ALLENTOWN, PA – November 10, 2016 – The Rider-Pool Foundation has announced the third class in its intensive, nine-month Fellowship program that trains and equips non-profit leaders to meet the community needs of a rapidly developing downtown Allentown.

The Collective Impact Fellowship Program was created in 2014 to effectively address and measurably improve complex quality of life challenges within neighborhoods surrounding the downtown Neighborhood Improvement Zone (NIZ) through a new system of non-profit leadership.

It brings together local leaders representing a diverse range of community-focused issue areas. It increases effectiveness by encouraging collaboration amongst organizations, provides tools for meaningful collaboration, and creates win-win strategies driven by a comprehensive approach to community development.

The following leaders have been selected to participate in the third Fellowship class:

• Becky A. Bradley, Executive Director, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission

• Shannon Calluori, Director of Planning, Department of Community and Economic Development, City of Allentown

• Beth A. Careyva, Physician, Family Medicine, Lehigh Valley Health Network

• Christi Dominguez, Executive Director, Valley Against Sex Trafficking (VAST)

• Radhika Hoshing, Director, Grace Montessori School

• Helen Julia, Project Manager, Children’s Hospital, Lehigh Valley Health Network

• The Rev. Larry D. Pickens, Ecumenical Director, Lehigh Conference of Churches

• MaryAnn Przekurat, Executive Director, The Literacy Center

• Lori Sywensky, Executive Director, Turning Point of Lehigh Valley

• Brett Williamson, Director, Adult and Pediatric Psychiatry, Lehigh Valley Health Network

The Fellows receive approximately 180 hours of training now through June 2017 from a faculty of national experts. Topics will include in-depth knowledge and application of collective impact strategies; effective project design and evaluation; and leadership skills for broad-based collaboration.

The Rider-Pool Foundation’s intent is to serve as a means to improve the quality of life in the community, to build on the community’s strengths and add to its vitality, and to increase the capacity of the community to serve the needs of all its citizens. The Trustees of The Foundation have carried forth Dorothy Rider Pool’s wishes and are particularly sensitive to her interests in education, disadvantaged children and the development of future leadership in our society. http://rider.pooltrust.org