A Reflection From Coro Fellow Quincy Johnston
We’re proud to have hosted Quincy Johnston, a fellow through the CORO Fellowship program, over the past several months. Quincy’s invaluable work on our communications and operations teams has helped set us on a path for an improved digital presence this new year. Her insights and dedication are a true testament to the power of collaboration—and we couldn’t be happier to have CORO as part of our journey.
Hello everyone! My name is Quincy Johnston and I had the privilege of being a fellow at the Citizens Committee for New York City over the last month and a half. I am originally from Sacramento, California and solidified my title of valley girl by graduating with a politics degree from Scripps College in Los Angeles, with a specific focus on labor organizing and political economics. My current role as a Coro Leadership Public Affairs Fellow, brought me to CitizensNYC. The fellowship includes completing five placements across New York City in the sectors of city government, labor unions, non-profits, business, and an independently chosen organization - with CitizensNYC as my non-profit leg.
At CitizensNYC, I was entrusted with finding a vendor for a full website redesign and creating a landscape analysis of microgrant programs in New York. I enjoyed the creative process of searching through website designs to find what connected with the CitizensNYC’s misson. This project, combined with the indepth research required for the landscape analysis gave me time to understand the remarkable uniqueness of the CitizensNYC model. I spent days immersing myself in the massive grantmaking scene of the city, putting together a design and language vision that could communicate the hardwork of the staff, community leaders, and grantee partners at the organization.
I’ve worked with nonprofits for almost eight years now, and have built who I am as a working professional and community leader in these spaces. It is easy to slip into routines and high level administrative conversation when you are immersed in this world. The staff at CitizensNYC challenge this notion everyday, their work completely rooted in the community members they serve. A conversation did not go by without the wants and needs of grantee partners not just mentioned, but centered. This is the lesson that I will take most with me as I leave my short, but impactful time at CitizensNYC. As I leave to start a career in purpose driven service, I am confident this experience will act as a reminder of my why.
I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to work alongside the dedicated, hilarious, and compassionate staff team at CitizensNYC. A place that truly understands my ideal learning environment, one where I laugh as much as I grow. I have to thank my talented mentor Isi Kirshner-Breen, and the rest of the wonderful team Nick, Sage, Abril, Carlos, José, Allison, Julie, Sarah, Carolyn, and Michael.