Journalist David Bornstein has written a most captivating book, How to Change the World: Social Entrepreneurs and the Power of New Ideas, in which he profiles nine individuals from around the world-- "driven, creative individuals who question the status quo, exploit new opportunities, refuse to give up, and remake the world for the better." As Ashoka notes, "What business entrepreneurs are to the economy, social entrepreneurs are to social change." Bornstein has studied the best.

On October 12th , Mr. Bornstein is coming to Atlanta's Oglethorpe University to lead a discussion on social entrepreneurialship, its impact and its drivers.

Joining him on the panel will be two world- class entrepreneurs: Michelle Nunn, CEO of Hands On Network (formerly CityCares), the national alliance of innovative volunteer management and mobilization organizations, and Darell Hammond, CEO of KaBOOM!, the national nonprofit that specializes in linking communities and corporations to build exciting, safe playgrounds.

The conference is sponsored by Worthwhile, a new magazine committed to putting "purpose and passion on the same plane as profit" [see next story]; Art Heals, an organization that uses original art to create a healing environment for children's hospitals, daycare centers, schools, libraries, homes and websites; and BoardWalk Consulting.

SIgn up for the October 12th conference at the bottom of this e-mail or ...

Anita Sharpe and Kevin Salwen live by the motto "It is impossible to have a meaningful life without meaningful work." Both veterans of the Wall Street Journal, Anita and Kevin have four decades of financial journalism experience and a Pulitzer Prize between them. Together they have just founded Worthwhile.

Their newest venture is a publication for those who want to make a difference while making a living. The first issue hits the newstands in early October, and it will be available free to attendees at the 1st Annual Change-the-World Conference on October 12th [see previous article].

Worthwhile's editorial mission is to put purpose and passion on the same plane as profit. Although geared to those in the for-profit sector, the magazine has much to say to (and about) those already committed to philanthropy, community well-being and the pursuit of a higher purpose.

We are excited to have this new national voice emanating from Atlanta, and we encourage you to check out the inaugural issue-- and to sign up as a charter subscriber.

Great Schools Atlanta, an organization established "to mobilize the Atlanta community to achieve an excellent public education for every child," has hired Tom Cole as its first CEO. BoardWalk Consulting is pleased to have been the search committee's advisor throughout the recruitment process.

A nationally prominent educator, Tom Cole retired as president of Clark Atlanta University in 2002, having served in that role since the late 1980s. Since then, he has worked with a number of schools and educational initiatives here and abroad (including Zimbabwe) while writing a book on his experiences. Before moving to Atlanta in 1988, Tom was Chancellor of the West Virgina Board of Regents. He began his career as a Visiting Professor of Chemistry at MIT.

Speaking at GSA's public launch of the considerable progress made by the Atlanta Public Schools over the past few years, APS Superintendent Beverly Hall nevertheless noted that "the road ahead of us is much steeper than the one behind." Great Schools Atlanta intends to ensure that the road is well paved--and headed in the right direction.

In the last few months, we at BoardWalk Consulting have noticed a significant uptick in demand for board governance consulting in the nonprofit sector. Inquiries are up substantially since the second quarter of 2004, and the momentum appears to be increasing. Publicity about misfeasance in the corporate boardroom and initiatives by state and federal legislatures have caught the attention of large and small organizations alike. In our view, the real issue for the tax-exempt sector is more akin to nonfeasance; until recently, very few organizations paid governance much attention at all.

While inquiries are up, however, funding to support those inquiries is still lagging. Before the current year, all but one of our board governance projects for nonprofits was paid for by a foundation grant; even the largest nonprofits were not planning for regular, serious looks at their own governance model. Nonprofits often have budgets for retreats, site visits, strategic planning, even the occasional board survey, but very few budget a close look at their own board as a dynamic entity in and of itself.

Happily, that is changing, if slowly. A few progressive foundations are promoting--some are even requiring--thoughtful governance studies by their grantees, and quite a few nonprofits are expanding their board budgets to include more than refreshments at quarterly meetings.

We have a self-interest in this trend, of course, for concerns over board governance were at the heart of BoardWalk's founding in 2002. But we also know that better, more effective and more strategic governance will benefit the entire sector by making better use of scarce resources.

Our view is that time, not money, is the real constraint. By making the best use of its board, potentially a huge strategic asset, every organization can become a magnet for even better talent, richer resources and greater overall impact.

As we approach our second anniversary on October 1, 2004, BoardWalk Consulting is pleased to announce two additions to our client resources, one a seasoned governance consultant with a national following, and one a promising young talent with exceptional potential:

Sandra R. Hughes, Ed.D., (sandy@boardwalkconsulting.com) has recently joined BoardWalk Consulting as an Associate Director, working with us on major governance projects while maintaining her own indpendent consulting practice.

A highly respected governance consultant for boards of nonprofits, foundations and other tax-exempt organizations, she is widely known for her expertise in strategic thinking and planning, organizational culture and values, reengineering, change management, teamwork, and other topics relevant to board governance.

During her many years of experience in the nonprofit world, Sandy has worked with literally hundreds of boards. Her expertise has helped guide organizations of all sizes through a variety of subjects. She has also written articles on such diverse issues as nonprofit board management, the psychology of humor, and the role of sports in society.

Prior to her work as a consultant and facilitator, Sandy held senior management positions with several prominent organizations, including BoardSource, the United States Rowing Association, the American Bar Association, George Williams College, Levi Strauss & Company, the Levi Strauss Foundation, the Christian Science Center, and the University of Tennessee.

Sandy holds a Master's and a Doctorate from Northern Illinois University. She received her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Maryland.

Erin Drury (erin@boardwalkconsulting.com) is the newest member of the team at BoardWalk Consulting. As Research Associate, Erin supports all facets of our client engagements, especially those aspects dealing with the gathering, analysis and leverage of intellectual capital relating to the leadership and governance of nonprofits and foundations.

Erin joined us after four years with the Atlanta-based Woodruff and Whitehead Foundations, among the nation's 20 largest grant-making institutions. During her final year there, she was named a Woodruff Fellow, a highly sought-after appointment.

Erin holds a Master's in Public Administration (with an emphasis on nonprofit management) from the Andrew Young School of Policy Studies at Georgia State University and a Bachelor's in Communications from Berry College.