Creating the Future

Episode #21 in which Phillipe Copeland talks about the stories we tell about how social change happens – and what happens when we change those stories from magical “chosen” heroes to the reality of what happens when we join together in solidarity to make a difference. Dr. Phillipe Copeland is a Clinical Associate Professor at Boston University. A public scholar, educator, trainer, facilitator, and...

Episode #20 in which Renee Wittemyer shows us that listening to women is key to creating transformational community change. In this conversation, Hildy Gottlieb and Renee Wittemyer explore the intersection of social justice, philanthropy, and women's empowerment. Renee shares her journey from working in East Africa to her current role at Pivotal, where she focuses on expanding women's power and in...

Episode #19 in which Dana Kawaoka-Chen shares the power of aligning social justice actions with shared community vision and values. As Co-Executive Director of Justice Funders, Dana Kawaoka-Chen partners and guides philanthropy in reimagining practices that advance a thriving and just world. Dana leads with vision and is guided by relationships. As a practitioner, Dana co-authored the “The Choir B...

Episode #18 in which Jackie Bradley and Madeline DeMarco show us that seemingly small changes can make a BIG difference in big systems. Jackie Bradley is a rural organizer, facilitator, and planner. In her role as Community Outreach and Compliance Director at Lenawee Community Mental Health Authority in rural Michigan, Jackie helps organizations and coalitions create values-driven plans and (impor...

Episode #17 in which Debra Jacobs shares dozens of ways for building and engaging relationships that create change. Debra Jacobs is the President and CEO of The Patterson Foundation in Sarasota Florida, where she has championed the cause of creative collaboration, steering the foundation to work with partners to accelerate positive change by sharing fresh perspectives, contributing innovative idea...

Episode #16 in which May Miller-Dawkins talks about the power of questions and curiosity to create change. May Miller-Dawkins has over 20 years experience working with community groups, organizations, coalitions and social movements. May’s work is all about facilitating catalytic discussions that identify pathways to impact, to support effective long-term social change efforts and build collective...

Episode #15 in which Jeff Yost shows us the power of identifying the assets and gifts that people have to build upon. Jeff Yost is President and CEO of Nebraska Community Foundation, where his talented team is unleashing abundant local assets, inspiring charitable giving, and connecting ambitious people in 270 hometowns throughout 82 of Nebraska’s 93 counties. Jeff has dedicated the past 27 years...

Episode #14 in which Brian Joshin Byrnes talks about the power (and the personal practice) of being open to our fellow community members Brian Joshin Byrnes is the founder and guiding teacher at Bread Loaf Mountain Zen Community. Prior to stepping full time into spiritual activism, Joshin was the president and CEO of the Santa Fe Community Foundation, and prior to that, holding that same position...

Episode #13 in which David Martinez III shows us the power of bringing people together in coalitions – and keeping them together. David Martinez III is the Director of Strategic Community Partnerships at Vitalyst Health Foundation. In this role, he oversees the foundation’s capacity-building and grant programs and Civic Health portfolio. David is on the Steering Committee of the Arizona Together f...

Episode #12 in which Seth Kaplan talks about the interplay between people, place, and the institutions that support community. Seth Kaplan is one of world's leading experts on fragile states, societies, communities, and neighborhoods. His latest book is Fragile Neighborhoods: Repairing American Society, One Zip Code at a Time. By focusing on improving underlying social dynamics – social relationsh...

Episode #11 in which Emily Kawano shows us that each of us can be part of creating an economy that works for all of us. Emily Kawano is the co-coordinator and co-founder of the U.S. Solidarity Economy Network and served on the Board of RIPESS (the Intercontinental Network for the Social Solidarity Economy) for almost a decade. She is the co-director of Wellspring Cooperative, based in Springfield,...

Episode #10 in which Marcus Walton talks about the multiple levels of change – from the individual to the global - that are present when change happens. Bio Marcus F. Walton serves as the president & CEO of Grantmakers for Effective organizations where he supports communities of philanthropic leaders to realize their highest grantmaking aspirations. Throughout his 20-year career, he has specia...

Episode #9 in which Steve Dubb shares stories of social movements and community organizing that have created social change. ` Steve Dubb is senior editor of economic justice at NPQ, where he writes articles (including NPQ’s Economy Remix column), moderates Remaking the Economy webinars, and works to cultivate voices from the field and help them reach a broader audience. Prior to coming to NPQ in 2...

Episode #8 in which Riane Eisler talks about shifting our mindsets from domination to partnership, both in the world outside and in the work of social change itself. Riane Eisler is an Austrian-born American systems scientist, futurist, attorney, and author who writes about the effect of gender and family politics on societies. Riane’s whole-systems research offers practical tools for constructing...

Episode #7 in which Meghan Cummings talks about what it takes to activate our collective power to make a difference. Meghan Cummings is Senior Vice President for Strategy, Impact & Operations at CFLeads, a U.S. organization supporting community foundations to galvanize action on the critical issues of our time. Before joining CFLeads, Meghan served as Vice President of Civic Advancement at the...

Episode #6 in which Yodit Mesfin Johnson talks about the power of reimagining everyday systems via collective care. Yodit Mesfin Johnson is a Black momma, a visionary strategist and a social justice advocate based in Southeast Michigan. She serves as president and CEO of Nonprofit Enterprise at Work (NEW), a Michigan-based movement support organization that offers transformative consulting, back-o...

Episode #5, in which Vu Le and Robert Egger explore changes that need to happen within the nonprofit sector itself, so that organizations can create more visionary improvement in communities. Vu Le is a writer and speaker who is best known for his blog, NonprofitAF.com , where his no-BS approach and irreverent sense of humor have gained him a fan base of over 50,000 loyal readers. Vu is the founde...

Episode #4, in which Shiree Teng talks about the power of love in creating transformational change. Shiree Teng has worked in the social sector for 35+ years as a social and racial justice champion. She's been a frontline organizer, advocate, capacity builder, grantmaker, (e)valuation partner, and leadership coach. Shiree ignites the path to justice with courageous strategy, boundless energy, and...

Episode #3, in which Josh Stearns explores the role of journalism in fostering civic engagement. Josh and Hildy discuss the need for bottom-up approaches to change, the challenges facing local news, and the need to rethink journalism to build stronger communities. Josh Stearns is the Senior Director of the Public Square Program at Democracy Fund. Josh leads the foundation’s efforts to support tran...

Episode #2, in which Trista Harris discusses the importance of having a clear vision of the future you want to create. Trista emphasizes the need to move away from a problem-focused approach and to instead focus on creating a positive future, shifting mindsets to embrace a future-oriented approach to all the work of social change. Trista Harris is a philanthropic futurist who is nationally known a...

Episode #1 , in which Creating the Future’s founder, Hildy Gottlieb, delves into the fundamental question, “What creates social change?” In this short introduction to the podcast, Hildy describes the need for a shift from incremental improvements to visionary, systemic transformations. She invites listeners to explore what it truly takes to create a more humane, equitable, and compassionate world....