A fun fact, one of our co-founders, Hershel Kleinberg, has deep roots in both business and law. Guided by this passion and his work, Open Horizon was curious early on about ways to expand partnerships with organizations focused on Social and Economic Justice. An initial inquiry was whether we wanted to partner with organizations in service of direct access or those working on policy and systems change. We did both. Both are needed. And then, we realized an even sweeter spot… one that builds the world we want to see.

Hershel often reflects on how access to opportunities like internships, fellowships, and entry-level positions has shaped both his father’s life and his own trajectory. These experiences not only allow young leaders to build employable skills and expand their networks, but also provide a space to explore potential passions and gain confidence in their contributions. At the same time, organizations benefit from staff who can enhance projects or portfolios and have the opportunity to practice mentorship, developing creative support structures for future interns and fellows. So, by offering opportunities like internships and fellowships, there is an impact on the individual and organizational levels.

With a central commitment to equity and integrity, Open Horizon affirms that it is crucial for underrepresented individuals to be exposed to diverse career options; this builds a cadre of folx that are future diverse leaders who can be mirrors for young, marginalized individuals coming up the pipeline. The returns for an investment in experiential learning and fellowship/intern opportunities are beyond measurable.

By D’Lynn Jacobs, Open Horizon Executive Director