Inspiring People: Stories of Innovation and Service

The Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Non-Profit
  • Updated Weekly

Positive stories of remarkable individuals and organizations making a difference in the world. From entrepreneurs and activists to educators and healthcare professionals, we showcase people who are bringing about positive change in their communities, locally, globally, and digitally. Produced by the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Host: Rushton Hurley Podcast Producer: Elton Sherwin For more information visit our website: rotary.cool or https://www.siliconvalleyrotary.com/

  1. 5d ago

    164. How To Build A Non-Sexist City

    Can a city be sexist? Definitely. For decades, urban design policies have overlooked the needs of women and other marginal groups. The French city of Nantes is trailblazing efforts to make itself a "non-sexist" city, from redesigning public spaces like school playgrounds and installing breastfeeding stations, renaming streets after women, reallocating spending and inaugurating France’s leading center to counter gender-based violence. Our speaker, solutions journalism reporter Peter Yeung, recently visited Nantes to see how efforts were progressing and to what extent other cities can learn from it. Peter Yeung is an award-winning freelance journalist based in Paris, France, who covers a broad range of beats including climate, global health, migration, human rights, biodiversity, Indigenous cultures, and cities, often through a critical, solutions-orientated lens. He specializes in on-the-ground reporting about under-covered issues involving and giving a voice to the world’s most marginalized groups. Peter has worked and written for a number of leading media outlets including The Guardian, National Geographic, The BBC, The Washington Post, The New York Times, NPR, The LA Times, Reuters, The Financial Times, Wired, CNN, The Atlantic, and Bloomberg. To learn more, go to: https://reasonstobecheerful.world/nantes-france-non-sexist-city/ https://www.peter-yeung.com/

    164. How To Build A Non-Sexist City

  2. Aug 10

    163. Angel Flight West Pilots: And Those They Serve

    Angel Flight West and the 1,800 pilots who volunteer their time and the cost of the flights so that complete strangers can get to life-saving medical appointments for free. These passengers need to travel hundreds of miles to reach their critical medical treatments, or are unable to afford the cost of flying, or face a long drive which itself could be life-threatening. Hear about the impact that these flights have had on several of our passengers. You'll learn the story of one pilot, who has flown a particular passenger more than 300 times. For the passengers, the flights are life-savers. For the pilots, "every flight is a rewarding journey that reminds us how fortunate we are, and the importance of helping those in need." Our speaker, Clay Ross, recently became the Northern California Wing Leader for Angel Flight West, an organization whose volunteer pilots provide free medical transportation to patients in need. He has been flying patients for more than five years and is very passionate about the mission and the organization. He is excited to share some of his experiences with Angel Flight West, and to use his new role to help expand the impact of the organization and serve more people. Clay is an instrument-rated private pilot who has been flying for more than 40 years. Outside of Angel Flight, Clay has been a very active volunteer in the Scouting America organization, serving as scoutmaster for a decade, and in leadership roles in the scouting district and council for seven years. He earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a youth and is committed to mentoring today’s youth to be strong leaders and good citizens. In recognition of his service, he has received the District Award of Merit and the Silver Beaver Award, one of Scouting's highest honors. To learn more, go to: Angel Flight West: https://angelflightwest.org/ Watch a passenger testimonial: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LLfwVqRKCDI Watch "Flying with Angels": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgGd-Lkp9Kg Air Care Alliance: https://aircarealliance.org/

    163. Angel Flight West Pilots: And Those They Serve

  3. Aug 3

    162. San Jose State Record Clearance Project

    The Record Clearance Project (RCP) promotes justice by providing needed services to those who cannot afford them to foster rehabilitation and reduce recidivism, boasting a 99% success rate in court. To do this, the RCP's legal services program informs people regarding their legal rights to a clear record and provides the legal assistance necessary for them to achieve the second chance that the law promises. The RCP's Path to Expungement Service Navigation Program provides guidance as people leave custody to move forward with their lives. As undergraduates make a difference in the lives of others, they gain the experience and motivation to promote social justice. The RCP is the only legal services clinical education program in the nation taught at the undergraduate level. Emily Benson recently graduated from San José State University with a degree in Justice Studies and a concentration in Criminology. With a passion for community activism, she began volunteering as a teen first responder in high school, working with the San Diego Police Department for two years to support victims in the aftermath of tragedy. Through a semester-long study abroad program in Greece, she volunteered with a local non-profit organization that helped Syrian refugees rebuild their lives. Her experiences have deepened her commitment to social justice both domestically and internationally. Emily is grateful to make a positive impact through her involvement with the Record Clearance Project. Project Assistant Sandra Carrillo is a first-generation college student, who graduated in Fall 2024 with a major in Criminal Justice and minors in Psychology and Forensic Science. Born in Los Angeles but raised in Mexico, Sandra is fluent in Spanish. Sandra seeks to uplift those who are underrepresented in the community and to provide the support they deserve but often lack. Sandra works with the mentoring program, teaches Computers and the Internet courses in Spanish and English to formerly incarcerated participants, and helps with legal services presentations and other RCP work as needed. To learn more, go to: https://sites.google.com/sjsu.edu/sjsu-rcp-landing-page/home To learn more about the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley, go to https://rotary.cool

    162. San Jose State Record Clearance Project

  4. Jul 27

    161. Creating Impact Through Technology and Everyday Ideas

    Funda Erdin shares her journey from over 25 years in corporate roles to building her own technology-driven product from the ground up. Drawing on her experience in product, program, and customer success management, she walks through how an idea rooted in personal values—wanting better transparency around health, sustainability, and everyday choices—evolved into GreenIt. Along the way, she reflects on how passion, persistence, and years of experience came together with the support of AI to turn an idea into reality, driven by a genuine desire to help people make more informed choices. Funda also explores the growing role of AI as a powerful enabler, especially for individuals and small businesses who want to build, experiment, and bring ideas to life without traditional barriers. This talk is about more than one app—it’s about rethinking what’s possible, using technology to create impact, and taking the first step toward building something meaningful. Funda Erdin, is the founder of GreenIt, a platform she created to help people make more informed everyday decisions, both for their health and for the environment. After more than 25 years in corporate roles across product management, program management, and customer success, she decided to build something of her own. Throughout her career, she worked closely with developers, turning ideas and business needs into real products, and that experience became the foundation for what she’s building today. GreenIt started from something very personal: wanting not just healthier options, but also to support companies whose environmental values she could trust, and to better understand what happens to products after we’re done with them. Using her product background and the help of AI, she brought that idea to life. Today, she’s on a mission to use technology to connect people, create real impact, and help small businesses grow and succeed by giving them a stronger technological foundation. To learn more, go to: https://www.greenit.app https://anka-technologies.com

    161. Creating Impact Through Technology and Everyday Ideas

  5. Jul 20

    160. Seacology: Protecting Island Habitats and Cultures

    Seacology may be one of the most successful and innovative nonprofits you've never heard of. For over three decades, Seacology has been successfully saving island cultures and communities across the world. By focusing on Seacology's "win-win" model, our speaker, Max Rojas-Domke, will highlight how community-identified needs can be turned into multi-generational conservation wins, fostering long-term wins for communities who need them now. As Individual Giving Manager, Max is eagerly one of the first people you'll typically meet on Seacology's staff. With a background in education and consulting, Max delights in highlighting Seacology's win-win approach to island conservation. Joining Seacology a little under three years ago, Max focuses on connecting Seacology's supporters to the impact they've facilitated. So when he's not meeting with donors or facilitating conversations, you can find him enjoying the beaches we all love. To learn more, go to: https://www.seacology.org/ (Seacology main page) https://www.seacology.org/projects/ (interactable map of all Seacology projects) https://www.seacology.org/projects/ (travel with Seacology to see our impact firsthand) https://www.seacology.org/donate/ (donate to support Seacology)

    160. Seacology: Protecting Island Habitats and Cultures

  6. Jul 13

    159. HANWASH Delivers Water in Haiti

    HANWASH and partners are working with and supporting local stakeholders to deliver safe, affordable, and sustainable water and sanitation to everyone in Haiti. Our speaker, Fritz Pierre-Louis, is a dedicated Rotarian with over a decade of service, notably as Past President of the Rotary Club of Leogane from 2017 to 2018. Currently, he chairs the steering committee for HANWASH in District 7020, where he has been instrumental in enhancing water, sanitation, and hygiene initiatives since 2020. He is a past Assistant Governor, and his enthusiasm for Rotary's possibilities is evident through his participation in numerous District Conferences and Rotary International Conventions. Born in Leogane, Haiti, and educated in Connecticut, Fritz is an electro-mechanical engineer who returned to Haiti to foster development and create job opportunities, founding several companies that have generated over 2,300 jobs. After the 2010 earthquake, he served as Haiti Country Director for Waves for Water, providing potable water access to over 250,000 families in 11 countries. A proud Paul Harris Fellow and fluent in four languages, Fritz leverages his skills to connect with diverse communities and drive impactful initiatives. To learn more, go to: https://www.hanwash.org/

    159. HANWASH Delivers Water in Haiti

  7. Jul 6

    158. Advancing a Disability-Forward Housing Future

    The Kelsey is a Bay Area-based nonprofit with a national impact, working at the intersection of housing and disability. The Kelsey both builds and advocates for accessible, affordable, and inclusive housing—what they call "disability-forward" housing. You will get an overview of The Kelsey's work, sharing how The Kelsey came to be, why this work matters, its current projects and impact, and how to get involved. Micaela Connery is the Co-Founder and CEO of The Kelsey, a national nonprofit pioneering disability-forward housing solutions that are affordable, accessible, and inclusive. She launched this work alongside her cousin and co-founder, Kelsey, a passionate advocate for access and inclusion who lived with multiple disabilities. Their shared vision continues to shape the organization’s mission and impact. Since founding The Kelsey in 2018, Micaela has led the organization to develop over 200 disability-forward homes, unlock nearly $190 million for inclusive housing, and scale its influence to reach thousands of advocates and homes nationwide. As a Fellow at Harvard’s Joint Center for Housing Studies, she published leading national research on housing and disability, laying the groundwork for The Kelsey’s model. Her commitment to inclusion began early—as the founder of Unified Theater, which she launched at age 15 and scaled to schools across the country. Micaela is recognized as an Ashoka Fellow, Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation Entrepreneur, Mitchell Scholar, and Harvard Social Innovation and Change Initiative Fellow. A graduate of the Harvard Kennedy School, the University College Dublin Smurfit School, and the University of Virginia, she is a leading voice on inclusive design, housing innovation, and community-based living. Through The Kelsey, she is advancing a bold vision: communities where people of all abilities and incomes live side by side—with dignity, equity, and belonging. To learn more, go to: The Kelsey's website: https://thekelsey.org/ Top 12 Moments from The Kelsey's work in 2025: https://thekelsey.org/eoy-recap-top-12-moments-of-2025/ Voices from the Community (hear directly from The Kelsey's residents): https://thekelsey.org/voices-from-the-community/

    158. Advancing a Disability-Forward Housing Future

  8. Jun 29

    157. Making Solar Work for Every Home

    Meghan Wood, co-founder of Raya Power, explains how solar power, despite its substantial promise, is still out of reach for many families. In the U.S., even small plug-in solar systems can trigger complex utility rules, shutting out renters and middle-income households. In Puerto Rico, residents face some of the highest electricity rates in the country and hundreds of power outages each year. And in parts of California, high energy costs and an unstable grid leave families vulnerable to blackouts. Raya Power addresses these challenges with a compact, plug-and-play solar-battery system that can be installed in a backyard in just a couple of hours. It powers critical appliances during storms, helps reduce monthly energy bills, and works for households that can't install traditional rooftop solar. Meghan shares how this approach could democratize access to clean, resilient energy, making it as normal and essential as wifi, while giving communities a reliable solution when the grid fails. Meghan Wood founded Raya Power to help fill a huge market often ignored by residential solar companies: working class families who rent an apartment and might want to add "balcony solar." Wood aims to address that market by turning home solar into a product or appliance -- modular, plug-and-play, no permits required, and installed in a few hours. Raya Power has raised over $1.2 million and launched three pilots from New York City to Puerto Rico with more on the way. To learn more, go to: https://rayapower.com/ https://www.instagram.com/rayapower_official/

    157. Making Solar Work for Every Home
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About

Positive stories of remarkable individuals and organizations making a difference in the world. From entrepreneurs and activists to educators and healthcare professionals, we showcase people who are bringing about positive change in their communities, locally, globally, and digitally. Produced by the Rotary eClub of Silicon Valley Host: Rushton Hurley Podcast Producer: Elton Sherwin For more information visit our website: rotary.cool or https://www.siliconvalleyrotary.com/

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