The Alliance for Advocacy & Philanthropy

Community Foundation Tampa Bay and Stetson University College of Law formed a strategic partnership in 2019 to align the power of advocacy with the heart of philanthropy. The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy is a collaborative partnership, which makes a strong case for creating positive change through the lens of activism and the spirit of giving.

About the Alliance

This new alliance reflects both organizations’ longstanding commitment to addressing important issues for an even more vibrant community. The Alliance is a unique initiative to engage the community and spark deep discussion through:

  1. Connection by building partnerships and leveraging resources to enhance the common good.
  2. Education by developing self-advocacy and institutional capacity through access to experts and educational opportunities.
  3. Collaboration by providing pathways for members of the community as well as students to become actively involved.

Community Fellows

Since Spring 2020, the Alliance has paid fellowships each semester for Stetson College of Law students. Students gain an in-depth understanding of community philanthropy and have hands-on opportunities to work with nonprofit organizations. They are also introduced to nonprofit board governance, the grantmaking process, donor development, funding agreements and more. Students receive considerable exposure to how grants are evaluated and sustained including analyzing data to support nonprofit organizational needs and to assess programmatic outcomes.

Spring 2023 Fellows

Rebecca Bloomquist

Rebecca Bloomquist but everyone calls me Becca. I was born and raised in Port Saint Lucie, FL. In 2016, I moved to Orlando, FL where I completed my bachelor’s degree in legal studies and minor in humanities from the University of Central Florida (Go Knights). Currently, I am a 2L in the Social Justice Advocacy concentration at Stetson University College of Law. I came to law school because I had a passion for making a difference and I thought becoming a lawyer was the best way to do so.

Haley Brown

Haley Brown is a third-year student at Stetson University College of Law, graduating in May 2023. She earned her Bachelor of Science from Florida State University in 2019 and is a candidate for Juris Doctor. Haley has a passion for nonprofit work, with 3+ years of experience in legal assistance with the Legal Aid Foundation of Tallahassee and Gulfcoast Legal Services. Haley is currently a fellow with Community Foundation Tampa Bay and an intern with Gulfcoast Legal Services.

Logan Mahan

Originally from Orlando, Logan earned his bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Central Florida. Logan is currently a 2L in the Environmental Law concentration and is a member of the Environmental Outreach Committee. He regularly participates in local trail cleanups and community gardening events. Logan hopes to use his legal knowledge to promote public interests after he graduates.

Fall 2022 Fellows

Ashley Adams

Ashley Adams is a 3L in the Social Justice Advocacy concentration at Stetson University College of Law. Originally from the Tampa Bay area, Ashley graduated from UF and initially began law school at Stetson in 2010 but opted to pursue personal growth before continuing to dedicate her career to law. Ashley spent several years working in advertising in New York City and Austin, TX before being called to go back to school for Psychology, which unexpectedly led her back to law school once more. Today, she is focused on the intersection of advocacy and philanthropy and putting holistic and community lawyering concepts to work to help people with both legal and social issues they face. Upon graduation, Ashley hopes to start or work for a non-profit or work as a public defender. Ashley is married to a director of product, engineer, and entrepreneur and together they have two English Bulldogs, Elizabeth and Margaret.

Logan K. Jackson

Logan is a third-year law student with a Social Justice Advocacy concentration. She is from St. Louis, Missouri and attended Loyola University New Orleans where she earned a Bachelor’s in Sociology with a concentration in Social Justice and Inequalities with a minor in African and African American Studies. She was previously a fellow of the Florida Law Schools’ Consortium on Racial Justice, where she focused heavily on investigating the racial impact of legislation that has been enacted or rejected in the State of Florida. Logan is also the President of Stetson’s Black Law Students Association, the Secretary of the Southern Regional Black Law Students Association, and a member of Stetson’s Mock Trial Team. Logan is committed to using her career to be an advocate for racial and social justice. She aspires to be a servant leader within her community and voice for those who are often overlooked and underprotected in our society.

Selina M. Nadeau

Selina Nadeau was raised in Texas. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Journalism with a minor in Political Science Pre-Law and certificates in Law, Justice & Culture and Women’s Studies from Ohio University in 2017. She served as an Americorps Member in the Ohio Stream Restore Corps before coming to Stetson. She is part of the environmental concentration and serves as Vice President of the Environmental Law Society. She plans to pursue a career as a litigator working on environmental justice issues. In her free time she enjoys roller skating and paddleboarding.

 

Spring 2022 Fellows

Devyn Mitchell

Devyn Mitchell, commonly known as Dev, was born and raised in North Little Rock, Arkansas. She graduated from University of North Florida with her bachelor’s degree in Political Science: Public Policy and minors in both Gender Studies and Social Welfare. Devyn hopes to use her career to advance the mission of diversity and representation in whatever field of law she pursues and is hoping to have a positive impact on the community promoting civic engagement through highlighting the power that each citizen possesses as well as informing the public of pertinent issues in the field of social justice and equality for all.

Anthony Del Rosario

Anthony will be graduating with his Juris Doctorate in May 2024 with a concentration in Business Law. As a part time law student, he has served our community through Pro Bono work with non-profits such as VITA, CASA, and assists the Fred G. Minnis Bar Association. He hopes to use to his legal experience to help underserved and financially vulnerable communities. 

Katherine Staab

Katherine (Katie) Staab is from Kansas City, Kansas and earned a Journalism degree from the University of Kansas. After completing her undergraduate studies, she worked in marketing for three years as a client service specialist. Katie now attends Stetson University College of Law and is entering the second semester of her 1L year. In her free time, Katie enjoys long distance running and spending time with her dog.

 

Fall 2021 Fellows

Hannah Harley

Hannah will graduate with her Juris Doctorate in May 2022. She’s a part-time student in her final year and hopes to work in public interest. She serves as the President of Stetson’s Public Service Fellows, and as the Pro Bono Chair for both the International Law Society and Anti-Trafficking Coalition student organizations. Hannah graduated from Virginia Military Institute in 2016 and has worked in finance alongside most of her law school career.

Taylor Paulin

After graduating from Florida Southern College in 2019 with degrees in Political Science and History, Taylor is now in her third and final year at Stetson. She is currently serving as SBA vice president in addition to being a representative for Barbri and Lexis. Taylor will graduate with her Juris Doctorate in May of 2022 and hopes to go into intellectual property law.

Spring 2021 Fellows

Bailey Peterson

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

Blake grew up in Pasco County. In 2012, after graduating from Hudson High School, he joined the United States Marine Corps and served as a legal service specialist and court reporter onboard Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, Twentynine Palms, California. While in the Marines, Blake 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, he worked at the law firm of Taylor, Warren, Weidner & Hancock, P.A. in Pensacola as a paralegal until he enrolled at Stetson University College of Law.

Shannon Walker

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.

Fall 2020 Fellows

Carly Pannella

Carly is a candidate for Juris Doctor, 2021 and a third-year law student with the hopes of pursuing a career in Public Policy after graduation. Carly also serves as President of the Florida Association of Women Lawyers at Stetson. Her interest in public policy sparked after she started volunteering at the local non-profit, CASA, advocating for survivors of domestic violence and assisting with injunctions for protection at the 6th Judicial Circuit Court of Florida. She hopes that after law school she can use this Fellowship experience to positively impact lives and conditions for health and equity in the community.

Jasmine L Smith

Jasmine is a third-year law student with a Social Justice Advocacy concentration. She is from Orlando and attended Florida State University where she earned a Bachelor’s in Criminology with minors in Philosophy and African American Studies. She was an intern for the Fines and Fees Justice Center, a Research Assistant for the Social Justice & Advocacy Department, and Student Coordinator for Stetson’s mentoring project at Boca Ciega High School. As a first-generation college graduate and law student, she is passionate about social justice, relationship building, and community empowerment. She aspires to be a leader that motivates others to be involved in making a positive change in the lives of others.

Spring 2020 Fellows

Alexis Deveaux

In May 2020, Alexis graduated with a JD and an MBA. She is a member of Stetson’s nationally ranked #1 Trial Team, took top honors in Stetson’s Opening Statement Competition, and was a member of Stetson’s Honors Program. Her prior work experience includes working for three Federal Judges in the Middle District of Florida and the Chief Judge of the United States’ Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims in D.C. She is a native of Clearwater.

Clinton W. Simmons III

In May 2020, Clinton graduated with a JD and a concentration in Social Justice Advocacy. Clinton served as the Executive Chair for the Student Leadership Development Committee, the President of Stetson’s chapter of the American Bar Association, and as the Deputy Chief of Policy and Hours of the Stetson Ambassadors. Clinton interned at the Federal Public Defender’s Office in Tampa and for the Honorable Judge Sneed at the Federal District Court in Tampa.

Community Associates Program

In order to graduate from Stetson Law School, students are required to certify that they have completed 60 hours of pro bono work. 30 of those hours must be legal pro bono work and the remainder of their volunteer hours can be provided to community organizations.

The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy in collaboration with local nonprofit organizations is seeking student pro-bono interns to work virtually with us on a variety of projects involving nonprofit programs in the Tampa Bay area.

Students who sign up for this particular pro bono program have been requested to commit to working at least three to five hours per week for up to 6 weeks during the term.

Student volunteers have opportunities such as:

  • Learning about the nonprofit grantmaking process
  • Be included in virtual networking opportunities with nonprofit executives
  • Collaborating with a wide variety of business executives, lawyers, and philanthropists
  • Attending virtual community meetings
  • Analyzing socio-economic data
  • Assisting in evaluating programmatic outcomes
  • Conducting legal and nonlegal research and writing.
Summer 2021 Cohort
  
Nonprofit OrganizationWebsiteCommunity Associate
Community Foundation of Tampa Bayhttps://cftampabay.org/Angel Jesus Cala
Community Tampa Bayhttps://www.communitytampabay.org/Samantha Stribling
Grow Smarter St. Petehttps://growsmarterstpete.com/Jade Yeban, Lillian Rosario
LEAP Tampa Bayhttps://www.leaptampabay.org/Richard Morrow
NAMI – Pinellashttps://nami-pinellas.org/Tiffany Oms, Courtney Valtman
Seniors in Servicehttp://seniorsinservice.org/Linda Miulli
Social Venture Partnershiphttps://svptampabay.org/William Carlisle, Sydnie Coraggio,  Robert Fox
St. Petersburg Innovation Districthttps://www.stpeteinnovationdistrict.com/Bedr Skargee, Evan Sagar

 

Spring 2021 Cohort  
Nonprofit OrganizationWebsiteCommunity Associate
Florida College Access Network (FCAN)http://floridacollegeaccess.org/Allison Notari
Florida Mental Health Institute (FMHI)https://www.usf.edu/cbcs/fmhi/James Loberg
Florida Philanthropic Network (FPN)https://www.fpnetwork.org/Madeline Doten
LEAP Tampa Bayhttps://www.leaptampabay.org/Kendra Maynard
Nonprofit Leadership Center (NLC)https://nlctb.org/Sasha Ledney, Evangeline Stewart
Social Venture Partnership (SVP)https://svptampabay.org/Ashley Adams, Samara Ballard, Rebecca L. Doloski, Vanessa Halasz, Mackenzie H. Vojtko
St. Petersburg College (SPC)https://www.spcollege.edu/Bedr Skargee
St. Petersburg Innovation Districthttps://stpeteinnovationdistrict.com/Hannah Klonowski

Future Lawyers for Advocacy and Philanthropy (FLAP)

The FLAP student organization was founded through, and inspired by, The Alliance for Advocacy and Philanthropy in the Spring of 2021. FLAP is committed to introducing law students to career options at the intersection of philanthropy and legal advocacy, while building partnerships and leveraging resources to enhance the common good. FLAP also seeks to provide students with a variety of legal and nonlegal pro bono opportunities. More than thirty students have joined the group to date.
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