Meet the Echoing Green 2009 Finalists

by Nathaniel Whittemore

Published April 30, 2009 @ 11:00AM PT

From Gardens for Health International

Jonny spent his college years raising awareness about HIV/AIDS and working to build a global health movement. Emma took a year off before beginning college and the experience of seeing the connection between diet and disease led her to found an international nonprofit working on holistic nutrition. Jacob recognized that the time we spend waiting for buses, laundry and all sorts of other things could be translated into millions and millions of volunteer hours if only we had the right tasks.

What do they have in common? Jonny (Global Health Corps), Emma (Gardens for Health International), and Jacob (The Extraordinaries) are all Echoing Green finalists. The Echoing Green Fellowship is a two year award that includes both cash ($60,000 for individual winners, $90,000 for teams) and a host of other consultation and non-financial support. In one shape or another, the fellowship has been around for nearly two decades, in the process supporting social innovators such as Wendy Kopp (Teach for America), Mark Hanis (Genocide Intervention Network) and many others.

This weekend is when finalists will make a variety of pitches and presentations in order to win the prize. The group of finalists this year includes projects dealing with issues ranging from health to education to community development and human rights. I'm thrilled to see sustainable design firm Catapult Design included, and to see a number of groups such as Open Hand Studios using media to achieve important social goals.

One observation that every university administrator should take note of. The overwhelming majority of these finalists came up with their idea while at school, very often because of some international experience they had. That's an opportunity for universities who understand the nature of the education their students want and demand is shifting, but should also be a warning to schools that remain mired in the muck of traditionalism and continue to ghettoize study abroad, student affairs, and all other extracurriculars as somehow less important.

Good luck to all the finalists weekend, and aspiring entrepreneurs everywhere, go to the Echoing Green website to learn more about how to apply for next year!