1. do
Q1. Whatwillyou hope to gain from the StartingBloc Fellowship?
How
the Fellowship help you to achieve your goals?
I’m most excited about the opportunity to surround myself with people that are like-minded
(read: just as passionate as I am) and smarter than me. Whether it be the speakers on the
agenda, or fellow, fellows, I look forward to hearing their stories and connecting to their
past and present.
I currently work for a Public Charter School in Washington DC that operates on a
cyclical framework of understanding, taking action, and believing.* As a StartingBloc
Fellow, I hope to gain:

A clearer understanding of the breadth of opportunities available in the social
sector, and where it is I fit best.

A stronger belief in myself as a connector, innovator and change agent.

The confidence to take action, and push forward toward accomplish my goals.
*Awesome diagram adopted
from the Cesar Chavez PCS
Public Policy Framework.
At this juncture in my career, I have finally begun making intentional decisions, and actively
seeking out and participating in (professional) development activities that yield the greatest
result (StartingBloc :]).
I’ve got a strong feeling that I would walk away from the experience with a newfound sense
of urgency, and finally equipped with the tools and inspiration to take action.
Ashlee Lawson
lawsonas@gmail.com
StartingBloc (LA ‘14)

2. Q2
The StartingBloc Fellowship is a diverse community, with
Fellows coming from a wide variety of sectors and
backgrounds. How will contribute to this community?
This is a picture (albeit blurry) of the
best version of me.
Humbled. Happy. Grateful.
I could spend time sifting through a long list of
academic and professional accomplishments, but
those aren't necessarily the things I am most
proud of…
...I work hard, every day, to be the best version of
myself. Stay true to my beliefs, maintain
integrity in all endeavors, and nurture my
authentic self.
Hardest thing(s) I’ve ever done.
There are few things more energizing than making genuine connections with others. In my
time with StartingBloc, I hope to leave a lasting impact on the Fellowship community by
bringing out the best in others.
Ashlee Lawson
lawsonas@gmail.com
StartingBloc (LA ‘14)

3. Q3. Is there anything else you’d like to share that we did not ask
about?
I’m Ashlee. A (late) twenty-something, college graduate making waves in my professional
career! Thus far, there isn’t anything would take back. I have made all of the right
decisions, at the right times, and am currently on track to achieve all of my professional
goals.
Only, this isn’t a perfect world, and most of the above is not reality. My name is indeed
Ashlee and I did have the pleasure of attending and graduating from The University of
Michigan, but that is where it ends. Now, six years post-graduation, I can’t help but wonder
where things went wrong.
As a teen, I can remember daydreaming about the future. All I could envision was success
and stability in my professional life. Attend a great college, land an awesome (well paying)
position at the firm of my choice, and live happily ever after climbing a shining corporate
ladder. Then I “grew up”. The daydreams began to fade.
I do not say all of this because I am not proud of my accomplishments, but as an
acknowledgement of the fact that I have yet to scratch the surface of my potential. I am
aware that I am standing in my own way. I strongly believe that participating in the
StartingBloc Fellowship program will present the tools, resources and network of
do-gooders crucial to bringing those daydreams back to the forefront.
Over the last six years, unfulfilling jobs, countless job applications, and even more
disappointments, there has been one constant: my desire to be an agent of change.
Encourage social responsibility, connect people to their communities, and promote ‘paying
it forward’. As technology and (social) media continue to alter the landscape of interaction
between people, it is my hope to find ways to encourage presence, foster philanthropy and
disrupt the non-profit norm.
Ashlee Lawson
lawsonas@gmail.com
StartingBloc (LA ‘14)