INNOVATE

Innovate is the biweekly podcast featuring timely dialogue with social entrepreneurs, creative visionaries and leading scholars worldwide.

Hosted by David Castro and Robert Rimm, Innovate is produced by Ashoka, Innovators for the Public, the Kellogg Fellows Leadership Alliance and the Philadelphia Social Innovations Journal. Subscribe via iTunes, Feedburner, Miro or Stitcher.

Innovate Media is a special segment of our Innovate podcast series that focuses on the work of leaders within the fields of education and journalism, and how they promote vibrant communication and dialogue addressing major societal issues. 

The Innovate CSR series features corporate executives from around the world who exemplify the vital collaboration between business and social responsibility.

Innovate Under 30 highlights the work of young, forward-thinking pioneers taking great strides in advocating and implementing social change, all before reaching the three-decade mark.

Originating from a collaborative effort and shared vision with Public Radio Exchange (PRX), Arch Street Public Radio (ASPiRe) is a content-driven platform on which we broadcast interviews from our Innovate, Innovate Media, Innovate CSR and Innovate Under 30 podcast series. Harnessing the potential of the airwaves, ASPiRe gives public voice to leaders in the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, academia, journalism and social entrepreneurship.

We encourage your comments below. Join us!

Harold Wimmer and the American Lung Association: Providing Resources for Healthy Breathing

Harold Wimmer is the president and CEO of the American Lung Association, the nation’s oldest voluntary health association, which works to save lives by improving lung health and preventing disease, including lung cancer, asthma, COPD and influenza. The ALA represents more than 21 million constituents and 300,000 volunteers and staff nationwide.

Harold earned a B.S. in Community Health and an M.S. in Health Administration & Policy from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. He is an active alumni member at the University of Illinois, serving on the Applied Health Sciences Alumni Board. He received the 2008 Distinguished Alumni Award from the University of Illinois, College of Applied Health Sciences. Harold began his career with the ALA in 1978 and has served in key executive positions in the American Lung Association in Illinois and the American Lung Association of the Upper Midwest.

American Lung Association on Facebook

American Lung Association on Twitter

Tune into the interview with Harold and click through the corresponding slideshow below...

Robert Woodson and the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise: Supporting and Representing Low-Income Communities

Robert Woodson, Sr., is the founder and president of the Center for Neighborhood Enterprise, which helps residents of low-income communities to address local and national problems, including violence. CNE assists community and faith-based organizations with training, technical assistance and connecting with support sources, while chronicling and interpreting their experiences to make recommendations for public policy.

Bob is an author and social activist who has dedicated his life to helping low-income communities. His involvement with civil-rights activism began in the 1960s, when he coordinated national and local community-development programs. During the 1970s, he directed the National Urban League’s Administration of Justice division. He later served as a Resident Fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. Bob is the only person ever to have received both the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Fellowship and the Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation Prize. He was also awarded the Presidential Citizens Medal. Bob holds an honorary doctorate from Colorado Christian University and the University of Cincinnati.

Tune into the interview with Robert and click through the corresponding slideshow below...

Thomas Tighe and Direct Relief: Mobilizing to Provide Medical and Emergency Care

Thomas Tighe is the president and CEO of Direct Relief, a nongovernmental, nonsectarian nonprofit with assistance programs focused on maternal and child health, prevention and treatment of disease, and emergency deterrence and response.

Thomas graduated from the University of California, Berkeley in 1982 and received his J.D. from the University of California, Hastings College of Law in 1985. He was awarded Honorary Doctorate of Laws from Hobart and William Smith Colleges in 2003. Prior to his role with Direct Relief, Thomas served as Associate Counsel on the U.S. Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs and as Associate General Counsel, Chief of Staff and COO of the Peace Corps. Thomas is on the editorial advisory board for Miller-McCune Magazine, a member of the Pacific Council on International Policy, an adviser to the Clinton Global Initiative and a visiting professor at the University of California, Santa Barbara’s graduate program in Global and International Studies. He was named Executive of the Year by the South Coast Business and Technology Forum in 2006.

Tune into the interview with Thomas and click through the corresponding slideshow below...

Pierre Ferrari and Heifer International: Helping Families Achieve Self-Reliance

Pierre Ferrari is the president and CEO of Heifer International, a nonprofit linking communities and helping bring sustainable agriculture and commerce to areas with a long history of poverty. The goal of every Heifer project is to help families achieve self-reliance.

Pierre was born in the Belgian Congo, known today as the Democratic Republic of the Congo. He received his B.A. and master’s degree in economics from The University of Cambridge and his M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. Prior to joining Heifer, Pierre gained more than 40 years of nonprofit and business experience with companies including Coca-Cola USA, CARE and the Small Enterprise Assistance Fund. He is also a member of the board of directors of Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream and the cofounder of Ethix Ventures, which serves as a gathering place for commerce that puts people and the environment before price. 

Tune into the interview with Pierre and click through the corresponding slideshow below...

Dr. Douglas Jackson and Project C.U.R.E.: Empowering and Equipping Medical Professionals Worldwide

Dr. Douglas Jackson is the president and CEO of Project C.U.R.E., or Commission on Urgent Relief and Equipment, who works to bridge health resource gaps in the developing world by empowering doctors and nurses with the tools they need to treat disease, administer vaccines, perform surgeries and ensure safe childbirth. Since 1987, Project C.U.R.E. has delivered equipment and supplies to hospitals and clinics in over 130 countries. Project C.U.R.E. is consistently recognized with the highest Four Star ranking from Charity Navigator, and was named by Forbes as one of the top 200 charities in America.

Douglas graduated magna cum laude from Northwest Nazarene University in 1982, receiving his B.A. in Business Administration. In 1985, he earned a J.D. from the University of Colorado at Boulder, receiving the American Jurisprudence Award for Excellence in the study of law. In 1992, he was awarded a Ph.D. in Business Administration with an emphasis in finance and econometrics from the University of Colorado at Boulder. He serves on the Board of Directors for InterAction, WorldDenver, The Nanda Center for International and Comparative Law at the University of Denver, and the Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professionals at Regis University. Dr. Jackson received the Lifetime Achievement Award in Healthcare from the American Red Cross, the Civis Princeps recognition from Regis University, the 5280 Magazine Philanthropist of the Year, and accepted the CoBiz “Best Places to Work” and Colorado Ethics in Business Award on behalf of the team at Project C.U.R.E.

Project C.U.R.E. on Facebook

Project C.U.R.E. on Twitter

Dr. Jackson on LinkedIn

Dr. Jackson on Twitter

Tune into the interview with Dr. Jackson and click through the corresponding slideshow below...

Ryan Merkley and Creative Commons: Providing Legal Infrastructure for Creative Sharing

Ryan Merkley is the CEO of Creative Commons, a nonprofit that allows sharing and use of creativity and knowledge through free and legal tools. At no cost, their user-friendly copyright licenses offer a simple, standardized way to give public permission to provide and use creative work, on one’s own conditions. Creative Commons develops, supports and stewards legal and technical infrastructure that maximizes digital creativity, sharing and innovation.

Ryan studied political science and economics at the University of Waterloo. Prior to joining Creative Commons, he served as the Chief Operating Officer of Mozilla, makers of the Internet browser Firefox. He also worked as the Director of Corporate Communications for the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver and Senior Advisor to Mayor David Miller of Toronto, where Ryan led the mayor’s budget policy and initiated Toronto’s Open Data project. Ryan has advised political campaigns on the local and national levels. 

Russell Granet and Lincoln Center Education: Enriching Learning Through the Arts

Russell Granet is the Executive Director of Lincoln Center Education, which has a mission is to enrich the lives of students, educators and all other learners by providing opportunities for engagement with the arts onstage, in the classroom, digitally and in the community.

Russell received his B.S. in Communications from Emerson College. He attended the Overseas Graduate Program for theatre at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, and in 1995 he received his M.A. in educational theatre from NYU’s Steinhardt School of Education. Prior to Lincoln Center Education, Russell worked with Creative Arts Team, The American Place Theatre and The Center for Arts Education: The NYC Annenberg Challenge for Arts Education. He founded Arts Education Resource after working 17 years in nonprofit arts education organizations, and served as the director for five years. Russell is also an adjunct professor at NYU.   

Dana Marlowe and Accessibility Partners: Providing Access for the Disabled

Dana Marlowe is the president and cofounder of Accessibility Partners, whose team of consultants, test engineers and trainers work with government agencies and organizations of all sizes to create innovative and practical accessibility solutions.

Dana received her B.S. in Professional and Technical Communications from the Rochester Institute of Technology and her M.A. in Interpersonal and Organizational Communication from the University of Texas at Austin. An advocate for those with disabilities, Dana began her career as a sign-language interpreter. Before cofounding Accessbility Partners in 2009, Dana worked for Keep Texas Beautiful and TCS Associates, and served as Senior Vice President at TecAccess.

Monisha Kapila and ProInspire: Improving Nonprofit and Social Leaders

Monisha Kapila is the founder and CEO of ProInspire, who partners with nonprofit, public and social enterprise groups to develop leaders at all levels for organizations addressing the world’s greatest challenges at the local, national and international levels.

Monisha received her Certificate in Leadership Coaching from Georgetown University, a BBA with distinction from the University of Michigan and an MBA from Harvard Business School, where she was the recipient of the Dean’s Award. Prior to founding ProInspire, Monisha worked with a number of leading nonprofit organizations, including CARE, the Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and the Clinton Foundation. She also served as a Senior Business Manager for Capital One Financial Corporation. She serves as a Board Member for Achieve Mission, a nonprofit human capital advisory organization, as well as the Nonprofit Roundtable of Greater Washington. Monisha is an advisor to Independent Sector’s NGen program and the Talent Philanthropy Project. She has been recognized as a HBS Leadership Fellow, American Express NGen Fellow and one of National Urban Fellows America’s Leaders of Change. She was previously a Harvard Business School Leadership Fellow with ACCION International, a pioneer in the commercial approach to microfinance. Monisha has been published in the Stanford Social Innovation Review, the Huffington Post and Next Billion, among others.

Monisha on LinkedIn

Monisha on Twitter

ProInspire on Facebook

ProInspire on Twitter

Tune into the interview and click through the corresponding slideshow below...