Jonathan Zaidman might be the first changemaker to share responses with us ahead of Upswell whose work has a primarily ecological focus. As Director of Replication for The Ecology Center, Jonathan gets to work on one of California’s last remaining protected farms in San Juan Capistrano. Having a base in Southern California is unique in…
Details
Though she describes herself as “easy like Sunday morning” when it comes to relaxation, Wray Clay is a fierce advocate for children. Her belief in the importance of “getting it right early” suffuses every aspect of her work at United Way of Greater St. Louis, which is dedicated to improving quality of life. Wray will…
Details
Shehla Mushtaq is the COO of the St. Paul-based collective Collectivity. That her organization has a multi-stakeholder approach to creating thriving communities mirrors her personal belief in the power of the collective. In her words, “So much good is happening…Every human being has a significant role to play.” We hope you’re as inspired as we…
Details
/ By Kurian Thomas / Are we showing up as our best citizen selves every day? What are our responsibilities as citizens of this country? I invite you to take a look at Sworn Again America, a project to revitalize citizenship that is related to Civic Saturday, a popular traveling civic ritual that will be…
Details
This changemaker’s mold-breaking attitude in a red-tape world inspires us. Ellen Anderson will be joining us next week in Los Angeles from Minnesota, where she uses her digital media savvy in the halls of the Minnesota State Capitol building in St. Paul. Ellen is a lapsed architect with a passion for finding ways to improve…
Details
As the leader of United Way of Racine County in southeast Wisconsin, Rodney Prunty is driven and refueled by the people he meets, and the way that community changework transforms their lives for better. He credits his mother for instilling in him a sense of always aspiring for a better world. Along with United Way…
Details
Sometimes one person can spark new educational opportunities that enrich a community and the lives of its families for generations to come. In Los Angeles’ Pico Union area, that spark is Malka Borrego. Enjoy a gourmet meal, and learn how she spearheaded the expansion of school options and helped to transform the Pico Union community…
Details
Pam Lange is a force in her community as a leader in education. She’s eager to meet new folks working in and outside of her area of expertise—for which she already has a lot to share in the way of knowledge an experience! But she’s also looking to draw from folks who’ve innovated and iterated…
Details
Cassie Nguyen is the founder of Spotlight On Hope Film Camp (SOH), a free program that gives cancer patients and their families the opportunity to learn about filmmaking. As a pediatric cancer survivor, Cassie has committed herself to making a way for those affected by cancer to express themselves. So far, SOH has served hundreds…
Details
/ By Stacy Palmer / As we get ready to descend on Los Angeles this month to learn more about social change at Upswell, I can’t help but think about the first time I attended an annual conference of nonprofit and foundation executives from across the country organized by Independent Sector. That was in 1988…
Details