ShiftHappens: Our Blog:
The stories behind the grants
The Path of Dreams: Community Permaculture Garden
The province of Manitoba has the second highest inflation rate in Canada making it difficult for many families to make ends meet. “You can rebuild what was lost. You can create something out of nothing even when other people don't believe it”, Torrence Ledwich,...
Spotlight on Grantee: Greta McClain, fighting for the health and safety of all
In late November, Greta McClain, Executive Director of Silent No Longer TN, was approached by a fellow community organizer about a coalition she and some others were trying to start called, “The People's Party Coalition.” This collection of individuals and...
A World of Change: Animal Home Care
Every year 29 million cows die in the dairy and meat industry world wide. “Always keep in mind why you started, remind yourself why you wanted to change the world,” Nina Andersson, Animal Home Care.“If you want to change the world, start with yourself,” stated the...
Yuki Jackson: After the Storm
After experiencing three shootings in Sulphur Springs, Tampa, Florida, Yuki Jackson knew it was time to act. “Do what you can with what you have to make a difference. Even if it takes a while to see the impact you are making”, Yuki Jackson, Founder of The...
Using Art to Piece Together a Compassionate World
“I think art is about self-growth and I totally believe that things evolve on their own - they have a life of their own - and if you pay attention to what’s going on, it will lead the way.” - Janny TaylorJanny Taylor, an award-winning artist, best-selling author and...
Center for Gender Justice: A Place to Belong
Only 2 out of 10 women own property in Albania. They are deprived of their right to inherit and ownership. “My biggest hope is to have a world where women and men can be equal, not only in the eyes of the law, but truly in real life”. Adena Vangjeli, Executive...
Liquid Spine: Movement to Inspire Social Inquiry and Action
“Just like your spine connects your body together, the water connects us to each other. We need to appreciate the Earth, the water, the animals and come together in a way that sparks action and unity.” Katie Pustizzi, creator of Liquid SpineBorn on the Marshall...
From Finance Executive to Nonprofit Leader, Samantha Wettje is Helping Students to Learn and Thrive
Samantha Wettje grew up with a father who struggled with mental illness and addiction, which had a lasting impact on her. During middle and high school, she wanted to distance herself from this experience as much as possible. When she was deciding what to do after...
Africa & Beyond: One Girl’s Dream for the Deaf Community
“The world was created with so much diversity; that is its beauty. If we were all the same, it would be boring… colorless. What makes it colorful is the different people we meet.” - RebeccaOlatunji Ayodele Rebecca, founder of the I Can Sign project in Nigeria, was...
Erfahrungsbericht über das Online Retreat vom 3.-5.12.2021
Es war schön, so viele Menschen kennenzulernen, die das gleiche Problem haben wie ich. Die große Dimension des Leids der Tiere und das Erkennen der Tierindustrie in unserer Gesellschaft wurde mir erst gegen Ende 2019, also erst mit 56 Jahren, bewusst. Ich bin...
Educating Zimbabwe Youth to Become Environmentally Conscious
An increase in natural disasters, a rise in global temperatures, and extreme weather events throughout the 21st century have brought with them some troubling implications for the state of our world due to the effects of climate change. Whilst climate change has...
Nicole Ndiaye: Growing Food, Connection and Community in NYC
Nicole Ndiaye is a mother of two, a farmer, and an incredible entrepreneur whose love of people, animals, and the environment led her to create beautiful community gardens where people can access quality food in the Bronx borough of New York City."I once had a kid...
Two Scientists are Using an Unconventional Approach to Analyze Nature
Scientists and professors, Michael Shilo DeLay and Anastasia Bendebury were interested in the history of science and how different concepts - outside of just laboratory ideas - come together to develop new understandings of the world. Curious and creative, they...
Violet Matiru: Connecting Communities and Nature in Kenya
It is impossible not to feel inspired when speaking with Violet Matiru. The dedication that Violet brings to her work connecting youth to the natural world shines through in her words and demeanor. “I’m very passionate about young people. I care about young people...
How 9VT\5 is Opening Doors for Unpublished Writers and Poets in America
Growing up in a family of musicians, Marlon Paine was an artist before he even knew it. Some of his earliest childhood memories are learning how to play the guitar and listening to his father’s friends play music together during the holidays. “I was in my first band...
Time-hive Arena: Can a Card Game Change the Future of Our Climate Crisis?
Giacomo Losio loves the environment. Growing up in a big family in Italy, he credits it with playing an important role in keeping his family close. “Mountains, open grounds, and woods played a pivotal role in helping me develop a strong relationship with my five...
Animal Lover Turned Social Enterprise Founder Improves the Lives of Dogs
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Priyanka Chaudhary moved to Kathmandu, Nepal. Growing up, she cared for several pets in her house and had always wanted to do something for animals but did not know where to start. However, she soon found a reason. While leaving for the...
When Pigs Escape
Animal welfare, rights, protections—which term is best, and how does one define it? The lines get convoluted, and the topic is controversial. Matilda, a postpartum pig, sparked much debate when she made international headlines last year as a commercial farm fugitive....
Greenhouse: Spiritual Capital
The final session of Greenhouse, the community & capacity-building experiment we’ve been embarking on for the last six weeks, was led on Tuesday by Ariel Nessel, co-founder of The Pollination Project. Through guided group meditation, breakout room discussions,...
How Cobblers, Recycled Tires and One, Incredible Idea are Changing Lives
Do cobblers still exist? As R. Senthamarai discovered during the COVID-19 pandemic when she met with an impoverished community of cobblers in the village of Vilvarani of Kalasapakkam Taluk, Tiruvannamalai District, Tamil Nadu, India who had been out of work, the...
Emmanuel Nuvalga: Uplifting Education for All
Emmanuel Nuvalga knew from an early age not to take education for granted. Throughout his school years he faced challenges – from starting primary school later than his peers to difficulty accessing books and materials. He soon realized that he was not the only member...
Experiential Capital: The Value of Experience
This week in Greenhouse, our community came together to explore the idea of Experiential Capital; in other words, the perspectives and knowledge gained from firsthand experiences. In this form of capital, our cohort of grassroots volunteer leaders is undeniably...
Financial Capital: Let’s Keep the Light On
Financial Capital. This one topic has the potential to stir fear in the hearts of changemakers. However, Carolyn Ashworth invited Greenhouse participants to explore this topic through the lens of knowing oneself, knowing others - specifically funders - and knowing how...
Art on Blast: The Little Book With a Big Message
I always know I am conversing with an artist when the word “intention” comes up often. The creation process is the unfoldment of intention, a process Rachel Werner—an artist of various mediums and arts educator & activist—knows well. In 2019, she planted a seed as...
Reflections from the Greenhouse
“Nothing for us without us.” This basic but powerful idea was the underlying foundation behind this week’s Greenhouse sessions, which explored the value of cultural capital along the path of service. Participants talked about the beliefs, assumptions, expectations,...
Using Yoga and Mindfulness to Fight Against Teen Pregnancy in Rwanda
After attending a training about sexual and reproductive health in Nairobi, Emmanuel Dushimimana was inspired to bring change home to Karongi, Rwanda. “In my community, cases of teen pregnancy were surging, and I wondered - how can I contribute to bring about change?”...
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