Beerman Foundation Fellows
for Peace and Justice

Each year, the Beerman Foundation supports the work of powerful young change-makers who walk in the path of Leonard Beerman through fellowship awards. Beerman Fellows are social justice and political activists who believe in the imperative of lifting up the marginalized, dispossessed, and afflicted. All share Leonard's sense of prophetic urgency to bring change to the world now.


2024 Beerman Foundation Fellows

Hussayn Abdul-Qawi
Doctoral student researching the intersections between Islam and politics, with the intent of entering the fields of policy advising and collegiate teaching

Adnan Jaber   
Community organizer of LA Supporters of Standing Together. Jerusalem-born and living in Los Angeles, engaged in bringing people together for peace in Israel-Palestine through technology and dialogue

Marissa Montes
Founder, Professor and Director of Loyola Law School's Immigrant Justice Clinic and visiting professor at the ITESO in Guadalajara, where she teaches U.S. asylum law. Currently establishing Loyola’s Binational Migrant Advocacy Project (BMAP), the first binational immigration law school clinic in the nation

Zahra Sakkejha
Community organizer of LA Supporters of Standing Together; board member of Tomorrow’s Women, dedicated to empowering young Israeli and Palestinian women to create change

Yehudah Webster
Spiritual activist and community organizer working to integrate anti-racist behaviors and culture in communities

Beerman Foundation Fellows

Karely Amaya
Undocumented immigrant student at UCLA who is leading the effort for the University of California to hire undocumented students

Pastor Edward (Eddie) Anderson
Senior Pastor of McCarty Memorial Christian Church, Los Angeles
Co-Chair, California Poor People’s Campaign 

Jeanelle Austin
Founder, Racial Agency Initiative
Lead Caretaker of George Floyd Memorial

Ju Hong
Social Activist in immigration reform and fighting anti-Asian hate 
Founder, ASPIRE, first undocumented youth organization for Asian-Americans

Justin Jones
Member of the Tennessee House of Representatives for District 52, representing parts of Nashville

Shammas Malik
City Councilman and presumptive incoming Mayor in Akron, Ohio

Emily Mayer
Director, New York City Council Progressive Caucus
Founder, IfNotNow

Svante Myrick
Executive Director, People for the American Way
Former Mayor of Ithaca, New York

Jacob Plitman
Former Editor, Jewish Currents

Sukhi Samra
Director, Mayors for a Guaranteed Income
Former Director, Stockton Economic Empowerment Demonstration

Rachel Sumekh
Founder & Former CEO, Swipe Out Hunger

Michael D. Tubbs
Special Advisor to California Governor Gavin Newsom for Economic Mobility
Founder of End Poverty in California (EPIC)
Former Mayor of Stockton, California

Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz
Author and Social Activist 
Founder and President, Orthodox social justice movement Uri L’Tzedek
and progressive Orthodox rabbinic association Torat Chayim 

Brittany Ferrell Young
Public health nurse, political activist, and researcher focusing on health equity and improving pregnancy outcomes for Black women and gender expansive people