Changing the world is no easy task. CNN Heroes, dedicated individuals making extraordinary impacts in their communities, often face unique challenges in their work. These challenges can sometimes feel isolating.
“Sometimes, as leaders in the nonprofit space, you feel alone in your cause,” said CNN Hero Estefanía Rebellón, who runs an organization that turns buses into mobile classrooms for migrant children on the US-Mexico border. “You have the weight of the world on your shoulders and think you’re fighting this battle alone.”
To support these changemakers, the Elevate Prize Foundation, in its second year of collaboration with CNN Heroes, invited the Top Heroes of 2023 to its Make Good Famous Summit in Miami this past May. Elevate Prize Foundation, a global nonprofit, aims to amplify the work of changemakers by providing resources and support. The summit offered workshops, networking opportunities, and self-care sessions, helping CNN Heroes return home feeling refreshed and revitalized.
Building Community and Sharing Experiences
“It’s just bringing together a bunch of do-gooders in the world that are trying to push that rock up the hill,” said Dr. Kwan Stewart, the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year. He described the summit as a place of community and excitement. “Hearing others talk about what they’ve done and how they’ve accomplished it, that’s what motivates me.”
This summit was the first in-person gathering for these heroes since being honored on the CNN Heroes stage last December. It allowed them to reconnect and build new relationships with other nonprofit leaders and Elevate Prize winners.
“When we’re building something, we’re sort of alone. And to be with others like ourselves is just so affirming, and nourishing, and wonderful,” said Joe Deitch, founder of the Elevate Prize Foundation. “We can learn from each other, get that spark, and have that ‘aha’ moment. That’s what this is all about.”
Facing Challenges Together
For CNN Hero Alvin Irby, who runs Barbershop Books to encourage young Black boys to read, the summit was an empowering experience. “The work that we’re doing is difficult. We’re trying to solve big challenges and address major systemic problems,” he said. “Having a community to talk about what we’re dealing with and share in those challenges is really empowering.”
Introducing the ‘Whole Leader’ Concept
During the summit, the Elevate Prize Foundation introduced the “Whole Leader” concept, which emphasizes the importance of both self-care and community care. By encouraging leaders to prioritize their well-being, the foundation believes it can enhance their ability to help others—a top priority for Elevate.
“Self-care is something that’s hard to come by in the social impact space,” said Elevate Prize Foundation CEO Carolina Garcia Jayaram. “It feels selfish; it feels not necessary to the urgent struggles in front of us.”
This idea resonated with CNN Hero Osei Boateng, who provides lifesaving medical care to remote areas of Ghana. “As nonprofit leaders, we are always going, going, going. We don’t think about ourselves,” he said.
Mindfulness and Meditation
At the summit, Heroes participated in mindfulness, meditation, and yoga sessions. These practices are a central part of the retreats offered by CNN Hero Adam Pearce’s organization for people with brain injuries and their caregivers. Pearce sees great value in these practices for himself and those he serves. “I believe it’s a central aspect of our ability to have self-reflection and self-inquiry, to connect to ourselves and to be able to connect to other people,” he said.
Expanding Impact
Beyond self-care, the summit also focused on expanding the Heroes’ impact. They received training on nonprofit finances, board management, and storytelling strategies. CNN Hero Yasmine Arrington Brooks, who provides scholarships and mentorship to children of incarcerated parents, left the summit eager to apply these new skills.
“It’s important to raise and amplify positive things happening in the world,” she said. “With everything that’s happening now, I think some folks just want to feel a sense of hope.”
Igniting Purpose and Passion
For Elevate founder Joe Deitch, the summit is about igniting the purpose and passion in everyone. “It’s about awakening the hero within,” he said. “By making good famous, we take good further. We can inspire the whole world. We can let people know that they too can do something.”
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