WASHINGTON – Today, the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute and the David Bohnett Foundation announced Sacramento City Councilmember Steven Hansen as a graduate of the David Bohnett LGBTQ Leadership Fellowship. Hansen was one of three fellows for the July 2014 class where he spent three weeks in intense state and local government programing at the Harvard Kennedy School in Cambridge, Mass. The program helps senior executives hone their skills and furthers the leadership potential of already accomplished public servants.
“I congratulate Steve on this accomplishment – this intense program for senior executives at the Harvard Kennedy School is transformational,” said Torey Carter, managing director of the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute. “It provides a continuum of leadership development that bridges personal and professional growth with the skills necessary to address challenges that affect his community.”
“The current graduates from the Leadership Fellows program will join their alumni colleagues in leading exemplary lives of public service as open LGBTQ American citizens,” said David Bohnett, chairman of the David Bohnett Foundation. “The Fellow program empowers LGBTQ leaders who are making a difference in the world, honing skills and furthering their leadership potential.”
“The Bohnett Fellowship has fundamentally changed the way I think of my role and the opportunities to be a change agent,” said Sacramento City Councilmember Steve Hansen. “The skills and ideas learned at the Harvard Kennedy School will no doubt positively impact the rest of my career, as will the lasting friendships formed there.”
Hansen was elected to represent District Four on the Sacramento City Council in November 2012. He has worked as an advocate for neighborhoods, civil rights, and responsive government. For more than two years, Hansen worked for Equality California, a statewide advocacy group for the rights of LGBTQ Californians. During his two years as Legislative Director, California made tremendous progress in recognizing the LGBTQ movement as a civil rights issue. Hansen is a graduate of University of the Pacific McGeorge School of Law and has a Bachelor’s Degree in International Relations from Gonzaga University.
Since 2002, the David Bohnett Foundation in partnership with the Gay & Lesbian Victory Institute has sent a select group of LGBTQ fellows to participate in the summer program. The intensive, three-week session offers a balance of traditional and hands-on learning experiences to help public officials meet the changing needs of their communities. Hansen joins a distinguished group of alumni, including some the country’s top lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender political leaders – Houston Mayor Annise Parker and New York State Sen. Tom Duane (Manhattan).
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