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 Allen

Ivye L. Allen, President/CEO of Foundation for the Mid South, brings together community stakeholders and institutions in the public and private sectors to address complex and challenging issues.

Olivia Bouler

A budding ornithologist, author, and artist, Olivia Bouler has raised $200,000 for the Gulf oil spill recovery.

Dianna Daley

Dianna serves Centro Campesino Farmworker Center Inc. (CCFC) as director of the agency’s free after school and summer camp programs.

Lan Diep

Lan is an Equal Justice Works/AmeriCorps Legal Fellow who serves as a member of a regional oil disaster legal advocacy team.

Michael Dillaber

Mike has been involved in disaster response leadership for the Alabama Gulf Coast for every major hurricane including George, Danny, Ivan, Dennis and Katrina.

Brenda Krause Eheart

Brenda created Hope Meadows, an intentional intergenerational community that supports families adopting children from the foster care system.

Dr. Doris R. Hicks.

Dr. Doris Roche Hicks serves as CEO/Principal of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Charter School for Science and Technology.

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 programs for young people attending DC public schools.

Rami Nashashibi

Rami Nashashibi has served as the Executive Director of the Inner-City Muslim Action Network since its incorporation as a nonprofit in January 1997.

Juan Salgado

Juan has been the President and CEO of Instituto del Progreso Latino since 2001, leading the group through a period of national award-winning recognition and historic organizational growth.

Dorothy Stoneman

Dorothy 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.

Jessenia Alcantara

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 college women to mentor over 200 elementary school girls across Miami Dade County.

William Basl

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 serves as the Executive Director of the Washington Commission for National and Community Service.

Zach Maurin

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 nation and elected leaders as strategies to tackle our most pressing social challenges.