By Nichole M. Christian, Narrative Shifter
Ambitio US is pleased to welcome Nyia Hawkins as the initiative’s first-ever fellow.
Hawkins comes to the new role, and the Center for Cultural Innovation, after a long career in broadcast journalism, where she specialized in business and economics coverage. “The fellowship is giving me direct experience related to integrated capital and impact investing tools that are rooted in real-life examples,’’ says Hawkins. “It’s energizing.”
Prior to joining, she worked as Cheddar News’ Executive Producer for Special Projects. Hawkins has also reported and produced content for China Global Television Network (CGTN ) and the Associated Press.
In her role as the Ambitio US Fellow, Hawkins will work closely with Ambitio US Director Cate Fox. “We are delighted to have Nyia as our inaugural fellow,’’ Fox said. “In her previous career as a journalist, she became curious about how those economic systems could be reimagined in ways that center communities most extracted from. She is leaning into that curiosity with a deeper exploration of impact investing and how everything from the investment terms to the investments themselves can be values-aligned and further the goals of community self-determination.’’
Hawkins, a native of Indiana, earned an M.A. in Broadcast Journalism from Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism and a B.A. in American Studies from the University of California, Berkeley. “This is a career transition for me,’’ Hawkins explains. “Ambitio US is investing in me the way we invest in our grantees/investees. It’s a compliment and a vote of confidence that I’m running with.”
Her burgeoning passion for understanding impact investing shows up in other areas of her career. Hawkins previously led initiatives aimed at disrupting the school-to-prison pipeline and advancing economic and racial equity in Latin America through narrative change.
Fox says Ambitio US funders and grantees can expect to hear more from Hawkins as she pairs her past experiences with new hands-on knowledge in her role.
This article was originally published on Medium. Read it on Medium →