Introducing our 2026 Fellowship Class
ReNew Democracy Foundation Fellows (L-R) B. Eni Owoeye, Mahika Meesa, Angel Amankwaah, and Daniel Cronin.
The ReNew Democracy Foundation is proud to announce the selection of its second fellowship class. Launched in 2024 to open doors for underrepresented voices in Congress, the fellowship continues to support aspiring public servants through paid opportunities to serve in pragmatic, center-left offices on Capitol Hill. We received a staggering 500 applications this year and were humbled by the caliber of applicants and the degree of interest. And thanks to a generous grant from Coefficient Giving, we were able to appoint our first ever Senior Fellow, Sam Jacobson, who is focused on housing abundance in the Senate. We couldn’t be more proud to announce this year’s class.
The 2026 ReNew Democracy Foundation Fellows are:
Angel Amankwaah (she/her)
Host Office: Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06)
Angel is a first-generation immigrant from Kumasi, Ghana, who moved to the United States at the age of five through the visa lottery. As a ReNew Democracy Foundation Fellow, Angel serves in the office of Congressman Sean Casten (IL-06) as a Digital Communications Fellow. In this role, she will help translate the office’s legislative work into engaging, accessible content for constituents, with the goal of increasing transparency, civic awareness, and public understanding of how Congress works for the people. A proud magna cum laude graduate of North Carolina Central University, Angel earned her B.A. in Political Science. Guided by her faith and a commitment to service, Angel strives to live out her values with compassion and purpose.
B. Eni Owoeye (she/her)
Host Office: Congresswoman Susie Lee (NV-03)
Eni is a first generation Nigerian-American born in Brooklyn and based in Baltimore. She holds a Master’s in Public Policy from Duke and dual magna cum laude degrees from NYU in International Relations and Environmental Science. Eni’s experience spans the State Department, UN Foundation, NOAA, and a Fulbright in Romania, focusing on environmental policy, the maritime shipping industry, national defense, and foreign policy. In her free time, she enjoys volunteering, interfaith work, hiking, and Costco runs.
Daniel Cronin (he/him)
Host Office: Congresswoman Lori Trahan (MA-03)
Daniel is a Macaulay Honors College graduate with a B.A. in History, Political Science, and Classical Studies. Daniel has led student government initiatives, advocated for economic mobility, and supported efforts to expand the Earned Income and Child Tax Credits. A Queens native, he enjoys soccer, Mets games, and exploring new foods.
Mahika Meesa (she/her)
Host Office: Congressman Morgan McGarvey (KY-03)
Mahika is a first-generation South Asian American and University of Kansas honors graduate with a B.A. in Political Science and minors in Business and Dance. Mahika previously interned for Representative Sharice Davids, an opportunity that deepened her passion for constituent advocacy. She served in student government, the South Asian Student Association, and taught dance for the City of Lenexa Parks and Recreation Department. Raised in Kansas City, she enjoys taking dance classes, choreographing, exploring new foods, and traveling.
Sam Jacobson (he/him)
Host Office: Senator Chris Van Hollen (D-MD)
Sam is a Harvard Law School graduate who has focused on housing policy. He has experience at the Niskanen Center, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, and both sides of Capitol Hill. He has published work in the Federation of American Scientists and HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research Edge Magazine.
Photo of Senior Fellow Sam Jacobson.
With their first month under their belt, the fellows have successfully embarked upon their fellowship journeys. Throughout the nine months of the fellowship, the fellows will receive mentorship, professional development, and the chance to contribute directly to the policymaking process. Much like the inaugural class before them, the new fellows will also complete capstone projects to create solutions that center the constituents from their host office’s district.
Supporters of the program can help sustain this work by donating, partnering, or sharing ReNew’s mission. To learn more, visit ReNew Democracy Foundation’s Take Action page.
For updates on the fellows and their work throughout the year, visit renewdemocracyfoundation.org and follow ReNew on Instagram or LinkedIn.
About the ReNew Democracy Foundation
The ReNew Democracy Foundation seeks to open doors for a diversity of new voices from across the country who want to make a difference in pragmatic, solutions-oriented, center-left congressional offices by supporting these future leaders with educational development opportunities, mentorship and professional networking through the ReNew Democracy Fellowship.