Community Building in the Washington, DC area!!

SFP Editor: What inspired you to start Atlas Corp? Scott Beale: While working with anti-human trafficking leaders in India, I realized how much knowledge Indian nonprofit leaders had to offer and the value that nonprofit exchanges could bring to the United States. After talking to the founder of the "Indian AmeriCorps," I began to imagine what an Indian Peace Corps would look like and what US organizations could learn from India leaders and vice-versa. The Atlas Corps model was also inspired by the globalization of the private sector: good ideas and talented people cross borders to strengthen companies and grow economies. I thought, "If this can be done in the private sector, then why not in the nonprofit sector?"

SFP Editor: : What inspired you to start Atlas Corp?

Scott Beale: While working with anti-human trafficking leaders in India, I realized how much knowledge Indian nonprofit leaders had to offer and the value that nonprofit exchanges could bring to the United States. After talking to the founder of the "Indian AmeriCorps," I began to imagine what an Indian Peace Corps would look like and what US organizations could learn from India leaders and vice-versa.

The Atlas Corps model was also inspired by the globalization of the private sector: good ideas and talented people cross borders to strengthen companies and grow economies. I thought, "If this can be done in the private sector, then why not in the nonprofit sector?"

Having worked in the US Embassy I knew that visa restrictions were one of the biggest factors in preventing this type of exchange, but I knew how to overcome them. The high cost was also a limiting factor, but I had an idea, through the Host organization cost share, to reduce the amount of money I would need to raise.

I figured, I am at the right time in my life and have the right experience to take the risk and try to make it happen.

SFP Editor: How did you get involved in international development work?

Scott Beale: I studied at Georgetown University and was always interested in international development. When I was a sophomore, I went to Bosnia on a volunteer trip to work for young people over Spring Break and then as a junior, I dropped out of Georgetown to go back to Bosnia to become the youngest-ever Core Supervisor with the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) organizing elections in Bosnia. After graduation I got involved in US politics and US nonprofits, but then started working for the U.S. Department of State in India addressing anti-trafficking issues.

SFP Editor: What is Atlas Corp and what is your goal for the organization moving forward?

Scott Beale: Atlas Service Corps, Inc. (Atlas Corps) is an international nonprofit organization that is building a global partnership for development through an innovative fellowship program. We select rising nonprofit leaders to volunteer overseas for one year to learn best practices, share unique perspectives, and then return home to create a global partnership for development. The focus of our program is global south nonprofit leaders volunteering in the U.S. (some call our program a "reverse Peace Corps").

Atlas Corps is unique because we are the only organization bringing nonprofit leaders from the global south to the U.S. on a one-year, full-time, non- university based volunteering program. However, in our second year we will also take U.S. leaders to volunteer in Colombia.

SFP Editor: Who is eligible to be a Fellow?

Scott Beale: Atlas Corps facilitates international fellowships for rising citizen sector leaders who contribute a year of service to the U.S. These Fellows then commit to work an additional year in the citizen sector of their home country, sharing new skills, best practices, and valuable experience. Fellows must be citizens of Colombia, Ecuador or India (for fellowships to the United States); or from the United States (for fellowships to Bogotá, Colombia). Have 3-8 years of experience in the citizen sector of your home country.

SFP Editor: What key development issues does Atlas Corps focus on and how will the fellows help in this effort?

Scott Beale: Atlas Corps Fellows address a wide variety of issues, but focus on the United Nations Millennium Development Goals, as well as human rights. In particular, Atlas Corps will partner with U.S. citizen sector organizations and seek Fellows who are addressing Hunger/Poverty, Education, Gender Equity, Health, the Environment and Human Rights.

SFP Editor: What types of partners are involved with Atlas corps and what is their role?

Scott Beale: There are various types of partners with the Atlas Service Corps ranging from international citizen sector organization partners, corporate partners, academic partners, US citizen sector organizations, U.S. community based organizations, and student groups. Atlas Corps seeks to partner with U.S. Citizen Sector Organizations in the Washington, DC area to host an Atlas Corps Fellow on a one-year Fellowship from September-August.

SFP Editor: What type of philosophy do you incorporate into your efforts?

Scott Beale: I believe strongly in social entrepreneurship - that nonprofit organizations can be run even more efficiently and effectively than the private sector. That innovation, scale, sustainability and impact are guide posts for our organization.

My theory of change is guided by four beliefs: 1) There is no limit to the difference that individuals can make. 2) No one society has a monopoly on good ideas. 3) There are few institutional ways to share and spread knowledge across borders in the citizen sector. 4) The global south should be seen as a partner, and not just a recipient, of global development.

I believe that while I do not have the answer to all the problems in the world, those solutions will come about by people working together. Fundamentally, this what I do at Atlas Corps - bring people together to solved problems.

SFP Editor: Where does Atlas Corps operate,why these locations and do you have plans to expand?

Scott Beale: For our pilot year, Atlas Corps works in India, Colombia, and Washington, D.C., U.S.A. We eventually plan to expand around the world. These areas were chosen to pilot the model in two very different "global south" nations. India will soon have the largest population in the world and is the home to most of the world's poorest people. Despite (or perhaps because of) these challenges they have a well developed citizen sector. Colombia is a much smaller, in many ways wealthier country, but has struggled from years of military conflict and a country ravaged by the drug war. By taking rising stars from these two very different countries, Atlas Corps can better prove that the model will work worldwide.

SFP Editor: What type of volunteer opportunities are there to help Atlas Corps?

Scott Beale: There are many ways to volunteer. In India, we need help recruiting partners, funders, and Fellows. We need support developing our "India Program Board." Help us with our website, reaching out to media, connecting with schools, building a nominator network. In Colombia, we need help building the network, recruiting partners, Fellows and funders. If you speak Spanish, we need help with translators of documents. If you are in Colombia, volunteer directly with the Founder in his office to develop the organization on multiple levels. In Washington, DC, we need help recruiting Host nonprofit organizations, looking for office space (probably in another nonprofit), doing fundraising proposals, spreading awareness, etc. We need help from someone who is interested in developing the college network, or willing to do outreach to civic or religious organizations to become sponsors. We need help with the "DC Friends of Atlas Corps" group that serves as a welcoming committee for Fellows coming to Washington.

SFP Editor: Can you share a success story from your efforts so far?

Scott Beale: One of my favorite success stories is the experience of our very first Atlas Corps Fellow, Sergio Zuluaga. Sergio is a 25 year old nonprofit leader from Colombia who had experience working with young people in dangerous communities in Bogota. He came to the U.S. to volunteer with Mobilize.org and he has had the most amazing experience. Every day he says he learns something new, meets interesting people and enjoys his experience (despite the hard work!) but more than just the personal development, Sergio believes that he is learning skills and gaining ideas that will make Colombia a better country. Furthermore, Mobilize.org found Sergio to be a hugely important member of their team. He has ideas, experience and energy that is critical to their work. They have had such a positive experience that they are renewing for next year – and even paying a large cost share for another Fellow from Colombia. If we can more successes like this where the Fellow and the Host consider the experience to be a big win, then ultimately the entire sector benefits from these new avenues of cooperation.

SFP Editor: Congrats on winning the $50K as part of the America’s Giving Challenge. What have you learned about winning the challenge?

Scott Beale: Thank you. The contest was a lot of work and only possible because SO many people chipped in. I learned that there is a huge support network out there for Atlas Corps (1,615 people donated over the month long contest) and that the support of volunteers and friends advocating on our behalf will continue to be critical to our success. I have learned that it is worth shooting for the big prizes because with enough work they may just pay off. I have learned how online social networks are helpful, and where they are limited. And, the contest has reinforced my belief how important it is to be comfortable asking for help.