Danielle Dietz-LiVolsi is the President/Founder of the JagRMa LLC, the parent company of the NuttZo brand. NuttZo is an organic omega nut and seed butter.
Danielle describes herself as a lifelong nut butter addict- she remembers coming home after school and eating Jiffy out of the jar with her sister until she got a stomachache.
Danielle began her career working in advertising in New York City, and then transitioned to San Diego where she moved into radio sales. She was at the top of her game, experiencing great success with her advertising career, when she had what she calls a “positive mid life crisis.”
One of the most common childhood dreams is to become an astronaut. We had an amazing opportunity to talk with someone who held onto that dream and never let go of it, despite facing hardship and rejection.
Paul Richards was a part of one of the first teams to visit the Space Station, he worked on servicing the Hubble telescope, and he received the NASA Exceptional Achievement Medal in 1994 and the Certificate of Recognition for Patent Application in 1996.
In this interview with the Dream Share Project, Paul shares the inspirational story of achieving his childhood dream. He is an excellent example of the commitment it takes to achieve your dream, especially a dream as grand as traveling to space and “slipping the surly bonds of earth to touch the face of God.”
Mitchell Reiss has served as a Presidential envoy, ambassador, policymaker, lawyer, author, and university professor. He was recently elected President of Washington College, the nation’s 10th oldest college.
Mitchell had grand dreams from a young age. After winning a scholarship to Oxford University, he discovered his ambition to negotiate nuclear arms control agreements. This dream led Mitchell to become the Chief Negotiator in the Korean Peninsula Energy Development Organization, which was set up to prevent nuclear proliferation on the Korean peninsula. Later on, Mitchell served as Colin Powell’s Director of Policy Planning, where he helped develop U.S. foreign policy relating to Iraq, North Korea, China, Iran and the Arab-Israeli conflict. From 2003 to 2007, Mitchell served as Special Envoy to Northern Ireland and played a vital role in negotiating peace in northern Ireland.
In his role as President of Washington College, Mitchell hopes to educate the next generation of leaders who will shape the future.
Caitlin Boyle is the founder of Operation Beautiful, a movement to promote self esteem and positive body image. Operation Beautiful encourages girls and women to post anonymous notes in public locations like on the scale at the gym, on a bathroom mirror or inside a fashion magazine for other women to find. Notes say things like “You are beautiful,” or “You are good enough just the way you are.” Caitlin receives Operation Beautiful notes and stories from all over the world, and posts new notes every day at the movement’s website, www.OperationBeautiful.com.
The Operation Beautiful book came out in August 2010 and is filled with 125+ of the most unique Operation Beautiful notes and includes tips on how to lead a healthier, happier life. Operation Beautiful has been featured on The Today Show, The Oprah Winfrey Network, Chicago NBC Morning News, Orlando Fox News, Bust Magazine, Glamour, Women’s Day, and many others. Caitlin is currently at work on the second Operation Beautiful book, which will have a tween/teen focus. You can submit a note or story for the second book here.
In addition to running Operation Beautiful, Caitlin blogs at her popular healthy living Web site www.HealthyTippingPoint.com. The Healthy Tipping Point documents Caitlin’s days as she strives to find balance with food, fitness and a busy life. Caitlin is committed to helping everyone lead a healthy, happy life and hopes her work with Operation Beautiful and Healthy Tipping Point can help end negative self talk and inspire others to live their best life. Check out her inspirational work at www.operationbeautiful.com and www.healthytippingpoint.com!
Lavonzell Nicholson is the founder of Play NOLA, a sports and social club that is uniting a huge community of young people in the city of New Orleans. Lavonzell played basketball in college but after hurting her leg, she pursued a career in the non-profit world. She discovered a passion for improving communities and working with kids.
When Hurricaine Katrina hit her home town of New Orleans, she knew she wanted to go back and help rebuild. Lavonzell soon realized that there were many young volunteers flocking to the city to help. Many of these young people had few ways to socialize other than at work and the bar. About a year ago, she discovered a business plan competition and decided to submit her idea for Play NOLA, an organization that would allow people to “meet, greet and compete.”
Now entering its second year, Play NOLA has attracted over 3,000 members, spawning new friendship, relationships, and some intense games of kickball across the city.
Check out our interview with Lavonzell. Love what she says about “starting your own lemonade stand”!
Danielle Dietz-LiVolsi is the President/Founder of the JagRMa LLC, the parent company of the NuttZo brand. NuttZo is an organic omega nut and seed butter.
Mitchell Reiss has served as a Presidential envoy, ambassador, policymaker, lawyer, author, and university professor. He was recently elected President of Washington College, the nation’s 10th oldest college.
