Elizabeth Steyer : Interview for the John W. Gardner Legacy Oral History Project
Abstract/Contents
- Abstract
- Elizabeth Butler Steyer, executive director of the Athletic Scholars Advancement Program (ASAP) and a former John Gardner Public Service Fellow, discusses developing an interest for public service as an undergraduate at Stanford University, her career in law as a child advocate, and John W. Gardner’s mentorship. Steyer talks about her early life growing up in California and attending Stanford, where she studied Human Biology. She recounts becoming involved in the Public Service Center through a summer fellowship working for a theater company in Southern California. She then discusses her Gardner Fellowship working for the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, DC, where Gardner introduced her to Sandra Day O’Connor. Next, Steyer talks about her decision to attend Stanford Law School where she became involved with the East Palo Alto Community Law Project. She then discusses receiving a Skadden Fellowship and working with Legal Services for Children and the National Center for Youth Law. She reflects on joining ASAP as its first executive director and her work with the organization. Steyer also explains her involvement with the selection committee for the Gardner Fellowship, including changes to make the Fellowship more accessible. She discusses the creation of the John Gardner Fellowship Association. She concludes by reflecting on the importance of Gardner’s writings, including Self-Renewal, and his unique mentorship style which emphasized sustained and genuine engagement with his mentees’ personal lives.
Description
Type of resource | sound recording-nonmusical, text, still image |
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Extent | 1 audio file; 1 text file; 1photograph |
Place | Stanford (Calif.) |
Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Date created | October 27, 2017 |
Language | English |
Digital origin | born digital |
Creators/Contributors
Interviewee | Steyer, Elizabeth | |
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Creator | Steyer, Elizabeth | |
Interviewer | Abel, Suzanne | |
Publisher | Stanford Historical Society |
Subjects
Subject | Gardner, John W. (John William), 1912-2002 |
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Subject | Civil Society > United States |
Subject | John Gardner Public Service Fellowship |
Genre | Interview |
Bibliographic information
Biographical profile | Elizabeth “Liz” Butler Steyer has been an advocate for marginalized children and youth in the Bay Area for over 25 years. She joined the Athletic Scholars Advancement Program (ASAP) in July 2010 as executive director, beginning her tenure by transforming the organization from a small volunteer effort to becoming a 501(c)(3) organization. Under her leadership, ASAP doubled the staff size and more than tripled the size of the budget, along with adding scholarships, and an alumni mentoring program. Prior to leading ASAP, Steyer worked at Legal Services for Children (LSC) in San Francisco in a variety of roles, including as managing attorney and acting executive director. Steyer serves on the boards of the John Gardner Fellowship Association and the Giants Community Fund, the charitable arm of the San Francisco Giants baseball team. She holds a BA in Human Biology and also a JD, both from Stanford University. In 1986-87, she was a John Gardner Fellow at the Children’s Defense Fund in Washington, DC. |
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Transcript |
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Finding Aid | |
Location | https://purl.stanford.edu/nz707ws0329 |
Location | SC1355 |
Repository | Stanford University. Libraries. Department of Special Collections and University Archives |
Access conditions
- Use and reproduction
- The materials are open for research use and may be used freely for non-commercial purposes with an attribution. For commercial permission requests, please contact the Stanford University Archives (universityarchives@stanford.edu).
- Copyright
- Copyright © The Board of Trustees of the Leland Stanford Junior University. All rights reserved.
Collection
John W. Gardner Legacy Oral History Project
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