MPA Program at CCNY
Where can a social justice media activist from the Bronx, a theologian turned LGBTQ+ advocate and nonprofit leader, a former Congressional Black Caucus fellow, and a passionate student activist meet to develop and grow as leaders of social change? In the fall 2021 cohort of the MPA Program at CCNY, of course.
This year’s cohort brings together students from four generations, five US states, more than a dozen undergraduate majors, and a broad range of government, nonprofit, and private sector professional paths.
The cohort includes leaders with track records of social justice activism within the five boroughs of New York City. These include a pioneer in the youth food justice movement in Brooklyn, a director of women’s economic empowerment, and a finance professional turned nonprofit financial literacy coach.
Several students have served in local, state, or federal government and bring deep knowledge of homeless services, child protection, and human resources, as well as the legislative processes of the New York State Assembly and the United States Congress.
Others, educators by trade, believe in using education as a powerful tool for raising consciousness of racial justice, building multicultural and empowering classrooms, and building facilitation skills to promote nonviolent communication.
Most of the students are CUNY or SUNY alumni, and about a third join us from outside of New York State and from abroad, including California, Utah, South Carolina, Arkansas, Puerto Rico, and Nigeria.
The cohort also embodies the potential for cross-generational collaboration, bringing together students from the Baby Boomer generation as well as Generation X, Millennials, and Gen Z’ers. Several students have built families of their own or struggled academically early in life and are now returning to fulfill their academic and professional goals.
See our infographic below for further details about the Fall 2021 MPA Cohort.
