Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Stetson University College of Law welcome three new Community Fellows
TAMPA, Fla. — The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay and Stetson University College of Law welcomed three new Community Fellows as part of the Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy partnership.
As part of this collaboration, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay offers paid fellowships each semester for students attending Stetson University College of Law. The fellows will have the opportunity to gain an in-depth understanding of community philanthropy and have hands-on experience in working with nonprofit organizations.
Bailey Peterson, Blake Radford and Shannon Walker were selected as our 2021 Community Fellows and begin the program on January. 15, 2021.
Bailey Peterson, Candidate for Juris Doctor, 2021
In May 2021 Bailey will graduate with a JD and a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy. She is a member of Stetson’s nationally ranked Dispute Resolution Team. She serves as Vice President for Stetson’s ACLU chapter, and on the board of Stetson’s Innocence Initiative, and Florida Association for Women Lawyers. She is a Tampa native and previously interned at the 13th District State Attorney’s Office Conviction Review Unit in Tampa.
Blake Radford, Candidate for Juris Doctor, 2023
Stetson University College of LawBlake Radford graduated from Hudson High School in 2012 and joined the United States Marine Corps, serving as a legal service specialist and court reporter onboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. While enlisted in the Marines, Blake applied and was accepted to the University of West Florida and pursued a Bachelor’s in Political Science and Pre-law. After leaving the Marines in 2016, Blake worked at the law firm of Taylor, Warren, Weidner & Hancock, P.A. in Pensacola, Florida, as a paralegal until he departed to attend Stetson University College of Law in the Fall of 2020.
Shannon Walker, Candidate for Juris Doctor, 2021
In May 2021, Shannon will graduate with a JD and a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy. She is a member of Stetson’s Dispute Resolution Board, earning honors as a Finalist Mediator in 2019. Her work experience includes teaching social work and clerking for a local non-profit. Shannon grew up in Spring Hill, Fla. She will use her legal education to help families and foster youth in crises in her community.
“This partnership is an incredible opportunity for our students and our community,” said Michèle Alexandre, dean of Stetson University College of Law. “Working together, we can empower the next generation of nonprofit and Tampa Bay leaders to become effective community advocates, which will have a positive impact on our region.”
“We look forward to working with Florida’s first law school to create opportunities for our region, to discuss community wide challenges and possible solutions, and to promote the economic health and vitality of Tampa Bay through this innovative program” said Marlene Spalten, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay.
About the Organizations:
The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy, created in 2019, formalizes the organizations’ shared belief in aligning resources and investing in advocacy, thought leadership, and programs to solve community challenges. The partnership includes pro bono program opportunities for students to support Tampa Bay area not-for-profits.
Stetson University College of Law is Florida’s first law school and has consistently been recognized as No. 1 in Advocacy by U.S. News & World Report. Faculty and students at Stetson Law provide more than 30,000 hours of pro bono legal and advocacy services through various institutes, programs and centers, including the Veterans Law Institute, the Social Justice Advocacy Program, and the Center for Excellence in Elder Law.
The Community Foundation of Tampa Bay connects donors, nonprofits, community and business leaders, professional advisors, volunteers, and residents to make the maximum positive impact in the Tampa Bay region. For 30 years, the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay has been dedicated to making giving easy and meaningful for donors as a way to strengthen nonprofit organizations and build a better, more vibrant community.
Post date: Jan. 20, 2021
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580