# Our Generation Speaks (OGS)

> Our Generation Speaks is a Waltham-based nonprofit that brings emerging Palestinian and Israeli leaders together through a funded fellowship, venture development, and a lifelong alumni community. Founded at Brandeis in 2014, it uses entrepreneurship to develop relationships and leadership across conflict lines.

- **Founded:** 2014
- **Headquarters:** Waltham, United States
- **Founders:** Ohad Elhelo (Founder and former executive director)
- **Products:** OGS Fellowship, Venture awards and support, OGS Next
- **Notable:** First fellowship cohort arrived in Boston in 2016., More than 200 fellows have participated, according to OGS and MIT DesignX., MIT DesignX and OGS’s ventures page report over US$75 million raised externally by alumni ventures.

## Products & services

- **OGS Fellowship** — Funded leadership and venture-development program with regional preparation, a residential Boston phase, and regional follow-through.
- **Venture awards and support** — Selected ventures can receive awards of up to $50,000 under the current program; OGS currently takes no equity.
- **OGS Next** — Lifelong alumni community offering professional development, affinity groups, networking, and support for alumni initiatives.

## Achievements

- First fellowship cohort arrived in Boston in 2016.
- More than 200 fellows have participated, according to OGS and MIT DesignX.
- MIT DesignX and OGS’s ventures page report over US$75 million raised externally by alumni ventures.
- Received the 2017 New England Innovation Award, as reported in Elhelo’s 2018 Brandeis-published speech.

## Latest updates

- **2025-02** — USAID formally terminated the agreement on February 26; OGS subsequently relied on private funding and completed a smaller-scale summer fellowship, according to its FY2024 audit subsequent-events note.
- **—** — In 2025, expanded dedicated dialogue sessions and the trust-building/political component; the fellowship site describes further development in 2026.
- **2026-01** — Official LinkedIn repost announced an application-deadline extension to January 11, superseding the January 4 date still displayed on the fellowship page.
- **2026-08** — OGS advertised an August 13 conversation with Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon, moderated by CEO Heidi Rosbe.

## Links

- Website: https://www.ogspeaks.com/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/our-generation-speaks/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ogspeaks1/

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Last updated: 2026-10-08