"The work I am doing is massive and requires community involvement," Malzkuhn said of her efforts and her decision to pursue the fellowship. "I wanted to get more people on board, and more awareness out there on how we think about literacy and access to sign language for Deaf children. I hit a glass ceiling that needs to break."

And so she applied for some help. The Obama Foundation Fellowship is a two-year, nonresidential fellowship designed to support and further elevate the work of community-oriented organizers, inventors, artists, entrepreneurs and educators committed to making positive, equitable change. It provides hands-on training, resources, and leadership to help its fellows scale the impact of their work. Throughout their tenure, fellows attend four multiday gatherings for connection and collaboration, build their global community and network of colleagues and receive personalized planning and professional coaching and mentoring. "I'm truly excited about the access to resources as part of the fellowship, but the best part is that I've made 19 new lifelong friends. I am beyond grateful to know them, and their incredible work," Malzkuhn said following the first gathering of fellows, held in Chicago in May. Meeting the Obamas was a plus, too. "Their kindness, intelligence, eloquence, and how they wholeheartedly believe in what we are building together—a global approach to creating community-based change—restored my hope in our country, and for the world," Malzkuhn said. At the gathering President Barack Obama described her work as "revolutionizing how we think about inclusion for Deaf Americans."

Features

Malzkuhn's project was among the 20 chosen from more than 20,000 applicants.