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As we pass the halfway mark of calling the Sojourners fellows’ house our home, we are grateful for the ways we’ve cultivated new community, hobbies, and relationships in our time here. As the weather warms up, we are excited to continue exploring Washington, D.C., and frequenting Meridian Hill Park, known by locals as Malcolm X Park, where we spend a lot of time reading, people watching, and saying hello to our favorite canine neighbors.
The Cycle 40 fellows bring our values of stewardship, joy, grace, and storytelling. We are committed to an atmosphere of continued learning, both spiritual and political, as we put our faith in action for social justice. We are grateful for the 50+ year legacy of the Sojourners community and strive to contribute to its continued purpose. We have experienced the challenges and joys of community living, and we look forward to the rest of our time together at Sojourners and in Washington, D.C.
In our house, we celebrate each other; we support each other through difficult times; we sit around the dinner table well past when our plates have been emptied. We welcome friends old and new to our home, and, most importantly, we often read together with a YouTube fireplace crackling in the background.
We thank you for your generous support as Sojourners seeks to inspire hope and build a movement to transform individuals, communities, the church, and the world. Thank you for participating in the biblical call to justice.
Please continue reading below to learn more about this year’s fellow class, including what each of us has learned in our time so far.
Grace and peace,
Cycle 40
Ezra Craker, online editorial assistant
Ezra Craker grew up in Grand Rapids, Mich., and graduated from Calvin University, where he studied writing, political science, and Spanish. He was a reporter and editor at Calvin’s newspaper, Chimes, and a staff member of the campus creative journal, Dialogue. During his time in college, he also interned at the independent literary publisher Tupelo Press and the Center for Public Justice, a public policy and civic education organization.
In his free time, Ezra enjoys reading, chatting about pop culture, and spreading the gospel of the aptly named Great Lakes.
One thing Ezra has learned from the fellowship so far, in his own words: “It’s important to be vigilant about accuracy when making an argument, even if it complicates your narrative. Movements are strengthened by integrity, not weakened by it.”
Renée Hogan, mobilizing and policy assistant
Renée Hogan is the mobilizing and policy assistant at Sojourners. She has prior experience in nonprofit administration, summer camp and retreat ministry, and proofreading. Originally from Williamsburg, Va., she grew up around history and remains passionate about delving into the complexities of American stories and culture.
Renée recently completed a master’s in Cultural History, Memory, & Identity from the University of Brighton and has a bachelor’s in history and one in English with a concentration in writing. Her research focused on folk music in peace and protest, apathy in postwar literature, and landscape memory.
Having grown up near the James River, Renée is happiest near a body of water and enjoys spending time paddle boarding, exploring the great outdoors, and reading outside. She has held many odd jobs, meaning she is happy to teach you to waltz or make a Manhattan.
One thing Renée has learned from the fellowship so far, in her own words: “In my time as the mobilizing and policy fellow, I have been inspired by all the people of faith working in advocacy and justice in D.C., on a local and national scale. I have learned the power and challenges of engaging with your faith in these spaces.”
Greta Lapp Klassen, editorial assistant
Greta Lapp Klassen (she/her) grew up in Goshen, Ind., and recently graduated from Goshen College with majors in English and art and a minor in writing. Between high school and college, Greta did a service year in Bolivia with Mennonite Central Committee, living and working in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. While in college, Greta served as the executive editor of her school’s newspaper, The Record; during her time on staff, she wrote for every section of the paper except sports, worked on the layout team, and contributed illustrations and comics. She also served as the English department’s Horswell Fellow for two years, organizing and running Goshen College’s in-house publishing press, Pinchpenny Press. She is passionate about reading and writing fiction, and she published a collection of short stories, A Prayer (for any God who finds themselves available), with Pinchpenny Press her senior year.
Greta was also involved in music during college, playing violin in the orchestra and singing in the upper voices choir. She was a leader of Goshen Monologues, a group that organizes an annual storytelling project inspired by Eve Ensler’s The Vagina Monologues and she won the 2022 C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest for her speech “Humanizing Our World, One Walkway at a Time.” Last spring, she exhibited a series of six acrylic portraits for her senior art show, and enjoys painting, making collages, and perfecting her technique on the potter’s wheel when she has the time.
Greta also likes to bike, and in the summer of 2021, she rode across the country with the Anabaptist Climate Collaborative to spread awareness about climate change and learn how it is affecting different parts of the country. In her free time, she loves to swim, bake, and catch up on all the pop culture and pop music that she was woefully unaware of during her childhood (Recent discoveries include *NSYNC, One Direction, and Carly Rae Jepsen).
One thing Greta has learned from the fellowship so far, in her own words: “It is important to balance taking time for yourself with time spent in community!”
Fiona Schieve, circulation and administration assistant
Fiona Schieve is the circulation and administration assistant at Sojourners. She is from Winchester, Va., and has the apple obsession to show for it. During her gap year she worked as a campaign volunteer to help flip a district that had been red since 1981 blue during the “blue wave” of 2018.
She recently graduated from the College of Wooster with a joint bachelor’s degree in political science and religious studies. Her senior independent study project, “GOP Jesus and Trump: An Exploration of the Usage of Evangelical Christianity by Donald Trump,” explored how the former president was able to gain the support of evangelical “value voters” on the Right during the 2016 electoral cycle. This project received both a Paul DeWitt Twinem Bible award and an award for most timely research.
In her free time, Fiona enjoys baking, thrifting, going to concerts, and scrolling through TikTok.
One thing Fiona has learned from the fellowship so far, in her own words: “I’ve learned a lot about living with others. It’s important to learn to balance prioritizing communal needs and personal needs.”
Lexi Schnaser, social media and communications assistant
Lexi Schnaser (she/her) is the social media and communications assistant at Sojourners.
Lexi grew up in a small town in Minnesota. She studied political science and criminal justice at Dordt University where she was also involved in student government and the campus newspaper, The Diamond. She also had the opportunity to study abroad at Oxford University.
Staying rooted in the idea that all people are created with dignity, she has always had a passion for the intersection of faith and social justice, especially LGBTQ+ issues. In being at Sojourners, she hopes to learn more about herself, her faith, and what she wants to do when she grows up.
Outside of work, Lexi enjoys baking, reading, wandering museums and bookstores, and calling her long-distance friends.
One thing Lexi has learned from the fellowship so far, in her own words: “I’ve enjoyed living in community with others who encourage me and challenge me in different ways. It’s not always easy, but it is always interesting!”
Xena Scott, donor services assistant
Xena Scott was born and raised in Tampa, Fla., where he was very grateful to have grown up on the coast. He graduated in 2021 from Florida International University with a bachelor’s degree in French and Francophone studies with a minor in English. His senior thesis focused on how French societal values shaped the presence of women in French political movements.
Xena's interest in environmental justice brought him to Sojourners. Having been raised along a coastline, Xena's love for the ocean, and the protection of it, has been a passion of his from an early age. But it was his heightened interest in “sacrifice zones” that changed his motivations from what he thought were cosmetic changes to a holistic initiative for climate justice. Xena is proud to work at an organization that prioritizes the mission of social justice and hopes to further the mission of climate justice.
In his spare time, you can find Xena perusing the science fiction section of the local bookstore, writing poetry, or making his bi-weekly visit to the Baltimore Aquarium.
One thing Xena has learned from the fellowship so far, in his own words: “I’ve learned so much about intentional community. I’ve taken time to carve out a place for myself in D.C. by building community with people that have enriched my life, and [I] hopefully enrich their lives as well.”
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