The basic terms of an Echoing Green Fellowship are clear: up to $90,000 in funding and individualized strategic support for two years. But the Fellowship is much more than that because we convene leaders with a purpose. The 2016 Echoing Green Fellowship class includes leaders who support local artisans, provide financial services to the underbanked, and raise up leaders to strengthen their communities across the globe. And in July, we brought them all together in New York for a week to weave connections out of the threads that will join them for a lifetime.

New Fellows Retreat is the first of many times that Fellows come together as a class. The 2016 Fellows started the week off on New York’s Long Island to explore who they are, what kind of leader they want to be, and recharging. In addition to letting loose, asking questions, and bonding with this community, Fellows also got tactical. They workshopped investor pitches with corporate advisors, brainstormed solutions for challenges facing their organizations, received hands-on support from industry experts in finance, organizational development, and more. And all throughout the week, these new Fellows were joined by alumni who shared their Fellow experiences and lessons learned.

Although they have now dispersed across the globe, their connection as a community will know no boundaries. Check out some highlights from the 2016 New Fellows Retreat below and on Facebook! 

The 2017 Fellowship application cycle will open in September 2016. If you’re interested in learning more, sign up for updates here.