Thinkers Exploring Questions That Matter

About

Phil Hissom is the Founding Senior Fellow of the POLIS Institute Fellowship Program and a leader in community strategy and philanthropic engagement. With a long-standing commitment to strengthening communities, Phil has worked across sectors to help align people, resources, and organizations toward meaningful impact. He brings a systems-level perspective shaped by years of experience in philanthropy and community development, helping translate real-world insight into clear direction for decision-makers. Through his role, Phil helps shape the vision and thought leadership of the POLIS Fellowship Program.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Guide the intellectual direction of the fellowship
• Synthesize insights across all fellowship tiers
• Translate findings into clear frameworks for philanthropic decision-making

Expected Contribution

Investment frameworks, strategic briefs, and thought leadership guiding philanthropic investment

Fellowship Investment Range

$10,000 – $25,000

This work is connected to POLIS’ partnership with MVP Strong Families, supporting families across Central Florida.

About

Dr. Ella Merkison is an educational leader and consultant with over 35 years of experience in education, leadership development, and cultural competency. She has dedicated her career to improving outcomes for students and strengthening the systems that support them, with a focus on equity, access, and opportunity for marginalized communities. Through her work at the school, district and state levels, Dr. Merkison has helped leaders and organizations better understand how education can serve as a pathway to stability, empowerment, and long-term success for families.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Synthesize insights from community, student, and project-level work
• Provide expertise on how education systems impact family outcomes
• Contribute to thought leadership that informs philanthropic and policy decisions

Expected Contribution

White papers, investment briefs, and strategic insights focused on education and family stability

Fellowship Investment Range

$10,000 – $25,000

This work is connected to POLIS’ partnership with MVP Strong Families, supporting families across Central Florida.

About

Shawn Welcome is an award-winning poet, professional speaker, educator, facilitator, and former Poet Laureate for the City of Orlando. He is the founder of Shawn Welcome & Associates and co-founder of the Literary Arts Council of Central Florida. In 2006, he founded Diverse Word, Central Florida’s longest-running open mic, creating an enduring platform for creative expression and community voice.

With a background in English literature and applied sociology, Shawn combines creativity with an asset-based approach to community development. His work uses poetry, storytelling, education, and facilitation to amplify community voices, engage young people, and bring greater awareness to social issues. His experience includes leading the poetry component of a Bloomberg Philanthropies-funded City of Orlando initiative addressing food insecurity through the arts, as well as educational and creative work with schools, universities, community organizations, and major institutions.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Use poetry and storytelling to amplify community voices and lived experience
• Explore creative approaches to fatherhood, education, and youth engagement
• Translate community insight into public conversations, experiences, and creative works

Expected Contribution

Creative works, storytelling, facilitation, and public engagement that bring community research and lived experience to life.

Fellowship Investment Range

$3,500 – $10,000

Shawn’s work supports POLIS’ research and community engagement by using creativity and storytelling to elevate lived experience, with particular emphasis on fatherhood, education, and youth voice.

About

Crystal Hamilton is the Founder and Executive Director of GO!MOM Empowers, Inc., where she leads initiatives that empower single mothers to rise, thrive, and break through barriers. Rooted in her own journey as a single mother, Crystal created programs and a community designed to help single moms move out of survival mode towards making confident, informed decisions across their finances, mental health, and relationships. Through structured support and real-life application, Crystal is helping single moms across Central Florida create lasting change for themselves and their families.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Document and analyze outcomes from her work with mothers and families
• Identify patterns that impact long-term family stability
• Translate real-world experience into insight for philanthropic decision-making

Expected Contribution

Applied research report and program insights based on MVP Strong Families engagement.

Fellowship Investment Range

$7,500 – $15,000

This work is connected to POLIS’ partnership with MVP Strong Families, supporting families across Central Florida.

About

Jonathan Williams is a Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Central Florida with a focus on robotics, systems, and applied engineering. He brings a hands-on approach to problem-solving, with an interest in how physical systems can be designed to improve everyday life. In addition to his academic work, Jonathan is actively engaged in community service and values opportunities to apply his skills in ways that support and strengthen communities.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Analyze how infrastructure and systems impact daily life for families
• Explore connections between access, mobility, and family stability
• Contribute to applied research tied to real-world community conditions

Expected Contribution

Research memos and applied analysis focused on infrastructure, access, and family outcomes

Fellowship Investment Range

$3,000 – $7,500

This work is connected to POLIS’ partnership with MVP Strong Families, supporting families across Central Florida.

About

Payton Kallenberger is an Aerospace Engineering student at the University of Central Florida with a minor in dance. She combines technical training with creative expression, bringing a unique perspective to problem-solving and collaboration. Originally from Montana, Payton values connection, leadership, and active engagement. She is involved in multiple campus organizations, including the Society of Women Engineers and the Society of Women in Space Exploration, and conducts undergraduate research in concrete 3D printing through the Knight 3D lab under the direction of Dr. Andrew Yun.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Explore how emerging technologies and infrastructure trends impact family opportunity
• Translate complex technical concepts into practical insight for decision-makers
• Support research connecting systems-level innovation to real-world family outcomes

Expected Contribution

Research memos and insight summaries focused on the intersection of technology, infrastructure, and family stability

Fellowship Investment Range

$3,000 – $7,500

This work is connected to POLIS’ partnership with MVP Strong Families, supporting families across Central Florida.

About

AnnMarie Alvarado is the founder of Bee Creative Educational Consulting, where she supports children of all abilities through creative learning, caregiver collaboration, and community connection. Her work focuses on creating nurturing environments where children feel valued, supported, and encouraged to grow.

She has worked closely with families to coordinate services, support developmental needs, and strengthen caregiver understanding, helping families navigate systems that impact their children’s growth and long-term success.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Share real-world insight from working with children and families
• Identify patterns in early childhood development and family needs
• Help surface opportunities to strengthen family support systems

Expected Contribution

Ongoing insight, reflections, and observations that inform how programs better support children and families

Fellowship Investment Range

$1,500 – $5,000

This work is connected to POLIS’ partnership with MVP Strong Families, supporting families across Central Florida.

About

Edeline Esperance, MSW, is a Florida Registered Clinical Social Work Intern, therapist, doctoral student, and founder of Essence of Empowerment. Her experience spans crisis intervention, school-based services, outpatient therapy, and community support, serving children, adolescents, adults, and families. Her work focuses on mental health, prevention, trauma, advocacy, and the social and economic factors that influence well-being. Her résumé also reflects experience in education and nonprofit leadership.

Edeline brings together clinical experience, community engagement, entrepreneurship, and doctoral-level research to examine challenges beyond the therapy room. She is particularly interested in the relationship between mental health, affordability, financial stress, and access to resources, as well as preventive approaches that support young people before challenges become crises.

As a Fellow, I Will

• Explore barriers to affordable and accessible mental health support
• Examine how financial stress and other social factors affect mental well-being
• Help translate community and clinical insight into practical, preventive solutions

Expected Contribution

Community-informed research and insight that connects mental health, affordability, prevention, and access to practical solutions for individuals and families.

Fellowship Investment Range

$1,500 – $5,000

Edeline’s work supports POLIS’ focus on strengthening families while exploring the intersection of financial well-being, mental health, and access to resources.