Country: United States

About: A young-at-heart activist and community development professional who has lived in the Washington, D.C. area, the Dominican Republic, Panama, and worked or traveled in over 70 countries. Mike has worked for 30 years in international development including as the Senior Advisor on Youth at USAID, as well as at U.S. Peace Corps, UNICEF, the Inter-American Foundation, Creative Associates, and Youth Service America. Mike works hard “to be the change” we each seek to be in the world.

Recipe for Change: 

As Margaret Meade said: “Never doubt that a small group of committed people can bring about change. Indeed it is  the only thing that ever has.”  Throughout my life, most change starts small and local with a group of early adapters and changemakers. After their results become visible, often others look to get involved and engaged.  Emerging leaders and young changemakers do not need to be famous, visible or known at a national level. They just need to be authentic and connect people to concrete steps. Here is a recipe with ingredients for supporting young leaders.   A few steps in your recipe to be 

1. Define your personal vision of change and your mission statement.  What inspires and motivates you? Finish the sentence, “I am working towards the day when….”  Put it on a wall or your phone to guide your tough daily decisions.
2. Define what issues give you life and energy or what issues most concern you that you would like to take action on.  Remember to “dare greatly”, meaning to not be afraid to take the small or big steps each day to do something towards your goal, rather than to sit comfortably in your routine. 
3. Let go of worrying about what others may think of you or what you do as being “outside the normal”.  There has never been a statue built to the critics only to those criticized for having bold ideas.
4. Create “recipes for change” that are simple or more complex step-by-step actions that you and your friends (or others) can take on your issue, Then disseminate these recipes broadly to others who may share a similar passion on your issue.  
5. Remember that volunteering on an issue via tutoring or mentoring is helping to treat the symptoms of an issue. However we need to also seek to understand the causes of that issue (educational finance, policy, family strengthening, etc) and look for ways to advocate for changing the underlying policies that can bring long term change.

Recipe: Frittata

This is a comfort food that my mom always used to make on special occasions but can be made for dinner as well as for a special breakfast.  It is kind of like our world in that it is a combination of diverse flavors, some spicy, some sweet, but all complementing each other as they work together. 

INGREDIENTS:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil 
• ½ pound hot Italian chicken or turkey sausage casings removed
• 1 small sweet onion halved and thinly sliced
• ½ cup of sliced mushrooms
• 1 -2 potatoes
• 2 bell peppers thinly sliced
• 1 teaspoon sea salt 
• 1 teaspoon of pepper
• 8 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons oregano

INSTRUCTIONS:

1. Cut potatoes into small chunks and brown in a skillet with 1 tablespoon of oil  (or put them into the microwave to soften them). Remove to a plate.
2. In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil. Cook the chopped up sausage over high heat,  until browned. Remove to a plate.
3. Add remaining oil to the skillet and saute the onions and  peppers over medium heat until caramelized.
4. In a bowl mix eggs, salt, italian herbs, and pepper.
5. Combine in the skillet all ingredients, and stir together. Move heat to low and pour the eggs over all the ingredients evenly in the pan. Cook until the egg coating is cooked across all the ingredients.
6. Sprinkle the oregano (and if desired some grated cheese) over the top, and cook for 2-3 minutes, until the top begins to slightly brown. Remove from the burner and allow it to sit for 3 minutes before serving.