More About Changents
We are long overdue for a blog post and this will be a quickie. At the risk of sounding clichéd, I'm heading into Thanksgiving weekend and reflecting back on what has been one of the most challenging years of my life. A lot has happened - some positive and some not so positive. So as I peer over the rim of the eternal glass half full/half empty dilemma I am forced to draw some conclusions.
Frankly, without thinking about it all that long or very hard it so clear that my cup runneth over. It has been a tough year but filled with such a sense of purpose and accomplishment. I've heard what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. I'm not dead (yet) so I guess I must be stronger. That alone is cause for giving thanks!
Deron and I feel so fortunate to be working hand-in-hand with Change Agents to connect them with all of you in the growing Changents community. The privilege of shining the spotlight on people like Brad Corrigan (aka Braddigan), Tutu Alicante and our featured Change Agent Katrin Verclas and helping to broadcast their stories is nothing short of awesome. We appreciate the participation and support we've gotten from Changents members to date. We are working hard to improve the ways Changents serves Change Agents and all of you.
The Washington Post just released a great story on Changents in its small business blog. We are very grateful to columnist Sharon McLoone for writing an article that really gets to the heart of Changents as a connection point for innovators on the front lines of social and environmental change and the people who want to help them.
Launching the Changents Alpha site and email newsletter this year were a ton of work and very gratifying. Further, we are fortunate to have found kindred spirits in the team members who work with us to run Changents day in and day out and our advisors who are so generous in applying their expertise to moving us over rivers and through the woods (to grandmother's house we go?). Neither last nor least, our families have been fundamental to the effort and we could not have done it without them.
Speaking of family, my wife and I just gave birth to twins. Talk about putting everything into perspective! A start-up (and instant) family to complement the start-up venture that is Changents. Wow! Twice blessed? Thrice blessed? I am unsure of the math here but "an embarrassment of riches" only begins to describe where we are today.
It has been one heck of a year. A lot that was done and a lot left to do. Excited? Yes. Tired? Yes. Bullish about the road ahead? Yes. Thankful? You'd better believe it!
A happy and safe Thanksgiving to all.
Comments
November 23, 2007 - 3:07pm
I read about you all in the Washington Post and wanted to tell you about a small business I just learned about. It is a tour company that does small cultural tours. I was excited to learn that they give back to the communities that they travel to but making donations to non-profits in the countries. Carbon Offsetting is great, but its nice to hear about travel companies who care about the people in the places they travel to! Thought you'd be interested to know....Their website is www.culturalcrossroads.com.
November 23, 2007 - 4:03pm
If I may, another comment. I read about Seventh Generation on your site...there is another great Vermont organization...it's a non-profit called the Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) website: wwwclifonline.org
It was started by one guy who left the corporate world to make a difference. I have copied their opening page so you can read about them. They will celebrate their 10th anniversary this coming March. Their hope is that people across the country will set up similar non-profits in their states.
The Children's Literacy Foundation (CLiF) is a non-profit organization dedicated to nurturing a love of reading and writing among children throughout New Hampshire and Vermont. In particular, CLiF's programs target children in rural communities, and children who are at high risk of growing up functionally illiterate.
CLiF was founded in 1998 by a group of individuals who care deeply about the long-term value of literacy for children. CLiF has already touched the lives of tens of thousands of children in more than 200 communities across New Hampshire and Vermont.
CLiF supports children's literacy by awarding sponsorships to rural public libraries, homeless shelters, women's shelters, centers for at-risk youth, and bookmobiles that serve children who have limited access to great books. Every other year CLiF hosts a conference for rural librarians to support the librarians serving the children in the communities CLiF sponsors. CLiF also works with well-known children's book authors and illustrators who spread their love of books by giving engaging presentations to children in rural communities. CLiF provides inspiring, two-day writing workshops to children in rural elementary schools, awards Rainy Day support to children in towns undergoing severe economic challenges, and gives books and other literacy support to children of prison inmates, migrant children and families with newborns.
CLiF programs are:
Rural public libraries
Homeless shelters, women's shelters, and centers for at-risk youth
Bookmobiles
Presentations by children's book authors and illustrators
Rainy Day sponsorships for communities in dire need
Writing workshops for children in rural elementary schools
Children of prison inmates
CLiF Conference for Rural Librarians
Families with newborns
Migrant children
Refugee children
Summer Readers
November 23, 2007 - 4:05pm
Oops, their website is: www.clifonline.org
November 24, 2007 - 11:22am
CLiF looks like a really important program. I have a family member who is deeply involved with Libraries of Eastern Oregon. They specifically focus on bringing cultural/educational events and library services to rural communities in that state so I'm aware of the real impact that organizations like this can have.
Likewise, Global Crossroads sounds great. I looked on their site and did not see that they are specifically talking up their commitment to supporting non-profits in the countries where they are traveling. That's a strong selling point on top of their unique service offering and I'd encourage them to put a fine point on it.
Thanks for sharing.
Alex
November 25, 2007 - 3:50pm
Hey Alex,
First, congratulations to you and your wife on becoming parents! Yahoo!
Sounds like you have had an amazing year. I can appreciate all the work you and your team have done to get Changents to where it is today. Thank you for creating a way for us to connect in a meaningful way to all the amazing Change Agents featured here.
Cheers!
Frank
Post new comment