Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World - The Skills, Talents, and Mindsets of Changemakers

Each week, I feature a new changemaker who has created ripples of positive change into the world… But how does that change start? What do you need to create change? This week, Changemaker Catherine Schrenker tells her story about how she took her gifts and created positive change in her own life and the world around her. Her journey from academia to becoming the Executive Director at the Wayne C. Henderson School of Appalachian Arts is […]

Tatiana Tsoir is someone I wish I had the chance to meet in my early in my entrepreneurial journey. Entrepreneurship comes with road bumps and challenges, but having someone with business smarts walk down that path beside you will help you avoid some common pitfalls.  In this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” Changemaker Tatiana Tsoir shares her “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World” from the unique perspective of an immigrant to the United States. […]

You don’t find many people like Dr. Martha Ann Stallings. She is the kind of changemaker who chooses to spend much of her time in “retirement” for the benefit of others working tirelessly to make sure no voice goes unheard.  In this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” Martha Ann shares her unique take on “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World” and inspires us all to watch and listen carefully for our own opportunities to […]

Patti Shales Lefkos is one inspiring changemaker! At an age where many are retiring to take it easy, Patti is hitting the roads and the trails on great adventures to learn all she can, help all she can, and inspire us all to take the reins and live big lives. In this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” Patti shares her “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”. Watch the video of our conversation, listen to the […]

In her role as Senior Director of Major Gifts in Intercollegiate Athletics at Virginia Tech, Terry Bolt has learned how to thrive and create meaningful change in what is usually a male-dominated industry. Along with her “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”, Terry shares her wisdom and tips to help women come out on top without sacrificing their principles.  Check out this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” via video, podcast, and by catching up […]

Healing communities can seem like a daunting task, but that is the core mission of Changemaker Sara Dechter. As a certified urban community planner, Sara has a bird’s eye view of the Flagstaff, Arizona community she serves.  From this vantage point, she looks for opportunities to bring growth, love, and understanding to the process of community development. The special secret to her work though is coming down to earth, walking the path alongside her constituents […]

In this episode of “On Your Own Terms,” we meet Changemaker Anne Campbell. Anne shares her “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World” including her efforts to work with others to build a comprehensive hospice facility in her home community of Blacksburg, Virginia. Watch the video of our conversation, listen to the podcast, and read the summary here! Homegrown Anne Born and raised in Blacksburg Virginia in the United States, Anne Campbell took a huge step leaving […]

Changemaker Sandy Joy Weston is a refreshing reminder of how to choose the joy in life.  Sandy and I had such a wonderful conversation that helped me come back to my own positive nature.  We often hear so many negative reports from many corners of the world.  If you turn on the news, you are likely to be shown some of the ugliest sides of humanity, but Sandy believes deeply in the basic good in […]

If I were to summarize my conversation with Changemaker Stacy Fritz, I would say, “passion driven by love.” Stacy’s passion for a healthier community has led her on a journey to help people live healthier lives. After her kids started school, she started her company, FIT2order with her business partner, Pattie Sassano.  Together, they brought fitness programs to locations beyond “the gym”. The company has evolved over the past 14 years and now provides wellness solutions for companies whose employees sit most […]

My conversation with Changemaker Jenna Banks was a powerful one. Jenna is a keynote speaker and best-selling author who strives to help women reclaim their inner power. Jenna’s journey began with a traumatic upbringing and a nearly fatal suicide attempt. These experiences brought her to her lowest, yet were the same experiences that led her to a pivotal change in her life. Despite her challenges, Jenna found a way to reclaim her power through self-love. […]