On Thursday, December 15, the 2022 Sonder Fellowship participants gathered to celebrate their graduation. The Sonder Fellowship is a year-long program for leaders who serve Southeast Fort Wayne residents. It was developed in partnership with and facilitated by Danielle Shoots. Nineteen Southeast leaders graduated from the program in 2022.

The word sonder means “the realization that each passerby has a life as vivid and complex as your own.”

The program hinges on the belief that great leadership starts with the ability and desire to work on yourself, and once you have a connection to yourself, you can grow a connection to each other. The environment in which this is done relies on vulnerability and trust.

“The atmosphere at the graduation event was full of life, joy, excitement, pride, and camaraderie. I graduated with friends, many of whom were strangers before that. I’ve had intimate conversations with them that I haven’t had with people who are related to me. I was able to share freely because of the beautiful atmosphere of trust.” – Yusanda Blackmon, Sonder alumni

“Graduation from Sonder was bittersweet. It was exciting because I looked around the room, and I knew what everybody went through to get there. I knew the strength and vulnerability that it took. I was also encouraged because I knew how much better we all were for the experience. I knew I was leaving with new partnerships and friendships. People are going to be surprised by how rapidly we grow and change things, and that started in this program.” – Amos Norman, Sonder alumni

“It was a surreal moment to see all the people that you have known from afar and now think of as family. We celebrated the completion of a journey together. A journey of learning more about yourself, about other people in your community, and all the great things going on in the community.” – Ephraim Smiley III, Sonder alumni

Congratulations to 2022 Sonder Fellowship Graduates!

•   Reggie Blackmon

•   Yusanda Blackmon

•   Réna Bradley

•   Zeke Bryant

•   Annie Davis

•   Annette Dufor

•   Regenia Frison-Jones

•   Reppard Horne

•   Edward Jones

•   Geoff King

•   Lewis King

•   Greta McKinney

•   Amos Norman

•  Joshua Raines

•   Ephraim Smiley III

•   Stephanie Taylor

•   Sharon Tubbs

•   Jonathon Wattley

•   Darrion White

The Sonder alumni continue to meet on a quarterly basis to build upon the foundation they’ve developed together.

The 2023 Sonder cohort began in January 2023. This year’s fellows include 20 leaders who serve Southeast Fort Wayne residents.

Welcome 2023 Sonder Fellows!

•   Neco Beasley

•   Imogene Bibbs

•   TJ Bohanon

•   Shaquana Causey

•   Michelle Chambers

•   Chip Clark

•   Ranada Clark

•   Dawn Clopton

•   Keyonia Cox

•   Ashley Craig

•   Toni Irby

•   Joy King

•   Brice Miles

•   Monique Moss

•   Raven Morton

•   Rosalina Perez

•   Chynna Presley

•   Virginia Richardson

•   Aisha Smiley

•   Diane Starks

"I look forward to the experience and seeing the change from now until the end of the program. I’ve been uncomfortable being at the meetings since we started, and I want to stay uncomfortable until the very end. Every time I’m uncomfortable, something amazing happens, and this will be no different. I also look forward to the content and skills that they will share with us, because I want to be able to share them with others who might not be able to get the opportunity to be part of this program." – Rosalina Perez, 2023 Sonder Fellow

Thank you to these strong leaders for championing opportunities for our Southeast quadrant’s residents.