CLASSACT NEWS

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DEMOCRACY AT 250: IS YOUR MIDTERM VOTE AT RISK?

SEPTEMBER 14, 2026, 5:00 - 6:30pm ET

It is our great pleasure to welcome Wasim Gohar of Pakistan as the 2026-27 Benazir Bhutto Leadership Program Fellow. The fellowship supports his year as a Mason Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

You will see from Wasim’s bio that he embodies our classmate Benzir’s commitment to democracy for Pakistan and for all of its citizens. Wasim is our ninth Bhutto Fellow and the fourth from Pakistan. When we started this program 13 years ago we had funds to support about four to five Fellows total.

Pictured L-R: Marion Dry '73, Leigh Hafrey '73, Wasim Gohar

Through the generosity of our classmates, our 50th reunion giving added significantly to that amount and the fellowship, which is administered by HKS, continues. As you have seen over the years, each fellow brings a track record of service to his or her country and the world when they start their year at HKS, and they leave their time at Harvard with deeper knowledge and perspective and a global network of people committed to making the world a better place. I am so proud that ClassACT HR73, through the generosity of many classmates, is able to help these leaders grow and flourish, and thus, spread the “wealth” in their communities, countries and the world.

We will be welcoming Wasim in person at a Boston area event this fall. Please look for an invitation and join us.

Thank you to all of you who have contributed to this fellowship. You have made all of this possible.

WELCOME, WASIM!

Marion Dry, Chair ClassACT HR73

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Meet Our Bridges is ClassACT HR73’s way to introduce our classmates and extended community to our Bridge Partners by letting them create awareness of their mission as well as solicit volunteer help and/or donations.

On September 24th, join us as we introduce SOTENI International, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization registered in the U.S. and Kenya, with more than 20 years of experience working alongside rural communities in Kenya. Founded in 2003 to improve access to healthcare and support for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families, SOTENI today supports more than 3,000 people affected by HIV/AIDS and their households.

SOTENI Board Chair Vic Wulson HR85 and Operations Manager Dr. Pooja Rachewad will share SOTENI’s journey through the people and communities at the heart of its work. A short video featuring the voices and personal stories of SOTENI beneficiaries will offer a firsthand look at the impact of SOTENI’s programs and the role that local leadership, community partnerships, and long-term commitment play in creating lasting change. The presentation will conclude with SOTENI’s “Adopt a Support Group” Campaign, an opportunity to help sustain and strengthen this work.

ClassACT HR73 continues to feature our classmates sharing their thoughts about democracy. This month Tom Cooper asks important questions about the state of voting in our country today. In addition to being a member of our renowned Class of 73 dance band, Sundance, Tom taught ethics for 36 years.

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Canyons, Seamounts, and the Law: Defending the Atlantic’s Only Marine National Monument.

With Priscilla M. Brooks, Vice President for Ocean Conservation,

Conservation Law Foundation

Join Priscilla M. Brooks as she discusses protecting special places in the sea and in particular the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts – a biodiversity hot spot located 130 miles off the coast of Cape Cod. The talk will focus on what makes this remote marine ecosystem so unique, the diverse array of wildlife it helps protect (from deep sea corals to endangered whales, seabirds, fish, and many other species), and why it is now at risk due to recent actions aimed at reopening the area to damaging commercial fishing.

In conjunction with Travis Lovett, Assistant Dean of Harvard College for Civic Engagement and Service, ClassACT HR73 held a webinar on Wednesday, April 29th which offered why and how Harvard classes could join the ClassACT Movement. Currently, there are 17 Harvard classes who are providing pro bono services to a variety of nonprofit causes. Given that Travis shared his database of current and former Philip Brooks House members, we sense that more classes will participate, especially younger ones. Marion Dry '73, Chair, and Stan Mark '73, Vice Chair, along with Liz Losos '85 and George Yeadon '75 shared their experiences of how they got started, what they are currently doing, along with their plans for the future.

Watch the webinar below!

Data science, behavioral science, and mobilizing environmentalists to vote

Whether you missed the session or want to refresh your memory, we offer the recording and resources on how to get involved with EVP below!

Follow-ups:

• The slides Nathaniel used for his talk -- a few key engagement links below:
• • Volunteer with the Environmental Voter Project
  • Donate to the Environmental Voter Project
  • Request a presentation like the one Nathaniel gave today for any interested groups you are a part of. Email info@environmentalvoter.org.
• A recording of the session, in case you missed it

Nathaniel Stinnett, Founder & Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project, discussed the organization's cutting-edge work using behavioral science to turn non-voting environmentalists into consistent voters. Nathaniel described the latest data and messaging techniques campaigns use to mobilize voters and provide insight into the climate movement's political opportunities in the 2026 midterms.

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Highlights Include:

-From the Chair: Marion Dry on our Culture Counts NYC Weekend

-BBLP Fellows Tahsina Nasrin and Waheed Ahmad Connect with ClassACT

-Voting Alert 1: To Vote or not to Vote

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Data science, behavioral science, and mobilizing environmentalists to vote

Join Nathaniel Stinnett, Founder & Executive Director of the Environmental Voter Project, to learn about the organization's cutting-edge work using behavioral science to turn non-voting environmentalists into consistent voters. Nathaniel will describe the latest data and messaging techniques campaigns use to mobilize voters and provide insight into the climate movement's political opportunities in the 2026 midterms.