Reflections from the Change Leader Academy Retreat
This past weekend, something powerful took place in Springfield, Ohio.
Seventeen individuals—each with their own story of resilience, struggle, and hope—came together for our Change Leader Academy Retreat. Over the course of a day and a half, these participants stepped into a new identity: Change Leaders.
They shared stories many have never told outloud before. They learned how to use their voices not only to speak their truth, but to advocate for others. And most importantly, they began to see themselves as leaders—not in spite of their lived experience, but because of it.
The Change Leader Academy isn’t a typical training. It’s a space where people who have lived through poverty, incarceration, addiction, or mental health challenges are invited to reclaim their narratives. Through workshops, storytelling, and peer support, participants begin the process of becoming certified Change Leaders—advocates, speakers, and catalysts for justice in their communities.
Now, the journey continues.
Each of these 17 new Change Leaders will work over the coming months to complete their certification. That means digging deeper into their stories, learning how to present them in powerful ways, and taking tangible steps to make an impact in their cities, towns, and neighborhoods. Some may speak to local governments. Others may start community initiatives. All of them will carry the spark that was lit at the Academy forward.
We’re honored to walk alongside them and can’t wait to see how far their stories will reach.