. We discuss our feelings and experiences. We collectively determine what we need in order to thrive.
Our greatest strength is in our Fellows, the heartbeat of all that we do. We see an opportunity to channel the power of the Summit community into sustainable, positive, global impact by surrounding our fellows with every conceivable resource we can. Summit Impact is now 3 years old, and we’re just getting started.
The continued success of Summit Impact requires innovation, patience, and a central focus on the fellows we support.
We hope you’ll continue to be a part of our work. And if you’re new, we welcome you. We can’t do this without you. We are incredibly excited to dream and create the future together.
2023 Reflections from our Executive Director
To our dear Summit Impact community and friends,
As we wrap up 2023, we’re writing this report from a place of both tremendous hope and tremendous heartbreak. The turmoil and devastation in the Middle East, directly and indirectly affecting so many in our community, is a very present part of our Summit Impact reality. It’s a very present part of my personal reality, too.
Perhaps one of the best ways to see the depth of our Summit Impact community is through the messages that I have witnessed exchanged in these times - the care and kindness expressed across identities, nationalities, and faiths, the optimism and shared humanity that we are unwilling to let go of, even in the face of such dire circumstances.
Messages checking in, saying “I know this is awful and hard and I’m so sorry for what we are all living through,” sent back and forth between people experiencing brutal grief and loss on different “sides”. Messages of openness when views are questioned with genuine curiosity, and willingness to explore together. Messages of hope for the day after, for a future of peace, one that we know we all want to play a part in building.
We are a community that doesn’t give up on each other, even as we stand for what we believe in, even as we share uncomfortable truths with the world and with each other. Even when we sit in conflicting zones or contexts, with polarized media streams, inundated with ever-flattening rhetoric and dehumanization in all directions.
None of us are perfect, we’re all figuring this out. But the beauty of Summit Impact has always been the community of changemakers that have found ourselves connected through this organization and its predecessor programs. Somehow, in these impossible times, we have the great fortune to be learning how to be bold and compassionate, together.
Together, we stand for humanity. For the value of every single human life. For an end to war and an end to the misuse of power at the detriment of thousands of innocent lives. We stand in mourning of the lives lost, in witness to the traumatic stories, in utter heartbreak at the suffering we are living through right now.
We stand as those who remain hopeful, who believe in a positive future. We know we can do better than this. We hold the light close to our hearts and the vision of a better, brighter world. We show up everyday to build that future, and to support each other in doing the same.
And this is what makes our work of cultivating relationships and community powerful. Because we all know and believe in this one central truth: the only way forward is together.
Summit Impact is a dream of a world where relationships are deeply valued, and propel us forward to be the very best versions of ourselves, the very best leaders we can be. We are cultivating a network of deeply woven, caring relationships between multidisciplinary leaders who feel invested in each others’ wellbeing and nurtured by ongoing mutual support.
As we look back on our first three years in this report, we are amazed by what we’ve all built together with open-hearts and commitment to the impact of community. And, we are still early in making our dream a reality.
I am so very proud of what we’ve accomplished this past year. In 2023 we’ve laid the foundation for long term growth, refining our program models and solidifying our operational backbone with some exceptional new hires. We’ve developed a strong team, put in place new leadership positions, and grown our capacity internally. We’ve also piloted and refined our Impact Labs model, dreamed up a new vision for our alumni program, and pivoted our community dinners and virtual events structure.
But more than anything, as I look back on this past year, I’m so incredibly moved by the people who are part of building this dream - our team, Fellows, alumni, partners, board members, community members at-large. I hope that as you read this report, you also get a sense of just how special each individual is, and the remarkable potential we hold as a community.
The future is ours to build, ours to believe in.
The possibilities are endless, even now.
And the only way forward is together.
With gratitude & commitment,
Shira Abramowitz
Our five-step model is designed to facilitate system-level change, by focusing on strategic selection of exceptionally talented leaders.
MAP
We work collaboratively with scientists to develop contextual maps of the field in focus.
IDENTIFY
We identify remarkable entrepreneurs working on upstream challenges.
GATHER
We gather various stakeholders for events that center the Fellows, and invite each person to see their place in the collective effort for a better future.
ACTIVATE
We activate connections through 1:1 introductions, facilitated group brainstorms, and relationship tracking.
AMPLIFY
We amplify stories of standout projects and collaborations in the community, featured in Summit Impact media, newsletters, and end of year reports.
Partner Organizations
PS: What’s Up with the Summit Impact Flamingo?
It is said that flamingos, symbols of love and commitment, are so magnificent that they can stop the sun from shining. Flamingos gather in wetlands to raise their families and socialize, but when the seasons change, they take flight in unimaginable numbers seeking more favorable lands. In one of the largest migratory movements in the world, the flocks are sometimes large enough to block the sun.
The Summit Impact flamingo reflects our commitment to positive global impact and loving dedication to community. When the seasons of life are unfavorable for the underserved, broken, and forgotten, Summit Impact Fellows rise to the occasion, leading us to change environments, ecosystems, and entire cultures so that everyone is more at home in the world. When our community gathers, we can even outshine the sun.