Other World Changers

This site doesn’t have a blogroll of 200 celebrity bloggers and friends who update their site twice a year. What I’m doing instead is linking to other writers and activists that I regularly read, and in most cases, people I know personally with their own missions to change the world or accomplish great things with unconventional methods.

If you’d like to nominate someone for inclusion, please use my contact form. (Sorry, no link exchanges.)

• Paul Farmer’s Partners In Health – The organization founded by Dr. Paul Farmer, who has worked tirelessly for decades in Haiti. Chronicled in the amazing book Mountains Beyond Mountains.

• Kiva.org – An amazing organization that links entrepreneurs in the developing world with lenders in the West. They claim a 100% repayment rate.

• Laser Monks – Exactly what you’d expect: monks from Wisconsin who sell ink cartridges to raise money for people in need around the world. You’d expect that, right?

• Tom’s Shoes – Buy one shoe, give one free. One pair of shoes, that is– this guy gives away a pair of shoes to kids around the world for every pair you buy.

• Charity: Water – My friend Scott Harrison started this project one year ago to change the world through improving access to clean water in Africa. He’s doing a great job– in the first year of operation, they have begun funding for 168 wells in 6 African nations.

• Jim Cockrum – Another “renegade entrepreneur” who publishes the world’s most popular eBay sellers’ newsletter. Jim works about 10 hours a week and spends the rest of the time with his growing family from China and Guatemala.

• Po Bronson – If you ever wonder, “What should I do with my life?” this guy has written the book with the answer. Well, not exactly– but the book does contain a number of answers that other creative people have found.

• 50in50in50 – This guy doesn’t update his site much, but I don’t blame him– he ran 50 marathons in 50 states in 50 days! Check out the CNN interview.

• Fat Man Walking – I’m still not sure what I think of this guy, but he’s certainly unconventional enough. This “fat man” is walking across America to lose weight and get a book deal. I wish him the best.

• Tiny Houses – In America these days, bigger is better. Just look at cars, sandwiches, and especially houses. These folks take the opposite approach. Get the smallest house you need.

• OneWeekJob.com – Sean Aiken from Vancouver has been working one job a week for a year in a quest to figure out what he wants to do. Check out his progress with video and text updates.

• New American Dream – A center for simplicity research and advocacy.

• FareStart – Seattle’s coolest restaurant, where homeless and disadvantaged individuals train for living-wage jobs. Open for lunch every weekday and dinner on Thursday nights.

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