Changemaker Interview

Tara Grant currently serves as principal of Belle Heth and McHarg Elementary Schools in Radford, Virginia.  She was interviewed as part of this Changemaker Series by Dr. Betty Dore, guest blogger for the series using the Blue Roads Changemaker Framework:  Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World.   I first met Tara Grant when I was working with my cohort of student teachers and we were invited to Belle Heth to observe activities/presentations taking place in the […]

In this episode of our Changemaker Series, I had the great privilege of talking with my changemaker friend, Sandra Lima Argo.  I call her a “chameleon” because she has an amazing ability to adapt well to any circumstance and to help others do so.   Much has changed in the world since we sat down for this interview back in the spring, but as you will see, as always, Sandra has embraced the challenge as an

(Special Note:  For this week’s feature changemaker interview, Blue Roads welcomes our first guest blogger, Dr. Betty Dore, interviewing changemaker/educator, Mr. Cole Wilder. ) Cole was interviewed using the Blue Roads Changemaker Framework:  Homegrown  Solutions for a Patchwork World.  I first met Cole when he began his Middle School Teacher Preparation Program at Radford University in Fall 2006.  He graduated in Spring, 2010, after successfully doing his blocking and student teaching in Pulaski Middle School teaching

Carol Crawford Smith is the first changemaker representing the arts in this series that celebrates the work and lives of changemakers through the lens of our framework “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”.  You’ll remember that I interviewed her amazing son, Garland Smith, founder of the Omushana Company, a few weeks back.   When you read Carol’s story, you’ll fully understand where Garland got his ability to live his life to the fullest with purpose and

This latest episode in the Blue Roads Changemaker Series features Phyllis Albritton who I have long called “Blacksburg’s best-known citizen”.  Now, I don’t know if it’s true, but it is certainly true to me.  I’ve been in Blacksburg for more than 40 years and I don’t seem to know a single person who doesn’t know Phyllis, too.  She’s a big presence, and an important one, in our community. Until her recent vision problems began to

Featuring High School Seniors Kolby Brown and Molly McPherson It’s never too soon to be a Changemaker! In my first two-person interview for the Changemaker Series, I welcomed two rising high school seniors, Kolby Brown and Molly McPherson, to talk about their work for racial justice in our community.  These two young leaders recently organized a protest that took place prior to a meeting of the Montgomery County School Board on June 16th.   I wanted

Garland Smith is one impressive entrepreneurial changemaker!  I was fortunate to meet Garland and his family during his childhood schooling at Margaret Beeks Elementary in Blacksburg, Virginia where I was principal in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.   I hadn’t seen him or talked with him in years until I saw a recent ad for his socially-minded enterprise, The Omushana Company.  As soon as I saw this inspiring video, I knew I had to talk

I was fortunate to meet Boston history teacher, Kim Young, first as an online classmate in World’ Savvy’s Global Competence Certificate (GCC)  program for educators.   When I first laid eyes on this world traveling teacher, she was propped up in a bed with a computer on her lap tuning in from Palestine.   A year and a half into the GCC program, the group met up in Ecuador for a field experience working in an Afro-Ecuadorian

I was fortunate to meet Dr. Liovani Nazario during an immersion experience at the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding in Gainesville, Florida in October 2019.    As you’ll see and hear, Liovani’s story is a unique and inspired example of “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”.  Her life resonates with clear themes of fairness and inclusivity.  With a strong role model  in her mom,  she starts by telling us about her roots in Puerto Rico that

In Part 1, Dana shared her upbringing and learning experiences that led to the founding of World Savvy as well as how that work unfolded from the early days to include a broad range of work with people across cultures.  In this second part of the conversation, Dana updates us on World Savvy’s growing influence and includes a reflection of her hopes for education as the world recovers from the Covid-19 pandemic in full swing