Dear MAP Community,
As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of Movement Alliance Project, which began as Media Mobilizing Project (MMP) in 2005, I’m writing as a co-founder of MMP and MAP’s current board president to share exciting news about an important leadership transition in our organization.
This milestone year marks a time of significant change for MAP. After joining as one of MMP’s earliest staff members in 2009, stepping into a Co-Executive Director role in 2013, and leading as Executive Director since 2016, Bryan will be transitioning from the organization at the end of May.
During his time with us, Bryan has led our efforts in digital inclusion and media justice, including a partnership of media training and computer centers in a federally funded stimulus program. He helped to start and establish numerous organizing projects and movement media initiatives, many of which continue on as MAP sponsored projects. Bryan also guided the transition of our organization from Media Mobilizing Project to its broader work providing infrastructure and support for the local movement ecosystem as Movement Alliance Project. We’re so grateful for Bryan’s perspective, time and leadership. We look forward to supporting him in the next phase of his work after being with MMP/MAP for over 16 years.
This change has been in the making for some time, with careful planning and work to prepare two members of MAP’s leadership team to take the helm. We are pleased to announce that Fred Pinguel, Director of Movement Learning, and Jacob Winterstein, Director of Operations and Finance, will become Co-Executive Directors of MAP.
Fred and Jacob both started as youth leaders together in the Philadelphia Student Union and have been part of MAP’s community since our early MMP days. Their histories with movement building in Philadelphia make them uniquely qualified to lead MAP into its next chapter.
Fred has built his expertise as a popular educator and social justice leader over the past 15 years. He served as Executive Director of Philadelphia Student Union and lead organizer with Filipino Advocates for Justice in Oakland. He brings valuable leadership experience to this new role.
Jacob worked as PSU’s first Director of Development, is a co-founder of the Philly Pigeon, and developed a deep set of organizational management skills as managing director of Camp Bonfire, a summer camp for adults. His operational expertise will be instrumental in strengthening MAP’s infrastructure support.
With their leadership, MAP is poised to deepen our work supporting the building of a more powerful and coordinated cross-sector, multiracial, working class movement in Philadelphia. Together, we can win governing power to transform our city and state into one that prioritizes people’s material needs over profit.
Please join us in thanking Bryan for his steadfast service to the organization and welcoming Fred and Jacob to their new leadership roles. We also invite you to support MAP’s work building the infrastructure our movements need to win. Make a contribution today to help this work go strong for the next 20 years.
In solidarity,
Shivaani A. Selvaraj
Board Chair
Movement Alliance Project
A message from MAP’s Outgoing Executive Director – Bryan Mercer
Friends,
It’s with such deep gratitude and appreciation for this wide community of movement leaders that I transition from my role at MAP. Getting to join MMP as a volunteer back in 2008, from holding a camera to teaching digital literacy workshops, set my life on an unexpected and rewarding path. I grew and learned through the various phases and successes of this organization and alongside all those building it with me. I helped organize with countless people whom I care deeply about. This work and all of the people who do it have transformed me.
After 16 years I feel ready for something new. I’m thankful to have had the time and space over the past year to be deliberate with this transition and work with two longtime comrades, Fred and Jake, to plan what comes next for MAP. We’ve built an institution that will continue through changing terrain and conditions to be a resource for cultivating movements for social change. I’m proud to leave this work in such capable hands. I don’t know what my next movement contribution will be, but I’ll keep being in MAP’s corner, rooting for the movements we hold dear. Thank you for letting me serve this organization and this community, and thank you for supporting MAP then and into the future.
Onward,
Bryan Mercer
Outgoing Executive Director
