The call for years to reexamine how our institutions perpetuate unjust status quos crystallized in 2020 into a mandate to take action. What does it look like to have systems and institutions that work for everyone, and that support communities to re-invest in their own growth? How as a leader, can you contribute?
Watch a series of rapid fire conversations between five women from diverse sectors and geographies — all awardees of the McNulty Prize Catalyst Fund and Aspen Global Leadership Network Fellows — who are turning the desire for reform into concrete action.
Across areas such as business, racial justice, community health development, education, and the arts, all of these leaders are creatively re-imagining how systems can better serve communities and advance social change. As we emerge in 2021 with lessons and insights from a difficult year, we invite you to engage with these innovative and hopeful ideas, and the inspiring women who are leading them forward. Read below to learn more about the awardees and their work to impact systems below.
2020 Catalyst Fund Recipients
Michelle Molitor, the Equity Lab | United States
Race and equity leader Michelle Molitor catalyzes individuals and teams as change agents who can lead collective anti-racist actions in their organizations. Through fellowships and long-term partnerships, The Equity Lab empowers leaders at all levels to disrupt the institutions, structures, and systems that perpetuate racism and oppression, and is poised to grow across the country and bring others along in its vision for an equitable, antiracist society.
Amma Lartey, Social Enterprise Ghana | Ghana
Entrepreneur Amma Lartey is developing a vibrant social enterprise ecosystem in Ghana, driving local innovation for critical problems through advocacy, convenings, and capacity building. Reaching a network of over 600 members and more than 1,000 change-making organizations, Social Enterprise Ghana is steering the country’s burgeoning entrepreneurial sector into a vehicle for scaled social impact.
Margaret Lapiz, Under One Roof | United States
Healthcare executive Margaret Lapiz is working directly with over 100 community leaders to create an integrated hub for improving health outcomes and opportunities for farmworkers in California. Under One Roof is a unique model demonstrating how systems change can be genuinely community-led, ensuring an equitable approach to health and well-being for those historically underserved.
Ifeoma Fafunwa, iOpenEye Productions | Nigeria
Nigerian director and playwright Ifeoma Fafunwa uses the power of storytelling through provocative theater, workshops, and street storms to challenge societal norms that limit gender equality and human rights. Her company iOpenEye has reached a live audience of over 100,000 with the flagship production Hear Word!, and is expanding to reach a broader regional and global audience through new online platforms.
Amanda Fernandez, Latinos for Education | United States
Education advocate and entrepreneur Amanda Fernandez is creating pathways for Latino leaders in the education sector, bringing diverse talent into positions of influence and ensuring educational equity for all. Having built a network of over 3,000 leaders and a Fellowship impacting the lives of over 200,000 students, Latinos for Education is poised to advocate nationally and activate the collective Latino voice on issues affecting students and families.
This event is in partnership with the McNulty Foundation, whose mission is to inspire, develop, and drive leaders to solve the most critical challenges of our time.
