Giving Every Tuesday: Kersha Taitano represents in Starling Collective

Kersha Taitano one of 50 leaders around the world selected to be a cohort as part of Giving Tuesday's Starling Collective.

Late last year Kersha Taitano represented Guam as one of Giving Tuesday's Starling Cohorts. She was amoong  50 other leaders selected from around the world who was given the opportunity to  work on developing leadership skills, networking, and building a community initiative over the course of six months. Taitano said it still feels like a "pinch me" moment, and that it feels surreal.

"A lot of people who joined, they are part of organizations that were seeking support for something they had been doing for 10-15 years or they were part of a school group. I joined with only an idea," she told KUAM News. "Being able to take that idea and for six months work with the people at giving tuesday, the other people of my regional cohort and our overall cohort."

Taitano said she was reminded that giving and making change in our community is a global thing.

"It doesn't need to be a huge million-dollar endeavor. It's something as small as  hearing everyone's projects - it was so simple - setting up a couch in UK in the street and having coffee with strangers or setting up game nights in Vietnam for those who have disabilities so they can make connections in the workplace. I was left so inspired," she said.

So what has she been up since the course wrapped-up in March? "I have been doing a lot of foundation work for a non-profit i hope to establish this year, if not, next. To officially launch my project," he said.

She encourages those interested to apply for the upcoming cycle. The deadline to apply is September 1. "Giving Tuesday is really big on reminding people; it's the small things that you can do  for others that reall makes a difference," she said.

"Another thing I'd like to throw out there - I'd love to see more representation from Guam. They are looking for people who have ideas and  want to do good in the community and I feel that Guam has a lot of those people."