In 2008, the Network launched its first philanthropic leadership development initiative, designed as a year-long fellowship program that offers tools, knowledge, and best practices to enhance funder grantmaking decisions in ways that are responsive to the needs and assets of low-income neighborhoods and communities of color. As a result of participating in the PLACES program, fellows develop:

• An in-depth knowledge of how decisions about growth and development relate to issues of race/ethnicity/class;
• Tools and resources to help them increase their effectiveness as grantmakers;
• Exposure to best practices of grantmakers working in this field;
• Leadership development and skill building opportunities; and
• Expanded networking opportunities.

The Network is pleased to announce the members of the second class of PLACES, who will meet in-person for the first time in March 2010 to begin the year-long fellowship program.

• Willie Barney, Grant Committee Member, Omaha Community Foundation
• Len Bartel, Program Officer, Maine Health Access Foundation
• Timothy Block, Program Manager, The Home Depot Foundation
• Evelyn Burnett, Program Associate, Living Cities
• Dion Cartwright, Program Officer, Baltimore Community Foundation
• Mark Hallett, Senior Program Officer, McCormick Foundation
• Jennifer Lind, Program Officer, The California Endowment
• Katy Locker, Program Director, Hudson-Webber Foundation
• Mike Maroney, President, Omaha Minority Community Development Fund
• Vi Nguyen, Coordinator, Grants & Community Initiatives, Vancouver Foundation
• Carolina Quezada, Program Fellow, Iowa West Foundation
• Mary Skelton Roberts, Senior Program Officer, Barr Foundation
• Jasmine Thomas, Program Officer, Surdna Foundation
• Kristin Williams, Program Director, Sherwood Foundation
• Elisa Wong, Program Manager, Kaiser Permanente
• Sylvia Zaldivar-Sykes, Executive Director, Lake County Community Foundation