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Every day, changemakers are shaping our future in countless ways. They’re raising money to solve social and environmental problems, building innovative solutions, and helping their communities through both big and small actions.
Their efforts are impressive on many levels, but the magic really happens when their stories get shared. When others hear about how one person is making a difference or overcoming adversity, it often inspires them to make a change too. The impact gets magnified, again and again.
We hope the stories we’ve rounded up for this month bring a bit of optimism and the inspiration to brighten someone else’s day, too.
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Inspiring a Generation of Changemakers
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For the past decade, similar articles have popped up in local media outlets across North America: from British Columbia to Colorado to New York, schoolchildren are raising money to fund clean water access in South Sudan. Their shared interest in this cause is no coincidence — it all started with one man’s efforts to provide safe drinking water for a community he fled.
Salva Dut was 11 years old when civil war broke out in his village in South Sudan. As described in Be Fearless, throughout the next decade, he ran for his life to refugee camps hundreds of miles away in Ethiopia and Kenya.
One of the “Lost Boys of Sudan,” Dut finally landed in the United States as a political refugee at the age of 22. As he learned to survive in a completely different world than the one he had fled, he became aware that his father — whom he thought had died in the civil war — was still alive but critically ill from drinking contaminated water.
Determined to make a difference, Dut founded a nonprofit, Water for South Sudan. It took him four years to raise enough money to drill a well, but he brought clean water to his father’s village — and that was just the beginning. Since then, the nonprofit has drilled 660 wells, transforming lives for hundreds of thousands of people in remote villages.
We’re impressed not only by Dut’s ability to persevere in the face of hardship, but also by the way he has brought others along on his journey. By sharing his story, he has inspired countless individuals to improve the quality of life for people they will likely never meet, in villages thousands of miles away. |
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| Fishing for Opportunity in the Blue Economy |
As oceans face increasing threats from issues such as overfishing and plastic pollution, more impact investors have been exploring the “blue economy” — an emerging area of climate finance encompassing economic activities associated with oceans, seas, and coastal regions. With an estimated annual value of $2.5 trillion, it’s no wonder that some see the financial value of protecting our oceans. While still a niche area, media outlets such as Time and Fortune are paying more attention to how entrepreneurs and investors are seizing the opportunity.
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Creating Impact Starts with a Goal
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| Impact investors who struggle to make progress on social or environmental issues may have overlooked a crucial step: setting clear goals. That’s according to the authors of a new guide, who believe that a lack of clarity around desired accomplishments leads to piecemeal decisions that waste time and lead to disappointing results. They offer case studies and tips for people who want to maximize impact through their investments and philanthropy. |
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The Changing Face of Entrepreneurship
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| A new survey reports that Gen Z has surpassed Baby Boomers in new business starts for the first time, as Boomers hit retirement age and more members of Gen Z enter the business world, where AI has made it easier for the digital native generation to launch their ventures. The report also found that while women’s share of new businesses dropped overall, their share of Gen Z businesses jumped from 38% in 2024 to 47% in 2025. Additionally, more than one-third of entrepreneurs were first- or second-generation immigrants, further underscoring how the profile of founders is changing. |
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| Brilliant Ideas from Bold Women Founders |
| The 15 women spotlighted on the Story Exchange’s Brilliant Business Ideas list share something in common: a desire to help others. They’ve introduced travel services for people with disabilities, greener funeral options, budget-friendly smart watches, and other products and services to make life easier, safer, more accessible, and even more fun. |
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Yep, Your Ice Cream Order Can Help the Planet
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| If you want another reason to feel good about choosing a waffle cone at your local scoop shop, remember that you’re keeping another plastic-lined cup out of a landfill. We’re loving these tips for a tasty and environmentally friendly summer! |
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