Social Change Leaders Podcast
Exploring the intersection of social change leadership, in the public, private and non profit sectors hosts Stephanie Malon-Rufi and Traci Warnberg-Lemm bring you interviews with thought leaders on the front lines. Packed with tips, actionable ideas and stories to inspire, this podcast will energize your efforts to make an impact in the world.
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Reflections and Learnings from our Podcasting Pause
07/31/2023
Reflections and Learnings from our Podcasting Pause
You can't see the whole picture when you're stuck in the middle of it. - Anonymous More information can be found at The Social Change Leaders Podcast is back after a 6 month break! In this episode, Stephanie and Traci share reflections, lessons and reminders during the ‘pauses’ in their lives. They discuss what has helped them sustain their efforts and expand their vision. In their conversation, they discuss: What Stephanie and Traci have been up to the last 6 months What Traci and Stephanie have discovered / re-discovered for themselves What is next for Traci, Stephanie and the Social Change Leaders Podcast Mentioned in today’s conversation: Traci, Stephanie,
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The Evolving Landscape of Systems Change for Social Change Leaders
12/29/2022
The Evolving Landscape of Systems Change for Social Change Leaders
We are weaving the future on the loom of today - Grace Dawson Do you see and think about the different systems impacting your social change efforts? With the current challenges we face now as we emerge from a global pandemic, social change can feel even more out of reach. It is important to understand the integration of systems when addressing our biggest community challenges. Co-host Traci Warnberg-Lemm shares some observations about the emerging landscape of system change and how to maximize your impact as we move into 2023. In this episode you will: Learn what ESG is and how social change leaders can have more impact Consider how to deepen your personal equity learning and practices and more effectively push for systemic change Hear how social innovators and social change leaders can better map and change systems to have more impact Hear about new research from the University of Maine that suggests that social change may depend on the relationship between beneficial behaviors and policies. Understand why looking deeper at systems helps us better address our own biases and limited understanding In this episode we reference: Spark Good, Stephanie - Social Motion, Traci -
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Creating an Aligned Sales Strategy for Your Social Enterprise
12/22/2022
Creating an Aligned Sales Strategy for Your Social Enterprise
More information can be found at As a social entrepreneur, do you find sales challenging? Does setting prices and then talking about them make you cringe? Take a listen to this episode where co-host, Stephanie Malon-Rufi, has a conversation with Kat Luckock, founder of Share Impact, about her work with social entrepreneurs specifically in the area of sales. Through the conversation with Kat you will: Learn about how Kat first started working in the social enterprise field Understand why sales can be so challenging for social entrepreneurs and the work Kat does to work through the mindset blocks Listen to the importance of messaging in the sales process Hear about Kat’s focus on revenue generation, especially sales, which has led to the development of her aligned sales strategy. Learn about how Kat approaches working with her clients on pricing More about Kat Luckock: Kat Luckock, Founder of Share Entrepreneur Coach, is passionate about helping social enterprise Founders & Leaders achieve their vision for social + environmental change with sustainable income streams, confident sales and a clear strategy. She is expert at helping you communicate your purpose and social impact in a way that attracts ready-to-buy customers, clients and partners. She provides coaching, mentoring and training to help women generate revenue and sales in a fully aligned way to who they are and build their business with a strategy that works for them and the way they want to live their life (which is often not “conventional”). She hosts the Creating Social Impact podcast.
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Growing Your Social Business with the Right Support in Place: A Conversation with Casey Gromer
12/15/2022
Growing Your Social Business with the Right Support in Place: A Conversation with Casey Gromer
“What really draws me to this business is the power we have as women to change the world.” - Casey Gromer More information can be found at As you continue to grow your business, do you struggle with how to grow your team? Do you know how to use team members the most effectively? How can you build an effective team even for a small business? We get into all of these topics and more on this episode with C-Suite Boutique Founder and CEO, Casey Gromer. Co-host, Stephanie Malon-Rufi, has a conversation with Casey about her work building a business catering to women CEOs by offering a custom business blueprint, strategic growth planning and fractional integrator services. Through our conversation with Casey you will: Learn about what a fractional integrator does and how it may benefit your business Understand the difference between a visionary leader versus a fractional integrator style leader Hear Casey’s unique approach to delegating, something many entrepreneurs often get wrong Learn tips for making you first hire(s) and how to set them up for success in your business Listen to best way to use your team even if you are a start-up business Understand how part-time expert help can be invaluable as you grow your business Hear Casey’s passion to changing the way we ‘do business’ recognizing that many of the systems supporting business growth are broken and don’t support the additional responsibilities many women have within their households and communities More about Casey Gromer: Casey is host of Female Founders Breaking Boundaries podcast where she encourages women to ditch traditional, male-dominated business advice in favor of more realistic, workable ways of running their business while still achieving success. As founder of C-Suite Boutique, Casey and her team currently serve women entrepreneurs as Fractional Integrators.
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Building A Business Without Burning Yourself Out
12/08/2022
Building A Business Without Burning Yourself Out
More information can be found at Do you experience entrepreneurial burnout? Are you constantly running around wearing all the hats and putting out fires? This episode is a replay of a workshop that co-hosts Stephanie Malon-Rufi and Traci Warnberg-Lemm presented as part of Twin Cities Start-up Week. In this episode, they walk you through an assessment tool that will help you identify: areas in your business that need better systems in place the types of support you need to keep the business on the right track good time management skills that work and how to maintain good boundaries if you are properly managing your health and well-being In this episode we reference: Free download: Spark Good, Stephanie - Social Motion, Traci -
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Creating and Implementing Your 2023 Annual Plan
12/01/2022
Creating and Implementing Your 2023 Annual Plan
“The number-one thing that you will have to sacrifice to be great, to achieve what you are capable of, and to execute your plans, is your comfort.” -Brian P. Moran & Michael Lenningston, 12 Week Year More information can be found at Have you started to think about planning your 2023? Now is the time to decide when you will be doing this important part of getting ready for the new year. In this episode, co-host Stephanie Malon-Rufi goes solo and talks about the annual planning process she does for herself and with her clients. In this episode, you will: Understand why reflection is a powerful planning tool Learn about the importance of reconnecting and refining your vision Hear about the book 12-Week Year and some of the key takeaways Stephanie recommends implementing in your planning and execution process Understand the necessity of setting goals along with a detail action plan Hear key tips to stay on track with your action plan and how to measure your progress Learn about the personalized annual planning package Stephanie is offering to listeners this year! In this episode we reference: with Spark Good Spark Good, Stephanie -
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Spreading Gratitude
11/24/2022
Spreading Gratitude
“Start every morning with deliberate thinking and thanks giving!!!” -Invajy More information can be found at Have you fallen out of practice with your gratitude routines and habits? This is the time of year when we take time to connect with loved ones, get ready for the holiday season, and reflect on the things we have gratitude for. Sometimes in life, we have to ‘dig a bit deeper to final gratitude. If you have traditionally had a gratitude practice you may have fallen out of practice with it. In this episode we discuss a few ways to spread gratitude to others which puts us in the mindset of appreciation and can help us feel more grateful as well. In this episode, we reference: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stepahnie Malon-Rufi,
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Podcast Guest Updates Part 3: Supporting the ecoSystem for Social Change
11/17/2022
Podcast Guest Updates Part 3: Supporting the ecoSystem for Social Change
More information can be found at The Social Change Leaders Podcast is 3 years old! To celebrate, some of our former podcast guests are back giving social change leaders updates, lessons learned and some inspiration. In this episode, we will hear from Nancy Meyer, Elaine Rasmussen, Brenden Kumasari and Ann Price to share updates on their work in the social change landscape and ecosystem to effectively do social change, fund it, communicate the value, and evaluate community efforts. In this episode we referenced: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stepahnie Malon-Rufi,
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Podcast Guest Updates Part 2: Equity Leadership
11/10/2022
Podcast Guest Updates Part 2: Equity Leadership
More information can be found at The Social Change Leaders Podcast is 3 years old! To celebrate, some of our former podcast guests are back giving social change leaders updates, lessons learned and some inspiration. In this episode, we will hear from Carl Young, Bukata Hayes and Stacy Wells who all share updates on the work they are doing in the community around racial equity and how the equity leadership space has evolved. In this episode we referenced: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stepahnie Malon-Rufi,
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Podcast Guest Updates #1: Integrating Wellness and Continuous Learning
11/03/2022
Podcast Guest Updates #1: Integrating Wellness and Continuous Learning
The Social Change Leaders Podcast is 3 years old! To celebrate, some of our former podcast guests are back giving social change leaders updates, lessons learned and some inspiration. In this episode, we will hear from Felicia Boone, Sarah Turino and Jory Mickelson who all shared updates on how they are integrating wellness, self improvement and continuous learning while doing social impact work. In this episode we referenced: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stepahnie Malon-Rufi,
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Self-Renewal and New Rhythms
10/28/2022
Self-Renewal and New Rhythms
More information can be found at Awaken your spirit to adventure; Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will be home in a new rhythm, For your soul senses the world that awaits you. John O’Donahue How do you renew yourself and your life? How do you deal with new rhythms in your personal & professional life? Co-host Traci Warnberg-Lemm shares some of her thoughts about an article she stumbled across about self-renewal and shares some important questions social change leaders should ask themselves when new rhythms show up in life. In this episode you will: Hear how all leaders have times in life where they are in need of self-renewal, clarity or re-inventing Listen to Traci discuss an article by Jordan Kassalow about the power of self-renewal Consider how renewal for social change leaders and social entrepreneurs might require different lenses and questions Ask yourself a few questions that may trigger some new thinking, ideas to help you refresh and renew your role as social change leader In this episode: Social Motion, Traci -
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Self-Renewal Considerations for Social Change Leaders
10/27/2022
Self-Renewal Considerations for Social Change Leaders
More information can be found at Awaken your spirit to adventure; Hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk; Soon you will be home in a new rhythm, For your soul senses the world that awaits you. - John O’Donahue How do you renew yourself and your life? How do you deal with new rhythms in your personal & professional life? Co-host Traci Warnberg-Lemm shares some of her thoughts about an article she stumbled across about self-renewal and shares some important questions social change leaders should ask themselves when new rhythms show up in life. In this episode you will: Hear how all leaders have times in life where they are in need of self-renewal, clarity or re-inventing Listen to Traci discuss an article by Jordan Kassalow about the power of self-renewal Consider how renewal for social change leaders and social entrepreneurs might require different lenses and questions Ask yourself a few questions that may trigger some new thinking, ideas to help you refresh and renew your role as social change leader In this episode: Social Motion, Traci -
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Is Your Business Impacting Social Change?
10/20/2022
Is Your Business Impacting Social Change?
More information can be found at Social entrepreneurs are not content just to give a fish or teach how to fish. They will not rest until they have revolutionized the fishing industry.” Bill Drayton Is your business impacting social change? Did you know that it can? In this episode, co-host Stephanie Malon-Rufi talks about how a social impact business is a growing model becoming more widely used. However, not all know how to integrate this model into their own business. In this episode you will: Understand what a social impact business is Learn about how a traditional business model differs from a social impact one Hear how growing consumer trends make a social enterprise a financially good move Learn three actions you can take immediately to create more social impact in your business Take Stephanie’s New Quiz - Is Your Business Impacting Social Change In this episode we referenced: Stepahnie Malon-Rufi, 5 C's For Successfully Building a Social Change Business:
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Lessons Learned Over Three Years of Podcasting
10/13/2022
Lessons Learned Over Three Years of Podcasting
“The gap between what we do and what we are capable of doing would suffice to solve most of the world's problems.” -Gandhi More information can be found at The Social Change Leaders Podcast is three years old! We look back at some of our lessons learned, and share our reflections on what are some practices and things that have helped us sustain this effort. In our conversation, we discuss: How we met and determined to launch a podcast over 3 years ago Some of the stats from the podcast including listeners from 86 countries around the globe Bulleted list of some of our lessons learned from doing 3 years of podcasting Mentioned in today’s conversation: Traci, Stephanie,
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Tips for Hitting Your Goals by The End of The Year
10/06/2022
Tips for Hitting Your Goals by The End of The Year
Note to self: Don’t measure your progress using someone else’s ruler. -Anonymous More information can be found at Are you feeling the end-of-the-year crunch? Do you have some goals that you haven’t finished yet or maybe haven't even started working on? It is the last quarter of the calendar year and for many this is a time when we start to push to get our goals accomplished. In this episode, Stephanie and Traci talk about how to approach this last stretch of the year so that you can accomplish important goals but also so you don’t burn out. Through these tips you will: Learn the importance of celebrating accomplishments Understand how to prioritize Know how to be realistic Be challenged to think about how you spend your time Learn about how to measure your progress Be encouraged to write down your action steps and timeline Think about how you will stay accountable to this work To learn more: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stephanie Malon-Rufi,
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Musings from Greece: Shifting from Symptoms to Healthy Systems
09/29/2022
Musings from Greece: Shifting from Symptoms to Healthy Systems
More information can be found at "The big aha for me, having studied populations of the long-lived for nearly a decade, is how the factors that encourage longevity reinforce one another over the long term. For people to adopt a healthful lifestyle, I have become convinced, they need to live in an ecosystem, so to speak, that makes it possible. ... The power of such an environment lies in the mutually reinforcing relationships among lots of small nudges and default choices." -Dan Buettner Do you consider the impact of ecosystems in your personal and professional life? Co-host Traci Warnberg-Lemm shares some of her thoughts and observations from her month in Greece in this solo episode. She shares how the culture in Greece has mutually reinforcing habits and practices that support health and wellness in individuals and communities. Listen as she considers how her lessons, observations and insights from Greece might challenge us all to build similar ecosystems. On this episode you will: Hear a little bit of history about the Greek God Asklepius and why the symbol of snakes are used in modern day medicine Listen as Traci shares a bit about the Mediterranean diet and how it is central to life in Greece Understand a bit about the Greek ‘hours of common silence’ Hear stories of modern Greek hospitality and how that value has roots in ancient civilization Hear about the value of spending time outdoors Listen as Traci shares a few unique Greek traditions and its impact on creating community connections and linkages Consider what ecosystems might better support mutually reinforcing relationships To learn more about Traci: Social Motion, Traci -
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Encore Episode: Using Cultural Self-Awareness to Build More Equitable and Inclusive Workplaces
09/22/2022
Encore Episode: Using Cultural Self-Awareness to Build More Equitable and Inclusive Workplaces
Everybody wants what it looks like, not everybody wants what it feels like. - Jesse Ross Jr. More information can be found at How can real change be made to move us to more equitable and inclusive workplaces? What does knowledge of self have to do with diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) work? Listen to our inspiring conversation with Jesse Ross, CEO of Mr. Jesse Ross. Jesse is a DEI consultant, executive coach, and international speaker. He is also a community activist living and doing the work in Minneapolis. In our conversation you will hear: About Jesse’s background in organizational development as well as human development and how he uses that in the DEI consulting work now How DEI work within organizations and companies requires expertise in change management, conflict resolution and interpersonal communications Jesse describe the importance of self cultural awareness and the blind spots we all have How Jesse supports teams in organizations he consults with Jesse explain the value of approaching challenges and change with curiosity Jesse’s perspective on the importance of change happening inside ourselves and then looking to others before trying to adapt and change Jesse describes the importance of having clarity on one’s own core values More about Jesse : Jesse is a diversity, equity, and inclusion consultant, executive coach, and international speaker who has delivered over 400 speaking engagements at colleges, conferences, and corporate and nonprofit companies, with a large number of Fortune 500 companies. Jesse offers training, workshops, evaluations, assessments, and strategy development for your school, business or organization. Jesse has been engaging his audience with his Morning Minute call-to-actions on his and page since before our world went into civil unrest.
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Going Beyond the Food Drive: Being Radical with Your Business’ Social Impact
09/15/2022
Going Beyond the Food Drive: Being Radical with Your Business’ Social Impact
Radical simply means grasping at the roots. -Angela Davis More information can be found at Is the social impact of your business more of something that makes you feel good or is it integral to your work? How integrated are your social change efforts into your business operations? In this episode, co-host, Stephanie Malon-Rufi, addresses how you can go deeper with your social change work and how you can more closely align it with your business vision. In this episode, Stephanie discusses: The three main ways you can have impact through your business The need to think about the bigger social change that you want to be a part of with your business The concept of ‘effective altruism’ and how it relates Why you might want to rethink you food drive activity for something that has deeper impact and a greater connection to your work and vision How you need to put ‘skin in the game’ with your social impact Five questions to help you think about how your can better integrate your social impact with your business In this episode, we reference: Stephanie Malon-Rufi, More about Stephanie Malon-Rufi Stephanie Malon-Rufi, Owner of Spark Good, is a business consultant and leadership coach working with entrepreneurs who want to build their businesses to be a vehicle for social change. Stephanie has a passion for sparking good in the world with having 20+ years of experience working with social enterprises, start-ups and nonprofits and an MBA with a focus on entrepreneurship. She specializes in the areas of strategic business planning, revenue growth, marketing & communications and helping entrepreneurs be the leaders they want to be. She also co-hosts the Social Change Leaders Podcast, geared for social innovators with tips, actionable ideas, and stories to inspire from the front lines of social change.
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Why Paying Yourself is Critical for Your Social Business Model
09/08/2022
Why Paying Yourself is Critical for Your Social Business Model
If you don’t build a social business model that includes paying yourself (the leader), then you are not building a sustainable business model. - Stephanie Malon-Rufi More information can be found at Do you bring home a regular paycheck from your social business? Do you have a plan to be paid regularly from your social business? Do you want to have a sustainable business that lasts and can grow? Many social entrepreneurs do not pay themself or do not pay themself enough. In this episode, Stephanie Malon-Rufi, owner of Spark Good, goes solo and talks about why it is critical to have a plan to begin paying yourself from your social business. You can earn a living and use your business as a vehicle for social change! In this episode, Stephanie discusses: Common reasons social business owners do not pay themself Some simple questions to ask yourself if you are not paying yourself at all or not paying yourself enough How to start paying yourself (or paying yourself more) Why it is important to pay yourself if you want a sustainable and strong social business Some resources to help you get started In this episode, we reference: Stephanie Malon-Rufi,
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How to Develop a Strong Social Impact Pitch
09/01/2022
How to Develop a Strong Social Impact Pitch
More information can be found at "If I had more time I would have written a shorter letter." - Mark Twain Are you confident when talking about the social impact you are trying to make? Do you struggle with making a clear and concise statement about the work you are doing? Putting a persuasive pitch together that is short and interesting can be a challenging task, but we make it simple for you. We have created a template called the Social Impact Pitch to help you create an effective and good pitch about the work you are doing to bring positive change to the world. In this episode you will: Learn about what a social impact pitch is and how it will benefit you and the work you are doing Hear why taking some time to develop a social impact pitch is important Discover the key elements of a social impact pitch so you can create one for yourself Get some tips on important things to keep in mind when developing your social impact pitch Learn how the social impact pitch can be the beginning of an ongoing conversation and a relationships Learn a few tools to use once you have your social impact pitch that will improve your delivery and confidence To learn more: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stephanie Malon-Rufi, , How to Increase Your Confidence and Maximize Your Impact, a conversation with Polly Meyer, Executive Presence Coach Get the
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Our Favorite Systems to Stay on Track in Life and Work
08/25/2022
Our Favorite Systems to Stay on Track in Life and Work
It is necessary to do a systems analysis of your life. Look at where you gain power and where you lose power. - Frederick Lenz More information can be found at Do you struggle to get it all done? Do you find that some of the important work is ignored because you are reacting to the urgent matter of the day? What are some of your favorite systems? If you have some good systems for yourself or if you are looking for some new ideas to refresh them, this is an episode for you. Co-hosts Traci and Stephanie share some of their main systems to help them stay on track in work and in life. On this episode you will: Understand the importance of developing good systems in your work and life. Hear Stephanie share some of her preferred systems including a ‘Friday Box’ and her favorite online task management tool Hear Traci share some of her favorite choices for systems including a simple travel / life binder and a ‘moxie box’ to support your efforts in doing things that require a bit more courage Consider what systems you use that have worked well for you and how might you incorporate more of those systems in your life To learn more about Traci and Stephanie: Spark Good, Stephanie - Social Motion, Traci -
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Encore Episode: Refreshing Your Gratitude Practice
08/18/2022
Encore Episode: Refreshing Your Gratitude Practice
In ordinary life, we hardly realize that we receive a great deal more than we give, and that it is only with gratitude that life becomes rich. - Dietrich Bonhoeffer More information can be found at Hello and Welcome to SCL podcast. The summer is quickly winding down and we wanted to pause this week to remind all of us to make sure we are all enjoying and appreciating these last few weeks of the summer. So here is an encore episode for you with some tips and ideas about how to refresh your gratitude practice. It is that time of year when we take time to connect with loved ones, get ready for the holiday season, reflect on the past year and often talk about gratitude. The reality is that as we are finishing out 2021, we are still in the midst of a global pandemic and still experiencing the challenges that it brings. These days it might feel like you really need to ‘dig deep’ to find all you are grateful for right now. If you have traditionally had a gratitude practice you may have fallen out of practice with it. These days can be hard. In this episode we remind ourselves about why this practice is important and offer some new questions to help prompt you to think about the different ways you are grateful. In this episode, we reference:
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Building Civic Engagement and Advocacy into Your Life and Work Part 3 - Civic Action
08/11/2022
Building Civic Engagement and Advocacy into Your Life and Work Part 3 - Civic Action
Get in the Game - By building civic engagement and advocacy into your life and work, we can collectively close the gap between where we are and where we want to be. More information can be found at Would you like to gain confidence in your advocacy skills so you can have more impact on the issues you care about? Are you concerned about the state of public life? Policy and civic engagement and advocacy enables all types of organizations to address the root causes of social problems and to create lasting, systemic change. Advocacy is an important tool in system change. In this third episode of the 3-part series we delve into the world of civic action. In this episode we: Consider your civic strengths and determine where your civic ‘sweet spot’ is and how to lean into that Prepare you to confidently speak to a civic issue that matters to you Learn how to map some key people and organizations for you to partner with and have more impact Hear a bit about partner effectively with government on issues you care about Make a plan for you to ‘get in the game’ and have more impact in the months and years ahead In this episode, we reference: For more information on Traci, you can visit FREE - Get In the Game: The Change-Makers Guide to Civic Advocacy
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Building Civic Engagement and Advocacy into Your Life and Work Part 2 - Civic Skills
08/04/2022
Building Civic Engagement and Advocacy into Your Life and Work Part 2 - Civic Skills
I am no longer accepting the things I cannot change. I am changing the things I cannot accept Angela Davis More information can be found at Would you like to gain confidence in your advocacy skills so you can have more impact on the issues you care about? Are you concerned about the state of public life? Policy and civic engagement and advocacy enables all types of organizations to address the root causes of social problems and to create lasting, systemic change. Advocacy is an important tool in system change. In this second episode of the 3-part series we delve into the world of civic skills. In this episode we: Learn what civic engagement and advocacy is and why your voice is important in those discussions Learn what civic skills are and how they are important in today’s world Understand the various ways social change leaders can engage in civic advocacy Download a short civic assessment to discover your strengths and areas for improvement as a social change leader engaged in civic advocacy Set the groundwork for you ‘get in the game’ more deeply In this episode, we reference: For more information on Traci, you can visit FREE - Get In the Game: The Change-Makers Guide to Civic Advocacy
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Building Civic Engagement and Advocacy into Your Life and Work
07/28/2022
Building Civic Engagement and Advocacy into Your Life and Work
“You have to act as if it were possible to radically transform the world. And you have to do it all the time.” -Angela Davis More information can be found at Would you like to gain confidence in your advocacy skills so you can have more impact on the issues you care about? Are you concerned about the state of public life? Is your voice as a social change leader being heard in the public and civic arena? Are you taking aligned actions to create system change? Advocacy is an important tool in system change. In this first episode of the 3-part series Traci: 1) discusses the importance civic engagement and advocacy and the unique role social change leaders play, 2) guides you through simple steps to get clarity and begin taking action on issues important to you, and 3) shares simple habits and tools so you can create social change by building civic advocacy into your life and work. In this episode we: Learn what civic engagement and advocacy is and why your voice is important in those discussions Understand how civic advocacy is aa key tool in bringing about system change Are reminded that challenges we face today are not entirely new and you are not alone in your frustration Hear how social change leaders as professionals seeking common good need to have your voices heard in civic areas Understand why social change leaders are at a high risk for burnout, health issues and breakdowns in relationships Reflect on what currently keeps you grounded, healthy and well as well as discover new self-care practices you may want to create as you engage in civic advocacy Clarify what ‘hot button’ issues that you want to focus on and be an effective advocate for Discover your advocacy ‘WHY’ In this episode, we reference: For more information on Traci, you can visit FREE - Get In the Game: The Change-Makers Guide to Civic Advocacy Stanford Social Innovation Review - The Connection Between Inner Well-Being and Social Change
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6 Questions to Help You Clarify Your Social Business Offers
07/21/2022
6 Questions to Help You Clarify Your Social Business Offers
“The more clarity and focus you have around what you are offering the world, the easier it will be to authentically sell and have a positive social impact.” - Stephanie Malon-Rufi More information can be found at Do you use your business as a vehicle for social change? Have you clearly defined your target audience(s)? Are you crystal clear on what exactly you are selling and the social impact you are seeking? It can be tempting to create and customize offers so that *everyone* can buy, but this can make your marketing efforts and sales process messy and undefined. In this episode, Stephanie Malon-Rufi, owner of Spark Good, goes solo and walks you through a set of 6 simple and powerful questions to get clarity on your offers. Get the free ‘Social Business Check-up” download now and listen to this episode to help you get clarity on the who, what, when, where, why and how of your social business offers so you are generating more revenue and having an impact. In this episode, we reference: Stephanie Malon-Rufi, More about Stephanie Malon-Rufi Stephanie Malon-Rufi, Owner of Spark Good, is a business consultant and leadership coach working with entrepreneurs who want to build their business to be a vehicle for social change. Stephanie has a passion for sparking good in the world with having 20+ years of experience working with social enterprises, start-ups and nonprofits and an MBA with focus on entrepreneurship. She specializes in the areas of strategic business planning, revenue growth, marketing & communications and helping entrepreneurs be the leaders they want to be. She also co-hosts the Social Change Leaders Podcast, geared for social innovators with tips, actionable ideas, and stories to inspire from the front lines of social change.
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Promoting Economic, Social and Cultural Assets: Interviews from the Midtown Global Market - Part 2
07/14/2022
Promoting Economic, Social and Cultural Assets: Interviews from the Midtown Global Market - Part 2
More information can be found at In this second part of the two-part series, listen to more interviews from the Midtown Global Market, a multicultural food destination in south Minneapolis. Inspired by national, well-known public markets like Seattle’s Pike’s Place, the Midtown Global Market also serves as a community business incubator. Currently, the Midtown Global Market houses over 40 businesses with over 22 cultures represented. In this second part of the series, we talk with Mostafa, owner of Dar Medina and Trung Pham, owner of Pham’s Rice Bowl. Hear their personal journeys and their experiences as entrepreneurs in the Midtown Global Market. Through our conversation you will: Meet Trung Pham and learn about his journey from a corporate job in Seattle to becoming a business owner at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis Discover how Trung Pham’s business background and Asian cultural heritage launched Pham’s Rice Bowl and how he has incorporated customer feedback into his business decisions Understand how Trung embraces a positive mindset has sustained him during many challenges such as start-up,the housing crisis 2008, the challenges of the COVID pandemic, supply chain issues, George Floyd civil unrest, etc. Hear Trung’s advice for those just starting out with a business idea Learn how Trung partnered with Second Harvest Heartland on a community effort with 12-15 other restaurants that created over 2.5 million meals for families in need and employed new staff Meet Mostafa and learn about his journey from being an entrepreneur in Morocco to moving to the U.S. and how a visit to visit to the Midtown Global Market launched his dream of opening a business Learn about Dar Medina, a Moroccan owned family operation built on a great love for the people and tribes of Morocco, and a passion for keeping the traditions of Morocco alive in the rapidly modernizing world Understand specifically how Mostafa supports 21 families in Morocco that make handicrafts such as shoes, jewelry, leatherwork, purses and backpacks Learn about the shipping challenges Mostafa’s faced during COVID and how he addressed them More about Midtown Global Market
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Promoting Economic, Social and Cultural Assets:
07/07/2022
Promoting Economic, Social and Cultural Assets:
The Midtown Global Market has an authenticity that we want to maintain and we hope is the ultimate draw. - Mike Temali, Founder Neighborhood Development Center More information can be found at In this 2- part series, you will hear several interviews highlighting the story and the impact of Midtown Global Market, a multicultural food destination in south Minneapolis. Inspired by national, well-known public markets like Seattle’s Pike Place, Midtown Global Market is similar in concept but is different because the market also serves as a community business incubator. Currently, Midtown Global Market houses over 40 businesses with over 22 cultures represented. In this episode, we speak with Mike Temali to learn the history of the market. Mike is Founder and President of the Neighborhood Development Center, a non-profit which co-owns, develops and manages the Midtown Global Market. Through our conversation you will: Learn about the origins and founding of the Midtown Global Market Listen to Mike discuss how the vacant building was originally a home to a lot of pigeons and turned into a thriving business center for Minneapoils residents Hear about the private, government and nonprofit entities that partnered together to launch this community business incubator for entrepreneurs within the community Learn about how the business owners of the market survived COVID pandemic as well as the riots right outside the market that occurred following the murder of George Floyd Listen to Mike describe the engagement of a variety of systems and groups within the community such as various communities of color/culture, the business community, customer communities, etc. Discover and hear about the future plans for the Midtown global market including a beauty node More about Midtown Global Market
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ENCORE EPISODE: Connection and Inclusion as a Force for Common Good
06/30/2022
ENCORE EPISODE: Connection and Inclusion as a Force for Common Good
“Another world is not only possible, she is on her way. On a quiet day, I can hear her breathing. ” — Arundhati Roy More information can be found at Given the events of the recent weeks, we wanted to replay an episode we both found great encouragement from - about how social change can happen when there does not seem to be shared beliefs or perspectives. In this encore episode, Nisha Anand shares what she has learned about finding common ground and creating shared solutions that can and do lead to transformation. Enjoy this encore episode with Nisha Anand, CEO of Dream Corps. Can we create social change with others who do not share the same beliefs or perspectives? In our conversation today with Nisha Anand, she talks about how we can do this and why we should. Nisha is an Indian-American activist and the CEO of Dream Corps, a nonprofit that works to bring people together across racial, social, and partisan lines to create a future with freedom and dignity for all. In our conversation you will: Hear about Nisha’s activist background which originated in high school Learn about Dream Corps’ mission and how the organization seeks to address the toughest problems by creating shared solutions Listen to Nisha describe her understanding of how to use love as a force for good, how it supports inclusion and why it is vital for leaders Learn about the framework Dream Corps uses, called the ‘4 corners of power’ Hear some stories about the way Nisha used connection and common ground to make big strides in creating social change Listen to the story behind one of the best pieces of advice she has learned from her mentor, Van Jones, ‘Hope it’s your fault and it usually is.’ Hear Nisha’s thoughts on what qualities are important for today’s leaders Learn Nisha’s tips for social change leaders today including…. More about Nisha Nisha Anand is an Indian-American activist, mom of two teenagers, and leader for racial justice. Once a radical grassroots activist arrested in Burma for passing out pro-democracy leaflets, Nisha’s expansive organizing experience and work with mentors like Van Jones, solidified her belief in the power of working with ‘unlikely partners to find real solutions. As Dream Corps’ CEO, Nisha leads a diverse group of people who are learning, like her, the value of unconventional relationships. Nisha’s journey from punk-rock protester to common ground champion is documented in her TED talk, The Radical Act of Choosing Common Ground.
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Leading Social Impact with More Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
06/23/2022
Leading Social Impact with More Empathy and Emotional Intelligence
More information can be found at “I've learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” - Maya Angelou What do empathy and emotional intelligence have to do with social change leadership? As we are finding our way to the other side of the COVID pandemic and are in what many call “The Great Resignation,” we look at how empathy and emotional intelligence can be leaders' greatest tools for creating healthy and sustainable workplaces and communities. While we are not experts on this, we wanted to share a few things we have discovered and share ten habits and actions we can all be doing to build our empathy and emotional intelligence muscles. Today was talk about: What emotional intelligence and empathy are and is and why it is important Some of the benefits to being an empathetic leader Why leaders might want to adopt practices and habits that make them more emotionally intelligent and empathetic Ten ideas for habits and practices that build our emotional intelligence and empathy ‘muscles’ Referenced in This Episode: To learn more about: Traci Warnberg-Lemm, Stephanie Malon-Rufi,
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