Courtney Kelner

Courtney Kelner, originally from California, calling Berlin home for more than 10 years now, works as a project manager for the global federation of youth organisations called ICYE. Her project management work has her synthesizing divergent ideas into fundable grant applications, managing budgets, and carefully overseeing participatory workflows. However, her favorite part of the job is the facilitation of organizational change processes, i.e. strengthening responses to sexual violence cases, carrying out Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) interventions, and mentoring youth leaders.

Courtney’s work in the International Voluntary Service movement over the past 4 years has focused largely on addressing colonial legacies in the messaging and motivation, funding and access, as well as in the organizational and network power dynamics of the IVS movement. Through this deep dive at multiple levels, she has worked together with global partners on tools for undermining white savior mentalities and guiding organisations to decolonise their relationships and practices. Outside of the office, Courtney is active in community building around restorative justice, practicing playfulness with improv comedy, and hoping radically and earnestly for regenerative futures.