More than 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. has a disability—yet disabled leaders are still missing from the rooms where decisions are made. That’s the gap Disability Lead is closing. In my conversation with Anne Renna, we talked about why leadership must be shaped by people closest to the challenges, how disability cuts across every identity, and what real systems change looks like when lived experience is finally given power.

When I worked at JUF in Chicago, I was pitched everything—tools, platforms, and promises that all claimed they’d “raise millions.” Most of it blurred together. One person didn’t. Tyler Bacon stood out not because of a slick pitch, but because he never pushed. He listened. He followed up thoughtfully. Years later, I learned why his approach to fundraising—and donors—was so different. It changed how I think about trust, timing, and the long game.

Lindsay Meltzer, founder of Bright Bowls in Highland Park, turned her passion for nutrient-dense, beautifully crafted smoothie bowls into both a business and community hub. What began as nourishing meals for her kids blossomed into a storefront that opened mid-COVID and became a place of comfort after tragedy. More than food, Bright Bowls inspires connection, resilience, and joy through mindful eating and community gatherings

Nonprofits have always had to do two things well: make people feel something—and then do something. At American Jewish World Service (AJWS), that equation still holds, but how donors are engaged is changing fast. In my conversation with Peter Taback, AJWS’s VP of Marketing and Communications, we explored how short-form video and thoughtful influencer partnerships are helping AJWS reach younger donors, test new strategies, and drive real fundraising results—without sacrificing