.
On a typical Saturday at the Renwick Galley one can view some of the most exciting exhibits on works which play with the mind. After the gallery closes a new world of opportunity emerges. One Fall Saturday Atlas Corps held its 10th Anniversary Gala, an event to commemorate the progress that the organization has made in furthering its mission of providing the skills and knowledge necessary for fellows to develop into leaders that can address social issues back in their home country. Atlas Corps has its fellows placed in a 12-18-month non-profit professional fellowship which gives them the needed training. After completion of the program fellows return to their home country and work for at least a year in the nonprofit sector, thus giving them the ability to share the best practices to enact change and empower others to join the network of global change makers.
Abby Robinson, who has been a part of Atlas corps since 2008 when starting out as a virtual volunteer, spoke to Diplomatic Courier on the progress that the organization has made since its founding. Abby met founder Scott Beale at an Entrepreneurship conference before Atlas Corps had officially launched. Later, in May of 2008 Abby started reading applications when she got the opportunity to serve in Bogota Columbia; she then applied to the program and got accepted as a Class II Alum. Since 2010 Abby has gone on to become the Chief Development and Engagement Officer for Atlas Corps.
Atlas Corps’ core belief is that talent exists throughout the world, opportunity however, does not. Given the challenge of addressing the need to train those who want to implement change in their communities there is no one program nor partnership that can address the range of issues around the world. Atlas Corps addresses this plurality of beliefs by placing Fellows at organizations that are just as diverse as their respective interests within the non-profit sphere.
Multiple partnerships, ranging from governments like Colombia and Australia, to other non-profits such as the Peace Corps have made it possible for Atlas Corps and its fellows to make the changes they wish to address. The partnership with Colombia is the most notable, as it was the first country to have a direct partnership with placing and training Atlas Fellows. With a roster of 500+ fellows from 79 countries, including Cuba and Syria, both geographical and skill diversity are a cornerstone of Atlas Corps’ mission to break down barriers.
This year’s Gala is a major milestone for the organization, as it is the first time for this style of event for the nonprofit. Just five years ago Atlas corps 5th year was held on a U Street bar. Over the coming years expect a significant expansion of Atlas Corps. The current goal is to soon engage around 100 fellows a year, double the size from its current class of 50. Atlas Corps is also in the process of launching a domestic expansion program outside of major U.S. cities and looking for additional partnerships to further enhance the tools for its fellows. 2016 also saw the introduction of the pilot franchise program for the Foundation for Young Australians, an organization which looks to continue the Atlas Corps mission
Abby’s personal motto is Make it big!, which is appropriate when applied to a non-profit such as Atlas Corps: it’s all about where you are at and what one makes of it, regardless of if it is with a big or small organization, with the right tools anyone can make a difference.
Editor’s Note: Atlas Corps is a Thought Partner for Diplomatic Courier’s World in 2050 Event Series.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
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Ready to Serve at the Renwick: Atlas Corps Turns 10
December 8, 2016
On a typical Saturday at the Renwick Galley one can view some of the most exciting exhibits on works which play with the mind. After the gallery closes a new world of opportunity emerges. One Fall Saturday Atlas Corps held its 10th Anniversary Gala, an event to commemorate the progress that the organization has made in furthering its mission of providing the skills and knowledge necessary for fellows to develop into leaders that can address social issues back in their home country. Atlas Corps has its fellows placed in a 12-18-month non-profit professional fellowship which gives them the needed training. After completion of the program fellows return to their home country and work for at least a year in the nonprofit sector, thus giving them the ability to share the best practices to enact change and empower others to join the network of global change makers.
Abby Robinson, who has been a part of Atlas corps since 2008 when starting out as a virtual volunteer, spoke to Diplomatic Courier on the progress that the organization has made since its founding. Abby met founder Scott Beale at an Entrepreneurship conference before Atlas Corps had officially launched. Later, in May of 2008 Abby started reading applications when she got the opportunity to serve in Bogota Columbia; she then applied to the program and got accepted as a Class II Alum. Since 2010 Abby has gone on to become the Chief Development and Engagement Officer for Atlas Corps.
Atlas Corps’ core belief is that talent exists throughout the world, opportunity however, does not. Given the challenge of addressing the need to train those who want to implement change in their communities there is no one program nor partnership that can address the range of issues around the world. Atlas Corps addresses this plurality of beliefs by placing Fellows at organizations that are just as diverse as their respective interests within the non-profit sphere.
Multiple partnerships, ranging from governments like Colombia and Australia, to other non-profits such as the Peace Corps have made it possible for Atlas Corps and its fellows to make the changes they wish to address. The partnership with Colombia is the most notable, as it was the first country to have a direct partnership with placing and training Atlas Fellows. With a roster of 500+ fellows from 79 countries, including Cuba and Syria, both geographical and skill diversity are a cornerstone of Atlas Corps’ mission to break down barriers.
This year’s Gala is a major milestone for the organization, as it is the first time for this style of event for the nonprofit. Just five years ago Atlas corps 5th year was held on a U Street bar. Over the coming years expect a significant expansion of Atlas Corps. The current goal is to soon engage around 100 fellows a year, double the size from its current class of 50. Atlas Corps is also in the process of launching a domestic expansion program outside of major U.S. cities and looking for additional partnerships to further enhance the tools for its fellows. 2016 also saw the introduction of the pilot franchise program for the Foundation for Young Australians, an organization which looks to continue the Atlas Corps mission
Abby’s personal motto is Make it big!, which is appropriate when applied to a non-profit such as Atlas Corps: it’s all about where you are at and what one makes of it, regardless of if it is with a big or small organization, with the right tools anyone can make a difference.
Editor’s Note: Atlas Corps is a Thought Partner for Diplomatic Courier’s World in 2050 Event Series.
The views presented in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily represent the views of any other organization.
