2024 Beratan Fellow: Carlyle Kennedy
We are excited to announce Carlyle Kennedy as the recipient of the 2024 Beratan Fellowship! Carlyle, a rising senior at UNC Wilmington, has been an essential part of YCV’s Wilmington team since joining in the fall of 2023.
The Beratan Fellowship Award, now in its fourth year, honors the numerous contributions of the late Kathi Beratan, a passionate and dedicated YCV volunteer. The award provides a paid summer fellowship to a YCV Fellow who has shown outstanding commitment to and demonstrated our core values. Supported by Kathi's husband, David Beratan, and other YCV donors who recognized her commitment to leadership development and community empowerment, the Beratan Fellowship Award aims to continue her legacy.
"Kathi joined as a volunteer in 2014 when YCV was just beginning and made huge contributions to our organization by giving her time, energy, and talents," said Executive Director Kate Fellman. "Kathi did the hard work and pushed herself to meet the needs in front of us. We will always be profoundly grateful for her gifts to this organization."
Carlyle carries on this legacy through her deep commitment to serving communities. Motivated by her passion for voter education, Carlyle’s involvement with YCV allows her to amplify her impact on a larger scale. Mia Goetz, our Regional Organizing Director in Wilmington, recounts, “Carlyle has consistently shown up to table at UNCW– rain or shine and always leaves each event with successful stories. She has grown to become a YCV Captain and continuously connects with her peers to help educate and empower them on their rights as young voters.”
Carlyle sees her work with YCV aligning seamlessly with her career goals in social work. She views both as requiring compassion, saying "With the changing climate, everyone has their own story. It is important to be empathetic and understand why they may not want to vote, not just push them."
Please join us in welcoming Carlyle as our 2024 Beratan Fellow!