Honoring Leadership That Bridges Divides

AAs the United States faces a time of deep polarization and uncertainty, Cultivate the Karass joined partners and visionaries to spark a new kind of leadership.

In 2021, the Brewer Fellowship to Unite America was created to bring together leaders from across the political spectrum who shared a commitment to strengthening democracy through connection, collaboration, and courage.

Developed in partnership with the Institute for Citizens & Scholars and supported by the Unite America Fund, the fellowship honored the legacy of Jake Brewer — a political organizer and social activist who dedicated his life to bridging divides and advancing the common good.

Throughout his career, Jake worked across political, cultural, and religious boundaries to create unlikely coalitions that tackled some of society’s most intractable problems. The Brewer Fellowship carried that legacy forward — creating space for dialogue, trust, and shared purpose among leaders shaping the future of American democracy.

About the Fellowship

The 18-month program brought together 17 extraordinary leaders representing a range of new and established nonprofit organizations — each committed to strengthening democracy and fostering a more representative, functional government.

Fellows collaborated on initiatives advancing election reform, civic participation, and cross-partisan dialogue. Through in-person retreats and virtual convenings, they built lasting relationships and a shared commitment to doing democracy differently.

2021-2022 Brewer Fellows

Inaugural Cohort of Fellows:

  • Daniella Ballou-Aares | CEO, Leadership Now Project

  • Mindy Finn | Founder & CEO, Citizen Data

  • Katie Harbath | Founder & CEO, Anchor Change

  • Francis Johnson | President, Take Back our Republic

  • Eli Lehrer | President, R Street Institute

  • Sarah Longwell | Founding Director, Defending Democracy Together

  • Maya MacGuineas | President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget

  • Amber McReynolds | CEO, National Vote at Home Institute

  • Aaron Menenberg | Co-Executive Director, Institute for Political Innovation

  • Debilyn Molineaux | Co-Director, Bridge Alliance

  • Nick Penniman | Founder & CEO, Issue One

  • Rob Richie | President & CEO, FairVote

  • Josh Silver | Executive Director, RepresentUs

  • Cynthia Richie Terrell | Executive Director, RepresentWomen

  • Nick Troiano | Executive Director, Unite America

  • Sarah Walker | Executive Director, Secure Democracy

  • Layla Zaidane | Executive Director & COO, Millennial Action Project

A Lasting Legacy

While the Brewer Fellowship concluded after its inaugural cohort, its influence continues through the ongoing work of the Fellows and their organizations.

Together, they embody the spirit of Jake Brewer’s vision: that courageous, collaborative leadership can transcend ideology and build a democracy worthy of all of us.