From Tax Credits to Leadership: How GSO Fellows Made an Impact Across California
June 22, 2026
When the 2026 Golden State Opportunity fellows began their journey, they expected to learn about organizing, outreach, and advocacy. What many didn’t expect was how much they would learn from the communities they served—and how those experiences would shape their future goals.
Over the past year, fellows supported some of GSO’s biggest initiatives, from Tacos & Taxes events and voter registration campaigns to text banking and the “It’s Not Too Late to File” bus tour. Along the way, they gained firsthand insight into the challenges families face and the impact that trusted resources can have on people’s lives.
Learning from Community
For Distributed Organizing Fellow Jessica Hernandez-Beltran, one of the biggest surprises was discovering how many Californians were unaware of free tax filing services and cash-back tax credits. “What surprised me the most about the fellowship experience was that not many people are aware of the free financial resources that exist,” she said. “The reality is that low-income people don’t have to spend a single dollar to get their taxes done – they can do so for free. I’ve seen firsthand how access to information benefits everyone.”
Those conversations made a lasting impression. One of Hernandez-Beltran’s most meaningful experiences was helping connect Californians to nearby VITA sites. “I was able to connect five people from different regions across California to a VITA site near them using the GSO VITA site locator,” she said. “It gladdens me when people show interest in the resources we’re sharing with them.”
Learning by Doing
The fellowship gave participants an opportunity to experience community organizing up close and gain practical skills along the way.
Community Organizing Fellow Garooneh Khachatori said she was surprised by how much she was able to do on her own as part of the fellowship, truly learning on the job with the guidance of staff. “Something that surprised me about this fellowship was how much I got to contribute and take action on my own,” she said. “Even during the Tacos & Taxes events, I was able to problem solve on my own and help out in areas I was not expecting.”
Community Organizing Fellow Keara Kelleher also found the fellowship to be a powerful learning experience. One of her most memorable moments came during her first Tacos & Taxes event. “The opportunity to speak with community members who came in for free tax filing services really rooted me in the impact of this work,” she said. “It was awesome to see how all the moving parts came together to bring much-needed services to the community.”
Skills That Last Beyond the Fellowship
According to Andy Rodriguez, GSO’s Senior Organizing Manager, the fellowship’s greatest value comes from learning directly from the community. “I think they learned a lot by being out in the community and working directly with people,” Rodriguez said. “They built skills around teamwork, collaboration, staying organized, following through on assignments, and being present with clients.” Rodriguez believes those experiences helped fellows gain a deeper understanding of the work itself. “What I appreciated most is that they were not just helping with tasks,” he said. “They were learning what this work really looks like on the ground and how small moments of support can make a big difference for families and community members.”
Jordan Penland, GSO’s Research & Data Analyst, saw that growth firsthand throughout the fellowship year.
“The fellows have been fundamental to our work this year; from bus tour, to voter registration to textbanking, to tacos and taxes and beyond,” Penland said. “I have seen them learn and adapt to the flexible nature of organizing work and how you may be thrown curveballs and surprises, but you can and will find ways to overcome them and excel. Each of the fellows has shown initiative and a true dedication to our anti-poverty work.”
Looking Ahead
For many fellows, the experience helped clarify what they want to do next. “This fellowship has influenced my future career goals because it reaffirmed my desire to work in impact-oriented organizations that uplift and positively impact people’s lives,” Hernandez-Beltran said.
For Khachatori, working alongside organizations serving underserved communities strengthened her commitment to community medicine. “Through collecting testimonials during this fellowship, I’ve been able to connect more with the community and hear their stories,” she said. “Witnessing firsthand the impact of GSO in expanding access in under-resourced communities has cemented my desire to continue serving underserved populations as a physician.”
Kelleher said the experience deepened her passion for organizing and community engagement, lessons she plans to carry forward into her new role as a GSO Operations Associate.
As the fellowship comes to a close, the lessons learned extend far beyond outreach campaigns and community events. The 2026 fellowship may be ending, but the next generation of leaders it helped shape is just getting started.