All posts by tespinosa

Social entrepreneur, strategist, educator, writer, coach and facilitator. "The leadership that is required in this moment in history is a leadership of generosity, of humility, of self-offering. To lead we need not know the answers. We must only convene the circles, articulate the questions, frame the conversation, and direct attention to the issues that matter." - Jan Phillips

Sophie Scholl

Sophie Scholl (1921-1943, Germany)

Nominated for: a founding member of the non-violent anti-Nazi resistance group The White Rose, which advocated for active resistance to Hitler’s regime through an anonymous leaflet and graffiti campaign. In February of 1943, she and other members were arrested for handing out leaflets at the University of Munich and sentenced to death by guillotine. 

“Stand up for what you believe in even if you are standing alone” ― Sophie Scholl
 
“The real damage is done by those millions who want to ‘survive.’ The honest men who just want to be left in peace. Those who don’t want their little lives disturbed by anything bigger than themselves. Those with no sides and no causes. Those who won’t take measure of their own strength, for fear of antagonizing their own weakness. Those who don’t like to make waves—or enemies. Those for whom freedom, honour, truth, and principles are only literature. Those who live small, mate small, die small. It’s the reductionist approach to life: if you keep it small, you’ll keep it under control. If you don’t make any noise, the bogeyman won’t find you. But it’s all an illusion, because they die too, those people who roll up their spirits into tiny little balls so as to be safe. Safe?! From what? Life is always on the edge of death; narrow streets lead to the same place as wide avenues, and a little candle burns itself out just like a flaming torch does. I choose my own way to burn.”
― Sophie Scholl
 

For more information: http://www.holocaustresearchproject.org/revolt/scholl.html 

Jamie Van Leeuwen

Jamie Van Leeuwen

Jamie Van Leeuwen

Nominated for: his work with homelessness, affordable housing, youth, public health, poverty and his work in the public sector.

For more information: http://www.globallivingston.org/leadership
http://www.ucdenver.edu/academics/InternationalPrograms/oia/fulbright/recipients/jamievanleeuwen/Pages/default.aspx

Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day

Nominated for: her writing/journalism and activism in the Catholic church, for women’s rights, and against war.

For more information: http://www.fembio.org/english/biography.php/woman/biography/dorothy-day/
http://www.catholicworker.org/dorothyday/ddbiographytext.cfm?Number=72
http://www.biography.com/people/dorothy-day-9268575

Teju Ravilochan, Tyler Hartung, & Daniel Epstein

Teju Ravilochan Daniel Epstein Tyler Hartung

Teju Ravilochan, Tyler Hartung, & Daniel Epstein

Nominated for: founding the Unreasonable Institute, a start-up incubator that helps social entrepreneurs scale up to make a big impact on large-scale environmental or social needs.

For more information: http://unreasonableinstitute.org/
http://www.inc.com/30under30/donna-fenn/tyler-hartung-daniel-epstein-teju-ravilochan-founders-of-the-unreasonable-institute.html

The Citizens of Ecuador

Ecuadorian Voters 200

The Citizens of Ecuador

Nominated for: ratifing an amendment to the Ecuadorian Constitution that includes a Chapter on Rights for Nature. The Rights for Nature articles acknowledge that nature in all its life forms has the right to exist, persist, maintain and regenerate its vital cycles. And we – the people – have the legal authority to enforce these rights on behalf of ecosystems. The ecosystem itself can be named as the defendant.

For more information: http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Ecuador/english08.html