31 YOUNG LAWMAKERS SELECTED FOR NATIONAL INNOVATION FELLOWSHIP

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WASHINGTON, DC (January 17, 2024) — Today, Future Caucus announced a nationwide fellowship for Gen Z and millennial state legislators as well as the inaugural class of fellows. Rooted in the understanding that political polarization presents new and unique obstacles to modern policymaking, the Innovation Fellowship cultivates the next generation of national leaders with the skills to build bipartisan coalitions and pass effective legislation.

31 of the most promising and effective Gen Z and millennial state lawmakers from across the country have been selected to participate out of 1,800 legislators from their generations. Their selection is the result of their willingness to work across the aisle and their commitment to prioritizing legislative results over scoring personal political points.  

Through hands-on research, interactive workshops, expert mentorship, and real-world application, the cross-partisan group of lawmakers will enhance their ability to craft durable policy solutions that adapt to ever-changing realities. 

The program starts with a Futures Thinking Forum on January 20, 2024, where the Innovation Fellows learn the basics of strategic foresight—a skill used by both Fortune 500 CEOs and the military to make decisions when the future is uncertain. They will leverage these new skills to apply forward-looking approaches to complex policy challenges.

The class represents 21 states and includes three distinct cohorts related to a specific policy focus: Strengthening Democracy, Energy & Environment, and Healthcare, with a particular focus on maternal health and child wellness. 

“We are so excited to announce this year’s inaugural class of Innovation Fellows,” said Layla Zaidane, President & CEO of Future Caucus. “The 30 young lawmakers selected for this fellowship represent a more promising future for our country, one where the brightest minds can come together, despite partisan differences, and get things done.”

The Innovation Fellowship is part of Future Caucus’ Innovation Lab. Launched in 2023, the Innovation Lab connects the dots between the next generation of legislators and policy experts across political ideologies to support bridge-building on key issues. Legislators have access to a policy library, live briefings, on-demand experts, and connections with other young lawmakers across state lines.

Future Caucus Innovation Fellowship Class of 2024: 

Strengthening Democracy

Representative Ben Bowman (D-OR)

Representative Angela Brennan (D-NH)

Representative Devin Carney (R-CT)

Representative Monique Priestley (D-VT)

Representative Kristine Reeves (D-WA)

Representative Mike Rice (D-VT)

Delegate Stuart Schmidt (R-MD)

Representative Michael Smith (R-DE)

Representative Mary-Katherine Stone (D-VT)

Representative Brandon Woodard (D-KS)

Energy & Environment 

Representative Raghib Allie-Brennan (D-CT)

Representative Torren Ecker (R-PA)

Representative Sonya Harper (D-IL)

Senator Meghan Kallman (D-RI)

Representative Elinor Levin (D-IA)

Representative Rebecca McWilliams (D-NH)

Senator Löki Gale Tobin (D-AK)

Healthcare

Delegate Elizabeth Bennett-Parker (D-VA)

Senator Cristina Castro (D-IL)

Representative Kevin Chambliss (D-FL)

Representative Tyler Clancy (R-UT) 

Representative Christina Haswood (D-KS)

Senator Carri Hicks (D-OK)

Representative Ashley Hudson (D-AR)

Representative Greggor Ilagan (D-HI)

Representative Sherae’a Moore (D-MD)

Representative Aaron Pilkington (R-AR)

Representative Megan Srinivas (D-IA)

Representative Zakiya Summers (D-MS)

Representative Matthew Willard (D-LA)

Senator David Wilson (R-AK)

About Future Caucus

Future Caucus is a national, nonpartisan 501 (c)(3) organization dedicated to activating young policymakers to bridge the partisan divide and lead a new era of collaborative governance. In 2013, it organized America’s first-ever bipartisan caucus for young members of Congress — the Congressional Future Caucus. Shaping the next generation of leadership, the organization’s Future Caucus network has expanded into 33 state legislatures and grown into the largest nonpartisan organization of Gen Z and millennial elected officials in the U.S. More information is available at: www.futurecaucus.org.

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