Author name: Patti Ann Talbot

This is Part 2 of a two part series featuring educator Angela Clevinger from Pulaski Virginia.  You’ll remember we left off after she talked about her homegrown roots as the daughter of a Klansman who changed her loyalties in her fifth grade year where she was inspired and motivated by her African American teacher, Mr. […]

This is Part 1 of a two-part series featuring Changemaker Educator, Angie Clevinger.  I was fortunate to meet Angie at Radford University when I was teaching in the Educational Leadership Program there.  She was working on her licensure to be a school principal at the time and I could tell right away that she was

In this episode of our Changemaker Series, I had the great privilege of talking with my changemaker friend, Sandra Lima Argo.  I call her a “chameleon” because she has an amazing ability to adapt well to any circumstance and to help others do so.   Much has changed in the world since we sat down for

Carol Crawford Smith is the first changemaker representing the arts in this series that celebrates the work and lives of changemakers through the lens of our framework “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”.  You’ll remember that I interviewed her amazing son, Garland Smith, founder of the Omushana Company, a few weeks back.   When you read

This latest episode in the Blue Roads Changemaker Series features Phyllis Albritton who I have long called “Blacksburg’s best-known citizen”.  Now, I don’t know if it’s true, but it is certainly true to me.  I’ve been in Blacksburg for more than 40 years and I don’t seem to know a single person who doesn’t know

Featuring High School Seniors Kolby Brown and Molly McPherson It’s never too soon to be a Changemaker! In my first two-person interview for the Changemaker Series, I welcomed two rising high school seniors, Kolby Brown and Molly McPherson, to talk about their work for racial justice in our community.  These two young leaders recently organized

Garland Smith is one impressive entrepreneurial changemaker!  I was fortunate to meet Garland and his family during his childhood schooling at Margaret Beeks Elementary in Blacksburg, Virginia where I was principal in the late 90’s and early 2000’s.   I hadn’t seen him or talked with him in years until I saw a recent ad for

I was fortunate to meet Boston history teacher, Kim Young, first as an online classmate in World’ Savvy’s Global Competence Certificate (GCC)  program for educators.   When I first laid eyes on this world traveling teacher, she was propped up in a bed with a computer on her lap tuning in from Palestine.   A year and

I was fortunate to meet Dr. Liovani Nazario during an immersion experience at the River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding in Gainesville, Florida in October 2019.    As you’ll see and hear, Liovani’s story is a unique and inspired example of “Homegrown Solutions for a Patchwork World”.  Her life resonates with clear themes of fairness and inclusivity. 

In Part 1, Dana shared her upbringing and learning experiences that led to the founding of World Savvy as well as how that work unfolded from the early days to include a broad range of work with people across cultures.  In this second part of the conversation, Dana updates us on World Savvy’s growing influence