Brooke Johnson, 2026 Carol Coston Fellow
BROOKE JOHNSON / COURTESY
Laili Shahrestani Editor-in-Chief
Brooke Johnson, a sophomore political science student at Manhattan University (MU) has been selected among a number of other applicants to serve as a 2026 Carol Coston Fellow.
The Carol Coston Fellowship is a nationally recognized, year-long paid opportunity that operates under NETWORK – a Catholic advocacy organization that aims for change at the federal level through Catholic social justice and reform work.
Upon receiving notice of her acceptance into the fellowship, Johnson emphasized how through this opportunity she will now be able to find a common ground between two major areas in her life: her faith, as well as her passion for social justice work.
“I think this has bridged together two very important pieces of my life, being my faith and my passion for social justice,” Johnson said. “It’s given me the perspective that those things can be very intersectional, and that I can take two things I love and make a difference in the world.”
Johnson spoke about her upbringing, and being raised Catholic. She mentioned how being brought up with Catholic values and ideals is what set the foundation for her interest in social justice work, and helping those in need.
“I grew up Catholic, so I was always taught from a young age to be very involved in community service and helping out my neighbors,” Johnson said. “It’s something that has definitely stuck with me.”
When it comes to Catholic social justice work, Johnson’s outlook on giving back to the less fortunate align greatly with the values shared by Campus Ministry and Social Action (CMSA) at MU. Both Johnson and CMSA hold the same outlook on lending a helping hand to those in need, as it is an integral part of the Christian and Catholic faith.
Reverend Andie Raynor, a campus minister at MU, expanded on this point, emphasizing the importance of taking care of the community and how doing so ties back to faith.
“If you are a person of faith, an inherent part of that is social outreach and helping your fellow person,” Raynor said. “It’s for the Christians and Catholics among us. It’s about following the teachings of Jesus, who tells us ‘if you have two coats, give one away.’ It’s very important that faith doesn’t stay an internal part of our lives, but faith is what motivates us to give to others.”
In terms of helping out the community, Johnson mentioned that one issue she is specifically passionate about is food insecurity. She spoke about how she hopes she can participate in social justice work that will assist in helping combat this issue.
“I would say food insecurity is definitely an issue that is very close to my heart, especially since a lot of people’s access to food has been cut down in these past years,” Johnson said. “And around Riverdale, there’s so many food banks and communities that need food.”
Margaret Groarke, Ph.D, professor and the department chair of history, political and international studies, served as one of Johnson’s professors. Groarke admired Johnson’s dedication toward social justice, and recommended that she apply for the Carol Coston Fellowship.
“The way I heard about the opportunity was through my professor, Margaret Groarke, who reached out to me,” Johnson said. “I’ve been in a bunch of her classes, and I definitely have a real passion for social justice. And last summer, I interned with the League of Women Voters in New York City, and that was a super interesting and fruitful experience.”
When speaking to The Quadrangle, Groarke spoke highly of Johnson, and emphasized how her prior experience working as an intern for the League of Women Voters was an additional reason why she felt as if Johnson was qualified for the position.
“She [Johnson] is smart, dedicated…can handle a lot, and her previous involvement at her internship working with the League of Women Voters made me feel like she would be great in this role,” Groarke said.
With both faith and social justice work being of high importance to Johnson, she felt as if she could now put her ‘faith into action.’ Raynor emphasized how Johnson is a great example of what it means to embody this principle, and how she is an inspiration to many.
“As a campus minister, it is so encouraging to see students put their faith in action,” Raynor said. “In a university setting, it’s combining your intellectual understandings, your faith understandings and and really an understanding of the world in politics. So to see a student recognized from our institution, and seeing how they’re putting their faith into concrete action is inspiring to many.”