Atlas Corps: 15 Year Anniversary

Greetings!

Thank YOU for being part of an unforgettable 15th Anniversary year!

During 2021, you joined Atlas Corps as we marked this organizational milestone! You were also here to help us recognize Scott for his lifetime of inspirations, in supporting me in our leadership transition, and in welcoming our new CEO Bidjan. Thank you! Most important, you were here as we grew our community of global changemakers through our Fellowship and Virtual Leadership Institute. 

Now, we look toward 2022 with great anticipation. Atlas Corps is at a moment of opportunity as we embrace these times of change to evolve our own leadership development programs.

On that note, Bidjan prepared a special message and video to reflect on 2021 and to look forward to 2022. We look forward to your continued engagement in 2022!

Happy New Year!

-Abby

A Special CEO Reflection from Bidjan Nashat . . . [click here to watch video]

One of my favorite poets, Maulana Rumi, once wrote that "The quieter you become, the more you are able to hear."

In my first 90 days as CEO at Atlas Corps, I used the title "Chief Listening Officer" and took hundreds of calls with people from this global community. It leaves me grateful to be welcomed by this community, energized by our potential to help lead through global challenges, and hopeful about the opportunity to develop Atlas Corps into a global talent agency for purpose-driven young leaders by 2025.

Talent is truly everywhere and now more than ever, we can create opportunities regardless of location!

Links:

• Click to watch Bidjan's Special Reflection

Hello,

Thank you for celebrating our big year - Atlas Corps 15th Anniversary! We especially want to THANK YOU for your support on July 14 Bonus Day! Your generosity helped us to raise $25,000 in one day. Amazing! These gifts directly support our Atlas Corps Leaders - inspired social change leaders from around the world who in engage in our in-person and virtual programs.

In fact, this year is full of milestones. Here are a few noteworthy updates:

• 1,100 Atlas Corps Leaders from 110 countries - our global community continues to grow!

• Gargi (India, Class 1, Host: Ashoka | Current: UNICEF) - Gargi was named our 2021 Alumni Changemaker for her continued achievements and leadership in the social sector.

• Bidjan Nashat named as incoming CEO - Our incoming CEO officially starts on September 20. We look forward to this infusion of new leadership and appreciative for all who helped in the selection as well as through our organizational transition. Scroll down to read the official announcement from our Board of Directors.

We also invite you to visit our blog to hear more from our Atlas Corps Leaders! 

Best-

Abby

Acting CEO, Class 2 Alumna

P.S. Remember to save the date for Saturday, November 20 for the Atlas Corps 15th Anniversary Gala. We look forward to a hybrid event in DC and virtual!

*********************************************

A MESSAGE FROM THE ATLAS CORPS BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Dear Atlas Corps Community,

On behalf of the Atlas Corps Board of Directors, I thank you for your ongoing support of Atlas Corps during this pivotal moment in the organization’s history. Today, it is with great enthusiasm that I announce the incoming Atlas Corps CEO: Bidjan Nashat. Bidjan will officially join Atlas Corps on September 20. 

Bidjan, most recently coming from Save the Children—an Atlas Corps Host Organization—brings extensive experience in the international development field that includes leading large, global non-governmental organizations as well as experience engaging in local community-based entities. In addition to his operational experience, we were impressed by Bidjan’s purpose-driven approach in articulating his vision for himself, the organization (including the staff, Fellows, Scholars, and Alumni), and global leadership in the 21st Century. We are confident that he will take Atlas Corps into the next 15 years with the passion that Scott Beale led us through during our first 15 years.

The Atlas Corps Board of Directors appointed a selection committee, with support from the search firm DRi, who engaged in a vigorous search process. The ultimate result was the Board’s approval of Bidjan as CEO. We thank all who engaged in this process and offered insight into our strategic development. We express special appreciation to this selection committee for the energy they dedicated to this process.

On behalf of the Board, I also extend our utmost appreciation to Abby Robinson (Chief Development & Engagement Officer, Class 2 Alumna) who seamlessly stepped into the role of Acting CEO. Her enthusiastic efforts, together with the entire Atlas Corps Team, have maintained an incredibly strong program and organization throughout this transition. During 2021, our dynamic Team navigated ongoing changes and still achieved the engagement of 60 Fellows and 376 virtual Scholars while also supporting the growth of our entire global Community. Team, you are an inspiration!

We also want to thank YOU, the Atlas Corps Community. Everything we have achieved at Atlas Corps, from winning online fundraising contests 15 years ago to overcoming the financial hardships of the pandemic to launching a Virtual Leadership Institute to engaging 1,100 professionals from 110 countries, has been accomplished by the collective efforts of this Community. 

People are at the heart of our mission. This fact remains true today and will remain our guiding light into the future.

Very Best,

Whitney Hunter-Thomson

Chair, Atlas Corps Board of Directors

How are you? Thank you for your donation to Atlas Corps! With your support, we celebrate this 15-Year Anniversary milestone and advance our growing community, representing 1000 Leaders (Fellows, Alumni, and Scholars) from 105 countries. We appreciate you!

Through our #AtlasCorps15 blog campaign, we highlight Atlas Corps Leaders like Scholar Faten (Palestine, Cohort 1). In addition to her role as Human Resources Associate at United Nations for Relief & Work Agency, Faten participates in the inaugural Cohort of  the Virtual Leadership Institute where she sharpens her skills, engages in cohort discussions, and advances her global perspective. Faten shared about the Institute in her recent blog post: 

“Atlas Corps has prepared me to become an effective leader in my community through the structural modules, activities, and the diverse community it offers ... I developed meaningful relationships with colleagues from all over the world to address global social issues.” 

On that note, you are invited to join Faten and Atlas Corps as we celebrate our 15-Year milestone this year! Join us at the Atlas Corps 15 Year Anniversary Gala, November 20, 2021. Our community will gather in-person in DC and virtually to celebrate 15 years of achievement. For further details and to RSVP, go to 15.atlascorps.org- your early bird $250 contribution reserves your seat in-person and virtually.

Thank you for supporting Atlas Corps in our first 15 years. Atlas Corps Leaders are the diverse, trained, and talented social changemakers that will address the world’s most pressing social issues. Thank you for celebrating Atlas Corps!

Cheers, 

Abby Robinson 

Acting CEO, Alumna (Class 2)

Atlas Corps 

P.S. Every donation this month will get you a BONUS invite to our Bonus Day Summer Celebration event on July 14th, 12pm ET (virtual). Will you make a donation to Atlas Corps and join us?