Longfellow resident named Bush Fellow

Longfellow resident Heather Cusick (photo right provided) has been named a 2019 Bush Fellow, one of the 24 visionary leaders who is thinking big about how to invest in their leadership to creatively solve problems in their communities. The Bush Foundation’s Fellows hail from communities in Minnesota, N. Dakota, S. Dakota and the 23 Native nations located within those states.

The Bush Fellowship provides Fellows with up to $100,000 over 12 to 24 months to pursue learning experiences that help them develop leadership skills and attributes. The Fellowship is distinctive in its flexibility, allowing Fellows to articulate what they need to become more effective and agile leaders. Fellows can use the funding to pursue advanced education, networking opportunities, and leadership resources, workshops, and training.

Cusick learned first-hand the stabilizing force of nature when her struggling family moved to a 100-acre farm in rural Kansas. There, she found that the land had the power to heal. This childhood informed her lifelong commitment to environmental protection, especially to communities that are most deeply impacted by climate-disrupting pollution.

A senior leader of the Sierra Club’s effective approach to carbon reduction in the electric sector, Cusick now wants to expand her focus to agriculture and climate advocacy. With the understanding that this work will take new knowledge and compelling leadership, she will study agricultural models around the world, build equity and racial justice competency, and seek coaching to build a stronger public voice.

A total of 684 people applied for the 2019 Bush Fellowship. The 24 Fellows were selected through a multi-stage process involving Bush Fellowship alumni, Bush Foundation staff and established regional leaders.