Champions of Change

Champions of Change: Service And Social Innovators

Every day in communities across the country, ordinary individuals are doing extraordinary things to improve the lives of others and strengthen their communities. On the heels of the 2011 National Conference on Volunteering and Service held in New Orleans, Louisiana, this week’s series highlights fourteen individuals who are inspiring others to transform their communities through citizen leadership and social innovation. From saving birds to creating jobs, to building homes, to reclaiming communities and providing economic opportunities for all citizens, these Champions of Change are solving local problems and redefining civic participation for the 21st century.

Ivye L. Allen, President/CEO of Foundation for the Mid South, understands that no one organization or sector can singlehandedly improve the social and economic conditions in Arkansas, Louisiana,...

Ivye L. Allen, President/CEO of Foundation for the Mid South, understands that no one organization or sector can singlehandedly improve the social and economic conditions in Arkansas, Louisiana,...

One 11 year-old girl can make a difference—as a budding ornithologist, author, and artist Olivia Bouler has proven—by raising $200,000 for the Gulf oil spill recovery. Olivia sent out 500 of her...

Dianna, Director of Programs & Evaluation, came to Centro Campesino Farmworker Center Inc. (CCFC) in 2004 as director of the agency’s free after school and summer camp programs, which combined...

Lan Diep is an Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorps Legal Fellow who serves as a member of a regional oil disaster legal advocacy team – a five-state consortium including attorneys from Texas, Louisiana...

Michael B. Dillaber grew up in Mobile, Alabama and attended Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree with a major in Christian Ministries. He then worked...

Brenda Krause Eheart, Ph.D. created Hope Meadows, the first Generations of Hope Community (GHC), in 1994 in Rantoul, IL on a former military base. Hope Meadows, an intentional intergenerational...

As an avatar of the Lower Ninth Ward and the New Orleans community, Dr. Doris Roche Hicks serves as CEO/Principal of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology. She is a...

Prior to starting the St. Bernard Project, Liz was the Executive Director of a community-based nonprofit organization in Washington, D.C, which provided technology-based after school and summer...

Rami Nashashibi has served as the Executive Director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN, a non-profit community organization that fights for social justice, delivers a range of direct...

Juan Salgado, M.U.P., has been the President and CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino since 2001. Over the past ten years, he has led Instituto through a period of national award-winning...

Dorothy Stoneman is founder and president of YouthBuild USA, the national support center for 273 YouthBuild programs in the United States, and the sponsor of YouthBuild International which is...

Prior to serving as Program Coordinator for iMentor, Jess was the founding Chapter Director for the Strong Women, Strong Girls (SWSG), Florida International University chapter, guiding a cohort of...

William C. Basl has worked in a variety of capacities over the past 37 years for the state of Washington on human resource, employment development, and national service activities. Bill currently...

Zach is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of ServeNext.org—an organization building a national grassroots movement to make volunteerism, service, and AmeriCorps an enduring priority for our...