Director of External Affairs and Policy, Compass Family Services Mary Kate is an advocate, writer, and ally in the movement to end homelessness. In her current role, she leads policy and advocacy efforts to improve systems and increase resources for homeless and at-risk families. She also co-chairs the Homeless Emergency Service Providers Association, a coalition of 30 community-based agencies working … Read More
Supporting Changemakers in Our Own Backyard
By Denise Raquel Dunning, Founder + Executive Director What’s the first thing that comes to mind when you think about northern California? For some, it’s the rolling hills and vineyards of the Napa wine country, Silicon Valley’s tech industry, and the natural wonders of the Monterey Bay. For others, it’s the Bay Area’s increasing rates of homelessness, gentrification, and income … Read More
Shalu Pandharinath Gaikwad
Sampada Trust Shalu has worked with Sampada Trust to create change agents at the grassroots level for the last 13 years. When she first started, Shalu was working in 25 villages. She is now working in 103 villages. Her current role is to strengthen adolescent girls’ groups, establish linkages with stakeholders, and lead the capacity building of 50 grassroots changemakers. … Read More
Tania Fernandes Echaporia
Red Dot Foundation (Safecity) Tania leads the Red Dot Foundation’s groundwork in India and initiates outreach with partner organizations worldwide. She has personally conducted training for over a thousand people, including children, and has been designing the training programs for Red Dot for the last four years. She works with over one hundred volunteers and youth every year to enhance … Read More
Dilip Alla Rathod
SIPRA, Social Institute Program for Rural Area Dilip is from a nomadic community and currently works for children of the nomadic Banjara community through a CRY (Child Rights and You) supported fellowship. Through his organization, he takes a holistic approach to address a multitude of issues, including alcoholism, land ownership, forest rights, food security, basic entitlements, women’s empowerment, and strengthening … Read More
Avinash P. Magar
Janwadi Gram Vikas Pratishthan Avinash Magar is a certified trainer by the National Institute of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj in Hyderabad, India. He uses advocacy to bridge the gap between people and policy. He strongly feels that people have power but are voiceless without the right knowledge. As a trainer, Avinash has worked with the elected women representatives of … Read More
Vanita Kamble
Ekati Sanstha, Kolhapur Vanita is a strong believer in hard work, commitment, and people-led advocacy. She is advancing gender equity through her work with women waste pickers and by enabling more girls to pursue their education. As a project coordinator, Vanita organizes women and girls, generates awareness about their needs, and teaches them to raise their voices for their rights. … Read More
Panchshila Kumbharkar
Krantijyoti Panchshila works as a coordinator and is an organizer of the National Dalit Movement for Justice. The direct focus of her work is on the prevention of violence against Dalit women and girls. She believes that empowering women and building leadership among them is key to breaking the culture of silence and challenging the larger patriarchal structure. Hence, she … Read More
Sunil Maske
Cantonment Jan Adhikar Manch, Maharashtra Sunil is a human rights activist taking initiatives for the inclusive development of cantonment residents in Maharashtra. Populations in the cantonments are excluded from mainstream development policies due to longstanding issues of jurisdiction, and because both state and central governments have ignored the population. Sunil firmly believes in constitutional rights and has successfully persuaded the … Read More
Vrushali Sawant
Naz Foundation Trust Vrushali Sawant has vast experience engaging with adolescents through sports. She has been working with the Naz Foundation for the last 10 years and is currently implementing the Young People’s Initiative in Mumbai, a sport-centered development initiative for adolescent girls and young women. Vrushali is a black belt in karate and a certified Netball coach. As an … Read More
