Social Impact Episodes

Isabel Bohn and Jeff McGinnis founded the Pennsylvania Center for Adapted Sports to fill a gap in available recreation and sports activities for the disabled on the East Coast. Thirty-five years and mountains of challenges later, they are thriving. The Center has produced 11 Paralympians, but more than that, it’s “really changed people in so many positive ways” and built a flourishing community of inclusivity and possibility.

His life’s work is focused on “creating better humans” through his involvement in the children’s summer camp industry. Hear entrepreneur and philanthropist, Skip Vichness, talk about how his diverse life, career path and willingness to be completely involved, have led him to the service of others.

Days for Girls founder Celeste Mergens talks with host Lisa Champeau about how she has been able to help girls around the world fight the stigma of menstruation-- menstruation inequity-- by tapping into her own impoverished youth and refusing to take no for an answer. She is joined by Olivia Scartelli, a young woman just out of grad school in international development, who helped raise funds for Days for Girls and shares Celeste’s passion.

Well-known portrait artist Oliver Johnson sits down with Lisa Champeau to discuss his art and tumultuous youth in and out of reform schools and prisons, and how during these confinements he always painted. Prison provided him with the tools he needed: Canvas, paint, and, of course, plenty of time. Oliver talks about his journey of teaching art to his fellow inmates, and how, by the time he was paroled, he had a waiting line to attend his classes.