Latest news with #changemakers
Associated Press
7 days ago
- Associated Press
The Martin Eagan Scholarship Fund: Empowering Future Leaders Through Education with The Martin Eagan Scholarship for Criminal Justice and Education Majors.
Morristown, New Jersey, United States, June 25, 2025 -- The Martin Eagan Scholarship Fund offers a one-time $1,000 award to graduating high school seniors pursuing degrees in criminal justice or education. Applications are open until June 1, 2026, at Applications are now open and must be submitted by June 1, 2026. The recipient will be announced on June 15, 2026. Full eligibility criteria and application details are available at Inspired by Eagan's deep commitment to community safety and the power of learning, the scholarship is designed to support students passionate about improving society through legal reform, teaching, or civic leadership. Eagan, a respected figure in Montville and Morristown, New Jersey, created the fund to invest in the next generation of changemakers. 'Education and justice are pillars of a better future,' said Eagan. 'This scholarship is about encouraging students who want to make a difference in the world, whether that's in the classroom or the courtroom.' Scholarship Eligibility – Criminal Justice & Education Focus To qualify for the Martin Eagan Scholarship, applicants must: Additional requirements: The Martin Eagan Scholarship Fund aligns with Eagan's broader mission to uplift youth, promote educational opportunity, and inspire civic responsibility. More about Martin Eagan's work and his dedication to community development can be found at About Martin Eagan Martin Eagan is a New Jersey-based community leader, mentor, and proponent of educational equity and criminal justice reform. Raised in Montville and active throughout Morristown, Eagan has spent years working to support youth and future professionals who aim to serve others. Through this scholarship and his ongoing community engagement, he hopes to empower students committed to creating a more just and educated society. Contact Info: Name: Martin Eagan Email: Send Email Organization: Martin Eagan Scholarship Fund Address: 12 Renshaw Dr, Montville, NJ 07045 Phone: 4402969876 Website: Release ID: 89163143 In case of encountering any inaccuracies, problems, or queries arising from the content shared in this press release that necessitate action, or if you require assistance with a press release takedown, we urge you to notify us at [email protected] (it is important to note that this email is the authorized channel for such matters, sending multiple emails to multiple addresses does not necessarily help expedite your request). Our responsive team will be readily available to promptly address your concerns within 8 hours, resolving any identified issues diligently or guiding you through the necessary steps for removal. The provision of accurate and dependable information is our primary focus.
Fast Company
25-06-2025
- Business
- Fast Company
How to create a workplace where changemakers thrive
Innovation doesn't happen in silos: it happens in systems. And yet many companies still rely on lone heroes to ignite transformation. They recruit visionary thinkers, celebrate bold ideas, and preach agility, but beneath the surface, their structures reward predictability and punish deviation. As a result, the very people most capable of driving innovation—fast-moving, future-oriented changemakers known as catalysts—are often left isolated, misunderstood, and burned out. Catalysts ignite possibilities. They challenge the status quo, connect seemingly unrelated dots, and accelerate momentum. But they don't thrive in traditional organizational ecosystems because they threaten bureaucracy, resist incrementalism, and without support, they either burn out or leave. According to Gallup, just 21% of employees strongly agree that they can take risks at work without fear of negative consequences. As Shannon Lucas and Tracey Lovejoy explain in their book Move Fast. Break Shit. Burn Out., these workers often struggle with intense isolation and exhaustion not because they aren't capable, but because the system isn't designed for them to succeed. To unlock sustainable innovation, organizations must evolve from celebrating individual disruptors to cultivating ecosystems where diverse changemakers—catalysts, stabilizers, implementers—can thrive together. This isn't a culture tweak. It's a systems redesign. The 4 Layers of a Catalyst Ecosystem Shannon and I have seen how catalytic energy can drive exponential growth if the right conditions exist. This framework outlines the four interdependent layers that support thriving catalyst ecosystems. 1. Identification: Spot the Sparks Catalysts don't always stand out on paper. They're often the ones asking provocative questions in meetings, proposing ideas that seem off-script, or moving faster than the rest of the system. But without intentional practices, these traits can be seen as disruptive rather than visionary. To find them, leaders must look beyond the org chart. Psychometric assessments, cross-functional feedback, and structured self-discovery tools can help you to illuminate hidden change agents at every level in your organization. You can also train managers to spot curiosity, systems thinking, and pattern recognition. In her work with large organizations, Shannon uses her company's Catalyst Assessment Tool to uncover innate changemakers hidden throughout the business. This often-overlooked talent is frequently underutilized. At one company, 60% of the employees identified as catalysts were previously considered 'hidden talent' by the C-suite—and they went on to solve some of the organization's most pressing challenges. 2. Integration: Design for Complementarity Once identified, catalysts need more than autonomy. They need meaningful integration with the broader system. Pairing them with stabilizers (who bring operational excellence) and implementers (who drive execution) creates cross-functional 'change pods' that balance energy, tempo, and sustainability. In my work facilitating story-based leadership circles, catalysts often emerge through narratives of disruption, such as career pivots, reinventions, and vision quests. However, their breakthroughs become organizational breakthroughs only when they are translated into a shared purpose. This requires redesigned team norms: tempo-matching, structured conflict mediation, and deep respect for different working styles. Catalysts are the spark, but the team is the engine—and the organization is the road they need to travel together. 3. Protection: Shield the Flame A large amount of pressure to innovate without adequate support is a recipe for burnout. According to Deloitte, innovation-driven employees are 2.5x more likely to leave if they lack proper support systems. Catalysts in particular are prone to emotional exhaustion, especially when their efforts are blocked by bureaucracy or misunderstood by leadership. Organizations must build containers that buffer catalytic energy. This means establishing sponsorship structures, recovery protocols (such as off-cycle sabbaticals or reflective retreats), and psychological safety as a norm. This could include internal coaching circles, energy mapping, or check-in rituals that normalize emotional processing. Investing in resilience practices isn't a perk; it's a prerequisite for sustainable change. 4. Amplification: Scale the Spark Catalysts can't just be unleashed; they must be amplified. Invite them to inform strategic offsites, facilitate internal labs, or lead cross-functional storytelling initiatives. Establish formal channels, like 'Catalyst Councils,' to elevate their insights into enterprise-level planning. Codify what they learn. Translate their experiments into onboarding content and playbooks. Make space for them to coach emerging catalysts in the system. When you treat catalysts not as rogue actors but as cultural accelerants, their energy becomes contagious. In a Catalyst program with a large healthcare organization, Shannon worked with the team to identify, train, and activate catalysts from across the business. The program participants were given the most pressing strategic initiatives to tackle. In just 16 weeks, the Catalyst participants helped the company reduce reimbursement times from eight weeks to just two days, a 96% improvement, driving significant gains in both customer and employee satisfaction. Additionally, the organization reported a 24% improvement in change leadership capabilities across the enterprise. This is the power you can unleash and amplify by engaging your catalysts. Innovation isn't a solo act; it's an emergent phenomenon. It happens when diverse roles, energies, and mindsets interact in the right environment. That means building systems that reward exploration, reframe conflict, and move ideas from the margins to the center. The future won't be led by lone geniuses. It will be shaped by ecosystems that can accommodate differences, adapt rapidly, and nurture catalytic energy over the long arc of change. Don't wait for a crisis to value your changemakers: Design for them now, and your organization won't just survive change—it will shape it. The next time someone in your organization brings an idea that feels risky or 'too soon,' pause before you dismiss it. Ask: What if this is the spark we've been waiting for, and how might we build the right conditions to let it burn bright?
Zawya
09-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Tally MSME Honours marks the fifth year of championing MSME innovation and growth
Tally Solutions, a leading international technology provider of business management software, has announced the launch of the fifth edition of its flagship annual initiative- Tally MSME Honours. Building on the momentum of four successful years, MSME Honours continues to recognize and celebrate emerging entrepreneurs who are shaping the future of UAE's MSME ecosystem through innovation, resilience, and impact. Over the last four editions, Tally MSME Honours' has received over 27,000 nominations with over 1500 entries from businesses in the Middle East, making it one of the biggest platforms globally to celebrate MSMEs. This year, Tally expects a record-breaking 20,000 nominations, of which 10% from the Middle East. The winners will be felicitated on International MSME Day, June 27, 2025. The honours will also spotlight MSME success stories from across the GCC. With a focus on lasting impact, Tally MSME Honours goes beyond recognition to elevate and empower entrepreneurial voices. The initiative offers continued opportunities for growth and visibility, with past winners becoming part of a thriving community of changemakers. Through industry panels, business forums, and ecosystem events, they gain a platform to share their journeys, strengthen partnerships, and drive sustained impact.
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cynthia Erivo and The Vivienne among ‘LGBT+ changemakers' in 2025 Pride List
Wicked actress Cynthia Erivo and drag queen The Vivienne are among the stars who feature on a list 'celebrating the most influential LGBT+ changemakers of the past year'. The Independent's Pride List for 2025 also includes retired Olympic diver Tom Daley, actor Bella Ramsey, artist David Hockney, comedian Joe Lycett and author Juno Dawson. Erivo, 38, who won a Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (Glaad) Award earlier in the year, was placed at number four on the top 10 list while The Vivienne, the drag alter-ego of the late James Lee Williams, is seventh. The Vivienne, who won the first series of RuPaul's Drag Race UK and spoke publicly about prejudices faced by LGBT+ people and by the drag community, died in January at the age of 32 and is a posthumous inclusion on the list. Topping the 2025 Pride List is Victoria McCloud, a lawyer, former judge and transgender woman who announced she would take the Government to the European Court of Human Rights over the Supreme Court's ruling on the definition of a woman. READ MORE: Dr McCloud said: 'I'm delighted and honoured that The Independent has included me in its Pride List this year. 'In 2025, more than ever before, amidst increasing oppression and segregation at home, with court and state against us, people from the trans community yearn to be bathed in rainbow light. 'These are uniquely dark times but we will challenge those who wish to marginalise us, be they Government or activists with money and the odd mega-yacht to spare. 'We have been here for centuries; we will be here for centuries to come. The quiet majority walk with us.' In April the UK's highest court unanimously ruled that the terms woman and sex in the Equality Act 'refer to a biological woman and biological sex'. Chloe Hubbard, UK editor of The Independent, said: 'We are proud to champion our most influential LGBT+ changemakers once again on our annual Pride List in a year where the community has been further marginalised on both sides of the Atlantic. 'Visibility and pride within the queer community feels more vital than ever and we are dedicated to continuing to occupy our unique place in the media on LGBT+ issues.' In 2023, The Independent relaunched its Rainbow List as the Pride List, to recognise 50 extraordinary 'LGBT+ changemakers'. The 2024 list included Doctor Who and Sex Education star Ncuti Gatwa, commentator and former England footballer Alex Scott, Wicked and Bridgerton actor Jonathan Bailey and screenwriter Russell T Davies. To mark the publication of its Pride List, The Independent will host an event at Queer Britain on June 11. This year's top 10: 1. Victoria McCloud, former judge of the King's Bench 2. Juno Dawson, author 3. Bella Ramsey, actor 4. Cynthia Erivo, actor and singer 5. Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care 6. David Hockney, artist 7. The Vivienne, drag artist, singer and television personality 8. Joe Lycett, comedian, television presenter and artist 9. Tom Daley, Olympic gold medallist and television personality 10. Yasmin Benoit, model and activist
Forbes
02-06-2025
- Business
- Forbes
How Greater Purpose Is Giving Canadian Businesses A New Way To Lead With Impact
Shaping the next generation of business Today marks the official launch of Greater Purpose, a Canadian platform built to bring together businesses that want to integrate purpose into the very core of how they operate. For Brad Offman, founder of Greater Purpose, this is the culmination of years spent listening, learning, and bringing together leaders ready to stand up for what matters most. 'We've actually been building this community for several years, starting with the launch of The Partnership Conference in 2019,' Brad says. 'But as much as I love our Conference and our other Regional Events, there are some real limitations. Events are ephemeral and short-lived. While they might be foundational to creating a movement, they aren't enough. We needed to fill the space that exists between events and in our view, that could only be done by creating a community that would drive our objectives on an ongoing basis.' Greater Purpose is that space: a membership community where businesses can share insights, connect with peers, and amplify their commitment to social purpose. From exclusive events and a trusted purpose mark to brand visibility and a private online community, it offers a home for changemakers who believe in using business as a force for good. Brad Offman, Founder and Chief Executive Officer A New Definition of Success For Brad, this work is deeply personal. Having spent most of his career in the corporate world—including time as a senior executive at a large financial institution—he understands that profitability and purpose aren't in conflict, they're intertwined. 'Greater Purpose defines success by commitment to social purpose. Wherever a business is on the path to purpose, there's a place for it in Greater Purpose,' he says. 'I've spent most of my career in the corporate sector, most recently as a senior executive at a large financial institution. I recognized early on that a company could change the world by leveraging its assets in the name of social good, and that didn't have to come at the expense of profitability or shareholder value. That was a profound moment for me.' The Power of Community Brad is clear that community is not just a feature—it's at the heart of everything. 'Community is such a critical part of the purpose journey,' he says. 'Change becomes easier when everyone gets on board. Changemakers are often outliers, especially in large companies. We provide a community to let these changemakers understand that they are not alone.' It's about connection and collaboration, but also about belonging. 'Community is the foundation for collaboration, trust, and a profound sense of belonging. It is a critical element for driving the change we are driving to achieve.' Purpose in Practice From startups to established corporations, Greater Purpose's members come from all corners of the economy. But what unites them isn't a single set of metrics—it's a shared commitment to finding and living their reason for being. 'What unites our members is a commitment to finding and understanding their very reason for existing,' Brad says. 'Purpose isn't about impact, employee engagement, inclusion, sustainable procurement and good governance—but at the same time, it's about all of those things. Once a business, or an individual, defines its purpose, it becomes easier to answer existential questions about its strategy and its direction.' What's most inspiring to Brad is seeing how purpose becomes a strategic North Star. 'What is unexpected is how many companies are thinking about purpose as a core strategic driver,' he says. 'It makes everything easier because it defines as a company what you will do, and just as importantly, what you will not do. Companies all have unique assets, and watching them deploy these assets in the name of their purpose is truly a fascinating sight to behold.' Mission of Greater Purpose: To build the most dynamic business community for social purpose ... More professionals A Defining Moment for Canada As the world faces profound shifts, Brad sees a rare opportunity for Canadian companies to lead. 'We're living in very, very interesting times,' he says. 'The current geopolitical environment is forcing many companies to rethink their place in the world, and what's most interesting is that parts of the shift have happened virtually overnight.' Even though Greater Purpose wasn't created in direct response to these turbulent times, Brad believes it's exactly what's needed right now. 'While we didn't create Greater Purpose in the context of the current geopolitical situation, I think having the haven of a purpose-driven community will provide an outlet for companies that are truly committed to this work,' he says. And in those conversations with leaders across Canada, Brad hears something powerful: 'Canada is rethinking its purpose, and there is a powerful sense that Canadian companies can be global leaders when it comes to purpose. This isn't anecdotal. I'm talking to business leaders everyday and there's a sense that this is Canada's time to shine.' Yet he's quick to emphasize that defining purpose is only the beginning. 'Paul Klein, another Forbes contributor, reminded me recently that having a strong purpose is merely the first step,' he notes. 'That purpose needs to be activated, and it needs to be activated quickly and immediately. Otherwise, we will miss this golden opportunity to take the lead on this issue, and demonstrate that companies truly have the power to change the world through a well-defined and thoughtfully activated purpose. The time is NOW.' For Brad Offman and the growing community at Greater Purpose, today's launch is about more than a new platform. It's an invitation—to rethink what it means to do business in Canada, to lead with integrity, and to prove that the future isn't just about what you sell—it's about what you stand for.
