How to Change the World

Sean Mendez, Director of Solidarity Sports

On June 14, 2017, the Grenfell Tower fire in West London claimed seventy-one lives. It was one of the deadliest fires in Britain over the past century.

Sean Mendez has close ties to the community devastated by the fire. He runs Solidarity Sports, a nonprofit that works with at-risk and disadvantaged youth. That night, Sean lost children he worked with and members of their families. Sean talked to us with grace and passion about the devastating impact of the tragedy, fighting for justice for the families affected, and facing the unimaginable.

Rick McCartney, CEO and President of InMedia

Rick McCartney came out as a gay man at the age of 47 and it changed his life.

We talk about his incredible journey – from what it's like to come out when you have a family to navigating new relationships and the unknown. Rick is President and CEO of InMedia, a multimedia development company, so we talk a little business along the way too.

Debi Chess Mabie, Executive Director for The Dunbar Pavilion: An African American Center for Art and Culture

100 years ago, the Dunbar School in Tucson, Arizona opened its doors as a segregated school. It was the only school in the city that served African-American children up until 1951. As you can imagine, it's a place with a complex history.

We dive into that history with Debi Chess Mabie and discuss her work to revitalize the space and elevate the contributions of African-Americans in Tucson. We also discuss her 100-year view, what a legacy means, and how no matter what - our plans are constantly subject to change.

Debi Chess Mabie, Executive Director for The Dunbar Pavilion: An African American Center for Art and Culture

100 years ago, the Dunbar School in Tucson, Arizona opened its doors as a segregated school. It was the only school in the city that served African-American children up until 1951. As you can imagine, it's a place with a complex history.

We dive into that history with Debi Chess Mabie and discuss her work to revitalize the space and elevate the contributions of African-Americans in Tucson. We also discuss her 100-year view, what a legacy means, and how no matter what - our plans are constantly subject to change.

Drena Kusari, General Manager of Southwest Region for Lyft

Drena discusses her experience living through the war in Kosovo as a teenager, leaving for the United States for her last year of school, and how it shaped her as a person.

Today, she is the General Manager of the Southwest Region for Lyft and she dives into how she got there, what she loves about her job, the change happening in ridesharing, and how Lyft is providing solutions to community challenges to create opportunity.

Grace Gamez, Program Coordinator of American Friends Service Committee

One of the biggest life changes anyone can experience is becoming justice system-involved.

Going through the system means enduring a broken, confusing process that turns lives upside down and changes people forever.

Grace Gámez shares with us her personal story of involvement with the criminal justice system, the changes that need to happen to make improvements, and the impact that opening up to share a personal story has on the storyteller.