We were thrilled to see that Nexus board member Georgia Fort, BCLI alumni Carl Johnson and Elvis Rivera, and longtime Nexus partner Chanda Smith Baker are among this year’s Bush Fellows! They’re part of a group of 29 visionary leaders shaping communities in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and the 23 Native nations that share that geography. Read the excerpts below from their Bush Foundation bios!
- “As founder of BLCK Press and the Center for Broadcast Journalism, Georgia Fort is creating pathways for Black and Brown journalists to not only enter the field, but to transform it. After being denied maternity leave as a news anchor, she left mainstream media and launched her own platform to cover underreported stories. Her team’s coverage of the George Floyd protests reached more than 18 million viewers and helped shift national narratives. Today, her newsroom is a trusted source in Minnesota, earning 12 regional Emmy nominations, three wins and national recognition for innovation and impact.”
- “Carl D. Johnson is recognized as a visionary leader committed to ensuring marginalized communities have access to healthy, culturally relevant foods. He is transforming food access and economic opportunity on St. Paul’s East Side through faith-rooted community building, radical hospitality and visionary entrepreneurship. A former gang member and addict turned pastor and community leader, Carl is the founder of the East Side’s first Black-owned grocery store, Storehouse Grocers and Coffee, as well as the George Washington Carver Cultural Center, a thriving community hub. His leadership spans worker-owned cooperatives, youth mentorship, workforce development and civic engagement.”
- “Elvis Rivera brings firsthand knowledge, professional expertise and heartfelt determination to his mission: closing the racial wealth gap for Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC) communities. A first-generation Guatemalan immigrant who survived childhood homelessness and violence, Elvis arrived in Minnesota at age nine and quickly learned how poverty, racism and legal barriers shape lives. Today, as a financial advisor, nonprofit leader, and community connector, he shares the wealth-building tools often reserved for the privileged.”
- “Chanda Smith Baker has spent her life supporting people, organizations, and communities in doing their best work. A daughter of North Minneapolis and a descendant of generations of educators, advocates and builders, Chanda has led with community at the center across nonprofits, boardrooms, philanthropy and the airwaves. She envisioned North Market, co-founded the Black Collective Foundation MN, and amplifies bold voices through her podcast Conversations with Chanda.“
The Bush Foundation’s Bush Fellowship is a self-designed leadership program that gives individuals the flexibility they need to develop their own capacity to lead effectively. Our Founder and CEO, Repa Mekha, is also an alum of the program!
Congratulations to all the 2025 fellows!
