Meet the 2026 Fellows

In February, four new fellows joined Golden State Opportunity to strengthen community outreach and develop the next generation of nonprofit leaders. The cohort includes Vanessa Del Rosario, Community Organizing Fellow; Garooneh Khachatori, Community Organizing Fellow; Jessica Hernandez-Beltran, Distributed Organizing Fellow; and Keara Kelleher, Community Organizing Fellow.

“For us, it’s really about building people power,” said Andy Rodriguez, Senior Organizing Manager. “Fellows get real, hands-on experience doing outreach and community engagement, and at the same time we’re growing the next generation of organizers. They’re people who already understand their communities, so we’re not just adding capacity – we’re investing in future leaders.”

The program has two tracks: one focused on digital outreach through texting, online campaigns, and connecting people to resources virtually and one focused on working in person in the community, talking to people, attending events, and helping families access benefits. During tax season, they are focused on supporting GSO’s Tacos & Taxes events, helping families file and claim credits. Afterward, they will focus on voter registration and a statewide “It’s Not Too Late to File” bus tour.

Hernandez-Beltran said she joined the fellowship to support low-income families and raise awareness about critical tax credits.

“The work that GSO does is extremely important because their work ensures that low-income families get informed of the different financial resources available to them,” she said. “This work resonates with me because I come from a low-income background and I know that awareness of this kind of information makes a huge difference.”

Keara Kelleher added that the work GSO does is more important now than ever as structural and economic inequality grows.

“Seeing the stories of those who have been impacted by the work of GSO is incredibly powerful,” she said. “It might seem like a small thing to some, but these tax credits and free tax preparation can make a real impact for individuals, families, and communities.”

Together, the four fellows are expanding GSO’s reach across California — both online and in person — while gaining hands-on experience in organizing, outreach, research, and advocacy. As they support families during tax season and beyond, the fellowship program continues to serve as both a community resource and a leadership pipeline, investing in the people who will carry this work forward.