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  Characterized by a shared commitment to public service, these Fellows have distinct ethnic and socio-economic perspectives, and unique interests. They have lived across the country and around the world, committed themselves to different causes and worked towards the resolution of issues facing our society today. The following is a summary of the experience they bring to Coro.

Kristina Alagar
Hometown: Moreno Valley, CA
University of California

Kristina Joy Alagar graduated from the University of California, Riverside as a double major in Sociology and Ethnic Studies in the year 2001 and served in her senior year as president of the undergraduate student government. Kristina has a deep commitment to giving back to her community evidenced by her work as a student organizer on state and nationwide campaigns to her role as a youth outreach program coordinator. Ms. Alagar plans on continuing her education and obtaining her Master's degree in Public Policy and possibly pursuing a doctorate.

Leila Berkeley
Hometown: Baltimore, MD
Georgetown University

Leila Berkeley recently graduated from Georgetown University with a B.A. in Government. In college she tutored youth on probation, led a pre-orientation community service program and assisted in a nursing home. She has interned with her congressman, Stand For Children (a non-profit organization for children and families), and a Senate campaign. Leila spent her junior year in Senegal where she worked for a sustainable urban development project. She rowed with the Georgetown Varsity Crew and looks forward to rowing on Pittsburgh's rivers. Leila hopes to pursue a career in community development.

Elizabeth Blumenthal
Hometown: Denver, CO
Duke University

Elizabeth Blumenthal is originally from Denver, Colorado, and graduated this past May from Duke University with a B.A. in economics. She became interested in the nonprofit network during a summer internship with a nonprofit clinic in Denver. While at Duke she participated within the dance department, tutored ESL children and taught ballet to children in Durham. She spent a semester studying and dancing in Santiago, Chile, and recently returned from a short adventure throughout East Asia. Elizabeth enjoys all forms of dancing, running, biking and traveling. She is currently applying to medical schools.

Matthew Borden
Hometown: New York, NY
Wesleyan University

While at Wesleyan University, Matthew Borden acted as a tutor and mentor to children in the local community. During his junior year he traveled abroad to study in Cape Town, South Africa. In Cape Town he entered local townships, teaching children in an aftercare program as well as working for a local organization that taught sustainable farming techniques. After graduating from college, Matthew worked at a Harlem-based nonprofit substance abuse and HIV treatment/ prevention center. In the future Matthew wants to work on increasing access to power and increasing the financial strength of disenfranchised communities.

Brent Cohen
Hometown: New York, NY
University of Albany

Brent Cohen, a native of Middletown, NY, holds a B.A. in Political Science from The State University of New York at Albany, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude and was selected to the Phi Beta Kappa Society. During his undergraduate years, Brent worked in both state and federal government as intern and legislative assistant in the office of New York State Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver as well as for the Permanent Sub-Committee on Investigations in the United States Senate under Senator Carl Levin of Michigan. Since graduation, Brent has been working for the private law firm of Lewis & Anderson, P.C. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. His future plans include obtaining both a law degree and a Masters degree in Public Policy and Management. He will begin his legal studies next fall at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Upon completion of his graduate work, Brent looks forward to a long career in public service.

Gabriel Cohen
Hometown: Silver Spring, MD
University of Maryland

Gabriel Cohen has spent the past few years pursuing a variety of interests. In high school, he spent a year working towards Black and Jewish unity for Operation Understanding DC and has remained on the Board of Directors since. At the University of Maryland he combined his various passions into an individualized degree in urban planning and environmental policy. This degree enabled him to travel to Egypt, India and Brazil with the International Honors Program and produce a documentary on the activist's role in fighting gentrification titled Urban Reality. Outside of school, Gabe managed his own disk jockey service and has produced an album with his band.

Jamar Doyle
Hometown: Cleveland, OH
University of Pittsburgh

Jamar Doyle studied Urban Studies and Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh, where he graduated cum laude in April of 2001. While in college, Jamar was active in the Black Action Society, and was elected President during his senior year. He received the Provost's Distinguished Student Award for academic achievement, community service and leadership. Jamar spearheaded a community service initiative to improve access to goods from the food bank for a local low-income housing development. Jamar has worked as an intern for three summers in the offices of the mayor in Cleveland and in Pittsburgh. He is dedicated to the political process as a way to help people and create social change. After earning a professional degree, Jamar plans to enter the field of politics.

Justin Ehrenwerth
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Colby College

Graduating summa cum laude from Colby College in May 2001, Justin Ehrenwerth served as president of the College's student body. As president, he organized the first Colby, Bates and Bowdoin Diversity Conference - an event in which students from the three campuses converged to discuss issues related to race, religion, and sexuality. Justin has served as interfaith project coordinator for the National Conference for Community and Justice in Pittsburgh. He hopes to pursue his passion for increased civil rights as an elected representative. In October 2002, Justin will begin a graduate program in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics at Brasenose College, University of Oxford.

Seth Ehrlich
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Allegheny College

Seth Ehrlich graduated magna cum laude from Allegheny College with an International Studies major and a minor in German. His work outside of the classroom demonstrated a strong commitment to learning from the community. He studied abroad his sophomore year in Germany and he served as an Americorps Bonner Leader at Bethesda Children's Home. Seth is looking to combine his practical and classroom experiences in his future career. His interests also include skiing, mountain biking and other outdoor activities.

Maricela Flores
Hometown: Washington, DC
Southern Methodist University

Maricela Flores recently worked for the U.S. Department of Commerce focusing on areas of government workforce recruitment, hiring and firing practices. While in Washington, D.C., she also worked for a nonprofit organization that promotes the socioeconomic development of Latin women through education. At Southern Methodist University, Maricela was a Hunt Leadership Scholar and served as a representative for the scholarship interviewing committee as well as on the committees for the SMU Literary Festival and Women's Symposium. Her most recent interests include physical fitness and women's health issues. Ultimately, Maricela is seeking to become a senior university administrator and focus on ensuring access for all students to an affordable quality education.

Brian Harahan
Hometown: Palatine, IL
Northwestern University

Brian Harahan loves to build communities. His work with a VA National Healthcare Group and Northwestern University's Civic Education Project shaped his vision of reform through the integration of public and private resources and interests to meet community needs. Brian believes community orientation and civic participation are crucial for successful, sustainable efforts at change. Brian's interests include shifting healthcare towards a community-based set of primary health outcomes and linking community organizing into local healthcare clinics. He also enjoys climbing, backpacking, and playing soccer.


Natalia Rudiak
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
George Washington University

Natalia Rudiak is a Pittsburgh native and a graduate of George Washington University, where she majored in International Affairs concentrating in International Development. She has also studied at the London School of Economics in England and Jagiellonian University Krakow, Poland. Natalia has worked for the Western Pennsylvania Living Wage Campaign plus the Center for Economic & Policy Research and George Washington Action Coalition in Washington, DC. Last spring she was a press intern for Senator Joe Lieberman on Capitol Hill. Natalia plans for a career in urban development or domestic politics.

Cherington Love Shucker
Hometown: Greenville, SC
Samford University

Cherington Love Shucker has served as Director of Donor Relations for the Greenville Symphony Orchestra, is a member of First Baptist Church and also active in the Junior League of Greenville. In 1999, Cherington was the Vice President of Development and Public Relations for the Urban League of the Upstate. She co-coordinated the King Day at the Dome, a rally for 50,000 anti-confederate flag demonstrators on the State House grounds. A 1998 graduate from Samford University, Birmingham, AL, she was a journalism and Spanish major, a charter member of Alpha Omicron Pi, an inaugural Samford Ambassador, and an educator for the 1917 Clinic HIV/AIDS Care Team.

Rebekah Taylor
Hometown: Pittsburgh, PA
Chatham College

A native of Pittsburgh, Rebekah Taylor graduated from Chatham College with a B.A. in Marketing and Communications. Since then, she has been an AmeriCorps VISTA Volunteer, focused on service learning associated with the Pennsylvania Campus Compact higher education initiatives. Projects she implemented at Chatham College included Alternative Spring Break and the Community Service Residence Hall. Rebekah plans to work in public relations with a long-term goal of opening a nonprofit agency to focus on research, treatment and advocacy for inner-city youth with asthma and lung-related illnesses.

Joshua Whitehair
Hometown: Clarksburg, WV
West Virginia University

Concerned with civil rights, individual liberties and social justice, Joshua Whitehair has a vision of equal opportunity for the most vulnerable members of society. A Truman Scholar, Joshua has dedicated his career to public service and has already taken steps in that direction. Joshua is actively involved in the campaign against racial profiling. While interning with the ACLU, he drafted legislation prohibiting racial profiling in his home state. Joshua continued his work on these issues at the national level while working with the Department of Justice. He enjoys community service projects, spending time with family and friends, and playing the piano.