“Being part of the change is important”: RESULTS Fellows come together to advocate for a better future
In early July, a group of several dozen RESULTS Fellows gathered in Washington, D.C. for the RESULTS Fellowship Conference. The Fellowship is a cohort of RESULTS volunteer advocates who are emerging leaders in our network. They came with a mission: build relationships with Congress and each other. A challenging political climate would not stop their determination to protect and grow anti-poverty programs.
At the Conference, they engage in skill-building and bonding activities. They also meet with their members of Congress. This year’s Conference featured special visitors — other volunteer advocates from the Mid-Atlantic and Capitol regions. They joined the Fellows for two days of the event to provide community support.
Fellow Brandon Bond (Ann Arbor, Michigan) shared: “Our generation has grown up navigating one crisis after another, many of which could’ve been prevented. But through intergenerational connection and collective courage, we can choose a different path. Being a RESULTS Fellow reminded me that people are neither powerless nor inadequate. This work is not just about resistance, it’s about reclaiming our agency, rest, and humanity. Together, we can design a future rooted in dignity, care, and possibility.”
Fellow Vanya Gupta (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, seen above in center) shared Brandon’s sense of hope and said she has found the Fellowship transformative. “The Fellowship allowed me to find my voice and be equipped with the proper tools to be a voice for change for communities that need it.
“The Fellowship gives me community and hope for a better future. That gave me a lot of optimism moving forward that I’m not the only one in this—there are so many people from my generation who want to do this. I hope we see a better future for everyone, not just us, but also generations to come.”
Fellow Jenna Fliesen (Spokane, Washington) has learned to harness her energy into advocacy work in a more targeted way. “I’ve been able to gain skills and hone those skills through this experience. I’ve learned so much about specific techniques to get my point across.
“As someone who came from a background in poverty when I was younger, I saw my mom work hard to climb out of that. The system, the ladder, is broken. Being part of the change is important.”
The Fellows met with congressional offices across Capitol Hill throughout the final day of the conference. Many were accompanied by local advocates. Together, they asked Congress to protect U.S. food aid like the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and housing assistance like Section 8. They also called for robust funding for lifesaving global health programs. During the Fellowship Conference, the House of Representatives was deep into its annual funding debate. Funding for efforts like global vaccines and infectious disease services is in the balance.
Later that week, a key House committee voted to fully fund (and in some cases increase resources) for RESULTS global health priorities. The White House asked to halve if not zero-out funding for these programs. Congress heard advocates and Fellows—and acted. It’s not final, but it is a promising and important step.
Emily Bird (Charlotte, North Carolina) is a former Fellow and current RESULTS group leader. She said that taking action together is an antidote to hard times. “In times where things look gloomy or there’s not much hope, it’s great to be able to use your voice and really take action to try to make a difference.
“It’s amazing to see all these emerging leaders. I was discussing with a Fellow earlier today that this is their first time in D.C. ever. Seeing that spark in their eyes and remembering my first time here as a Fellow is exciting. It’s really empowering to see this up-and-coming group of leaders taking a stand for something that they care about so passionately.”