Moments That Shaped 2025
What experiences, turning points, or relationships stand out when you look back at this year?
The 2025 Catalyzers
A cohort of changemakers working to strengthen civic engagement and belonging across communities.
The Leap from Food Bank to The Change Lab
The biggest turning point was the support I received transitioning from the Food Bank into The Change Lab. That move wasn't just a new role — it was a shift in how I see the work, and how I see myself in it. Having people around me who helped me navigate that change made a real difference.
That move wasn't just a new role — it was a shift in how I see the work, and how I see myself in it.
Fiscal Sponsorship Secured
The Change Lab is now fiscally sponsored by Impact Hub Houston — giving us the foundation to receive grants, build partnerships, and scale StepUP across communities.
Ideas to Impact Accelerator
Build Smarter. Validate Faster. Scale with IMPACT.
A 16-week hybrid accelerator powered by Impact Hub Houston to help us test, validate, and grow with experienced mentors, real-world problem solving, and LeanStack's continuous innovation framework.
The Power of Shared Thinking Tools
Working with Sen and using the Miro boards was another standout. They weren't just helpful for organizing ideas — they gave us a shared way to think together, track what we were learning, and make sense of complexity in real time.
An Anchor for Our Journey
The Miro boards became more than just a collaboration tool — they became the anchor that held our shared narrative together. Week after week, we returned to these canvases to build on what came before.
They gave us a visual language to trace our growth, capture insights as they emerged, and see the threads connecting different sessions. What started as blank space became a living record of transformation.
The Relationships That Mattered Most
Learning alongside peers and having one-on-ones through the program gave me space to reflect, get honest feedback, and feel supported. Those conversations stayed with me long after they ended.
What People Are Saying
This is a great tool you're building. We're in really dark times right now, and I think this is a great answer that needs to be applied on a massive scale. I'm reading a lot about the importance of community… Please keep going with this project.
We're excited to fiscally sponsor The Change Lab as they bring StepUP to life! The vision for the platform is to invite people into a process that can often feel daunting for many. The platform is designed to make civic engagement more accessible and approachable, showing people that even the smallest actions can make a meaningful difference in our communities.
Wow! This is an amazing site and I am only seeing a small part of this platform… It is like the ultimate hub. Bridge-gap, when one entity needs help or has questions, others who are more experienced can assist in answering questions.
The Path Forward
From interest to action — the StepUP framework anchors people in civic pathways and guides them toward confident public voice.
