Elevate Purpose: Conversations for Social Impact

We often find ourselves consumed with the latest news in the Presidential election, but struggle to keep up with everything else on the ballot. Alex Niemczewski, Founder and CEO of BallotReady, shares how the non-partisan guide is helping people participate in democracy. BallotReady empowers voters to make informed decisions up and down the Ballot--from local level candidates and issues all up to choosing who should serve as President.

Civil rights attorney and social justice activist Danielle McCain shares how the Chicago Lawyers Committee for Civil Rights Under Law advances civil rights and racial justice. She discusses how the CLC serves the most underserved communities in Chicago and focuses on voting rights, education, and economic development.

Charles Adler, co-founder of Kickstarter, recently launched the Lost Arts space for ambitious creatives. It's a blend of laboratory, workshop, atelier, incubator and playground rooted in a legacy of interdisciplinary spaces like the Bauhaus and Black Mountain College. Charles discusses his background getting into the internet and shares his perspective on creativity as the humble beginning of innovation. Plus commentary on Chicago bureaucracy, the Medici, backyard furniture-making, Dark Pony, and the constancy of change.

Nell Debevoise of Inspiring Capital discusses her career working to connect business and social change. She argues that each of us has a responsibility to find purpose in our work --whether that's in accounting or serving as a traffic cop-- because grinding along disengaged at a job robs the world of our potential.

Morgan Binswanger discusses his career in social impact working on big issues for big change at organizations like the US Department of Education, Habitat for Humanity, and LIVESTRONG. He shares his thoughts on the direction of philanthropy and the importance of remembering why we get involved in this kind of work.

Alex Johnston is reimagining economic development at the local level. She shares innovative ways that the city of Lynchburg is supporting economic empowerment, talent development, and entrepreneurship to create better opportunity for its citizens.

Natasha Avery draws on her experience in talent recruiting at Edelman to share how career priorities have shifted over the years. She also stresses the value of unconventional paths, curiosity, and enthusiasm in hiring great employees.

Rishi Jaitly talks about his work in social impact, the challenge of facing career decision moments, and how those decisions eventually led him to Twitter. He discusses his experience bringing Twitter to new countries and how the platform can serve as a digital commons that can advance our sense of citizenship.

Rev. Stan Sloan, CEO of Chicago House and Proud2Share campaign, talks about how we're in a critical moment of the #LGBTQ equality movement. In his next role, he's leading the movement to raise awareness of LGBTQ poverty both within the LGBTQ community and across the world. "Swap a lace. Save a life" at www.proud2share.org.

Alexis Jones started ProtectHer to redefine manhood and address the ever-growing issue of domestic abuse and sexual assault on college campuses. She discusses how her efforts to empower women eventually brought her to work with male college athletes, and explains why we need a holistic approach to change. You can check out how Alexis is building a conversation around uncomfortable--but important-- topics in a recent video explaining consent: https://www.facebook.com/attn/videos/995537367148389/

Tim Mohin, Director of Corporate Responsibility at Advanced Micro Devices(AMD), shares how he is working to change business from the inside out. He discusses how he started a career in policy, and eventually came to believe that business is the dominant social institution of our time.

NPR was about all about engagement before it was cool. Danielle Deabler shares how NPR's Generation Listen is building on that history, and bringing together younger, more diverse communities through storytelling.

With a background in entrepreneurship, foreign policy, and food policy, Ellen Gustafson is dedicated to overhauling our food system. In this podcast, she discusses challenges that keep us from accessing and eating nutritious foods, and shares how changes in tech, business, and education are reason for optimism.