Champions of Change

Champions of Change Blog

  • Champions of Change: Engaging the Community in the Movement to Prevent Suicide

    Posted by Bob Gebbia on August 30, 2011 at 1:27 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP)

    In recent years there has been a growing community-based movement in the United States aimed at preventing loss of life from suicide. This movement has the potential to create a dramatic change in how we understand suicide and the mental disorders that contribute to suicide and offers hope for the prevention of suicide.

    This movement is characterized by efforts to educate the public, development of new interventions and a growing constituency comprised of people affected by this issue — the family and friends who have lost a loved one to suicide and those who struggle with a mental disorder and/or suicidal behavior. However, a steady increase in the number of suicide deaths each year in the U.S. shows the challenges we face and the need for greater investment in prevention, if we are to reverse this trend.

    The American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP) is at the forefront of the movement to prevent loss of life from suicide and is investing in the scientific research, education and advocacy needed to address this formidable public health problem. And AFSP is most grateful to be selected by the Obama Administration for a Champions of Change award and honored to participate in a White House discussion on suicide prevention.

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  • Venture for America – Building Businesses

    Posted by Andrew Yang on August 30, 2011 at 8:00 AM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    Andrew Yang

    Venture for America is a two-year fellowship program for recent college graduates to work in a start-up or early stage company in a low-cost city.  The goal is to generate jobs, both by supplying promising companies with talent and training the next generation of entrepreneurs to build successful businesses.  VFA launches in Detroit, New Orleans, and Providence in 2012 – applications are now open for our inaugural Venture Fellows who will begin training at Brown University next June.

    If you want to learn how to build a business, this is the program for you. 

    Venture for America was inspired by many of my own experiences as an entrepreneur.  I co-founded a company when I was 25 years old, and though I grew a lot during that time I didn’t have the skills or wherewithal to build a successful business.  My first company failed, with our investors losing everything.  After this first failure, I was determined to learn some of what I didn’t know.  I worked for 5 years supporting more experienced and established founders, eventually becoming the CEO of a company that went on to be acquired. 

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    Learn more about Economy, Startup America

  • Bright Ideas for the Economy and Environment

    Posted by Ari Matusiak on August 29, 2011 at 4:21 PM EDT

    It's a debate dating back decades - can a modern company be both financially successful as well as socially and environmentally friendly?
     
    Chris "Chip" Fraga says the answer is in, and it is a definitive yes.
     
    Fraga, a 22-year veteran of start-ups and large companies alike, is the founder and CEO of the SolarSense family of businesses, a group that develops distributed generation, renewable and alternative energy projects for commercial for profit and not-for-profit enterprises throughout the mid-Atlantic and Northeast region.

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    Learn more about Economy, Energy and Environment

  • Following the American Way

    Posted by Ari Matusiak on August 29, 2011 at 2:08 PM EDT

    Growing up in humble beginnings, Curtis Landi says he couldn’t imagine one day running a thriving business in the heart of Silicon Valley. His company, Supracor, manufactures a variety of advanced plastic honeycomb materials that it then processes into a diverse array of high-end products from seat cushions to medical supplies to luxury consumer goods.

    And though Supracor’s products are sold worldwide – in fact, the company sells more overseas than it does domestically – every product is entirely made in the United States. Even the raw materials come from U.S. manufacturers and suppliers.

    What’s more, Landi hires from the local community in California, frequently pulling from within high-need communities such as those from meager means striving to secure a better future. 

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    Learn more about Economy, Energy and Environment

  • Creating a Culture of Achievement in Atlanta

    Posted by Kwanza Fisher on August 29, 2011 at 12:39 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    Kwanza Fisher

    The recent debacle which exposed cheating in schools in Atlanta was a low point for my city, but also a blessing in disguise. Now more than ever people are angry, anxious, and inspired to make a real difference in public education. It has been recognized that great teachers alone will not get us to where we need to be—there must be a culture of achievement in communities, and outside of school.

    Having identified this need, it is imperative that Atlantans—and citizens across the nation—must begin to ask themselves what a culture of education and achievement in communities look like. As the founder and organizer of Neighborhood Mathematica, I am proud to make a contribution to building Atlanta’s education culture with the implementation of a supplemental math education program for students in underrepresented areas. However, one math competition—which is also a new tradition in Atlanta—is far from where we need to be.

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    Learn more about Startup America, Education

  • Profitability and Social Responsibility go Hand in Hand

    Posted by Alex “Papu” Rincon on August 24, 2011 at 6:10 PM EDT

    Ed. Note: Champions of Change is a weekly initiative to highlight Americans who are making an impact in their communities and helping our country rise to meet the many challenges of the 21st century.

    On August 18, 2011, I had the honor of being recognized as a Champion of Change at The White House for my efforts as a young entrepreneur who is using creative and forward thinking ideas to create opportunities for growth in my community.

    I had the great opportunity to discuss entrepreneurship, innovation, and education with other successful entrepreneurs, students & White House officials.  We talked about how schools and organizations such as the Small Business Administration can be a great resource for those who have an idea, but need guidance on taking that idea and turning it into a sustainable business.  We also discussed what role, aside from creating jobs, business can contribute to their communities.

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    Learn more about Startup America