B-Change

Beyond Chit Chat: Robbie Samuels on Authentic, Effective Networking

Ever gotten to the end of an event or conference and wondered whether you had wasted your time? Ever collected business cards, only to find them months later in your drawer or wallet? Robbie Samuels has a step by step process for networking to build authentic relationships and make the best use of your limited time. In this episode, he describes:

 - How to prepare for an event, including what to do before the event to be more effective at networking.
 - Simple systems for remembering the people you’ve met and who you want to follow up with.
 - The meaning of croissants versus bagels, the title of Robbie's book about networking.

Resources mentioned in this episode include:

Eight steps for successful networking: https://www.robbiesamuels.com/8-steps-for-successful-networking/
Croissants vs. bagels: www.croissantsvsbagels.com
On the Schmooze podcast: www.ontheschmooze.com

Penn Loh (part 2): Leadership As Jazz

Penn Loh didn’t expect to become the executive director of the environmental justice nonprofit ACE. He felt most comfortable as a resource ally — and not the definition of a traditional leader. In this episode, Penn talks about:

 - Re-imagining his potential to serve as executive director of a grassroots organization. 
 - Finding his own voice as a facilitative leader.
 - Tools and resources that were most useful to him.

Tools and resources mentioned in this episode include:

Popular education (Pedagogy of the Oppressed, Paulo Friere
https://www.google.com/search?client=safari&hl=en-us&q=Paulo+Freire&stick=H4sIAAAAAAAAAONgVuLUz9U3MKqwMLd8xOjMLfDyxz1hKatJa05eYzTh4grOyC93zSvJLKkUUuNig7JkuHilELo0GKS4uRBcnkWsPAGJpTn5Cm5FqZlFqQCHDYRcYgAAAA&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwj96M7r5YzjAhUtiOAKHQzjB_UQgYUCCI4BKAAwDA&biw=375&bih=553)

Interaction Institute for Social Change 
https://interactioninstitute.org/

Teaching Democracy
https://teachingdemocracyblog.wordpress.com/coordination-and-design-team/

United for a Fair Economy
http://www.faireconomy.org/

Tufts Urban and Environmental Policy and Planning
https://as.tufts.edu/uep/

Penn Loh (part 1): From Electrical Engineering to Environmental Justice

Years before he became executive director at Boston-based Alternatives for Community and Environment (ACE), Penn Loh was fulfilling his parents' dream: He was attending MIT to become an electrical engineer.  

In part 1 of our interview, Penn tells the story of:

 - How his experience as a child of immigrants shaped his early aspirations.
 - The unexpected influence one MIT class had in transforming his world view.
 - How coming face to face with the defense industries’ influence on MIT spurred him to develop his organizing chops.

Beyond the Brainstorm: Joanne Brunn on Creativity Tools

How can you bring more creativity to your leadership in your workplace? Joanne Brunn is the CEO of a startup technology company who is also an innovator in using creativity to generate new ideas and problem solve solutions for hard to solve challenges.

In this episode she describes:

 - Key misconceptions about creativity and who can be creative.
 - Techniques to generate out-of-the-box solutions to stubborn problems.
 - How to create an environment that maximizes creativity.

Maria Elena Letona: Moving Beyond the 24-7 Leader

When Maria Elena Letona began her tenure as executive director at Centro Presente, she was confident her academic training had well prepared her for the job. She was wrong.

In this episode Letona shares:

 - The ways that unanticipated crises led her to transform herself as a leader and the organizations she led.
 - How microaggressions she experienced as an immigrant and a woman of color impacted her and her role as a leader.
 - The effect of serving in the 24-7 role of executive director and how she worked to create balance in her life.

Why B-Change: A Conversation with Hosts Marcy and Warren

Warren Goldstein-Gelb had just begun to realize his dream of launching a podcast on social justice leadership, when he suffered a devastating, life-threatening stroke. After a miraculous recovery and a year of full time rehab, he joined forces with his wife, Marcy, to revive his dream.

In this episode, Warren speaks with Marcy about:

 - The story behind B-Change.
 - How lessons from Warren’s stroke recovery are contributing to the new podcast.
 - Innovative ways that positive psychology is being used to move beyond individual happiness to social justice.