New Co-op Position Memorializes Betty Kapetanakis ’74
Antioch Grad, Worker for
Social Justice Co-op Position
By Cynthia Goertzen


Students with a desire to experience
how social change happens through the reaches of a foundation can now participate
in it first-hand: A new co-op position has been established at North Star Fund in New York City. The Betty Kapetanakis Memorial Co-op Position is named for the ’74 Antioch College graduate, both to honor her and keep alive her legacy of working tirelessly to effect social change.

The position also represents the seamless alignment of Betty’s work with the work of North Star Fund, an organization she dearly loved - and that loved her.

Funding Social Change

The North Star Fund distributes grants to grassroots organizations working as activists in their respective communities. These grants almost always represent the first source of foundation-level funding for these groups. The Fund matches donors with organizations that share the same passions, such as affordable housing, education reform, and worker’s rights. By doing so, it helps establish a record of funding these organizations can use to demonstrate the strength and importance of their work as they seek monetary support from other institutional sources.

By supporting the day-in and day-out work of these organizations to effect social, political and economic justice, the Fund takes a frontline position in executing its mission. And because the Fund is a non-endowed foundation, it gives away all the funds it raises each year.

At the time of her passing, Betty had been with the Fund for 15 years, serving as its executive director since 1995.

Living Personal Beliefs

“This new co-op position aligns perfectly with Antioch’s philosophy,” says Molly Schultz ’98, supervisor of the Kapetanakis co-op position at North Star Fund, and program associate who stepped in as acting deputy director after Betty’s passing. “So much of the work of the Fund is about organizing for social change - and that is what Betty was working toward every day. This is an incredible tribute to Betty because she loved North Star and she was truly passionate about young people and social justice.”

Students in this co-op position will help primarily with the work of raising the funds North Star will distribute. For example, the first Antioch student to hold this position, Amanda Johnson ’05, is currently assisting with event planning and the creation of a media list and outreach plan. Over the long-term, students will be asked to contribute skills to create and implement a public relations plan, assist with the design and writing of various publications, research and write foundation proposals, and design and/or implement a grants evaluation, among other duties. It is the intent of North Star to augment these supportive duties by providing the student the opportunity to spearhead at least one project per term.

A Personal Tribute

In fact, this position is a meeting of many Antioch paths. The Fund itself represents a logical progression of Antioch teachings. The position is named for an Antioch alumna who embodied those principles. Many of the Fund’s donors are related to Antioch in some way. Several Antioch students have worked in co-op positions in organizations funded by North Star. And, the position has been funded by an alumna who was a student at Antioch in the middle 60s - a close friend and professional peer of Betty’s, Barbara Slaner Winslow ’68.

Though they weren’t at Antioch at the same time, Barbara and Betty’s connection dates back to their activist days in Ohio, Barbara in Cleveland and Betty in Dayton. Barbara is currently Vice Chair of the Antioch University Board of Trustees and Chair of the Academic Affairs Committee. Barbara served on the board of North Star Fund for 11 years, seven years as its chair. She and Betty were close friends who talked on the phone three times a week for the past seven years.

“As a donor to North Star Fund,” says Winslow, “I really wanted to find a way to connect North Star to Antioch in a more permanent way, and this co-op position is that connection. My personal motivation in creating a position to remember Betty was because she was an extraordinary friend, comrade and sister.”

Winslow’s gift will subsidize an initial number of co-op placements over three years. Further possible funding through the Federal Work Study program could extend the position availability to four to five years.

Any student taking this position perpetuates the close ties between organizations and philosophies. This is by design.

Barbara adds: “Betty truly enabled thousands of people to do good things for humanity - that was her particular strength. She was truly our beacon, our north star, the compass that guided all of us.”

Anyone wishing to contribute to the work of North Star Fund and/or support the Betty Kapetanakis Memorial Co-op Position should contact the North Star Fund at (212) 620-9110.

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