Inspiring Stories

Kia ora whānau, our campaign is closing this Friday. Get amongst!
Show our taiohi that you believe in them - back us to back them 👏🏼👏🏼

www.backtomorrow.org.nz

We are asking our incredible community to back us so we can continue to back the ideas and dreams of young people now, tomorrow and into the future. Every dollar backs a young person to build a better tomorrow for Aotearoa - give now!

https://backtomorrow.org.nz/

We want to be there to back every step of a young person’s journey.
Believing in. Celebrating. Upskilling. Empowering.
This is your opportunity to back us to continue this powerful kaupapa.
To back young people and the big ideas they bring.
To back a brighter future for Aotearoa.
To Back Tomorrow | Āwhina i Āpōpō
https://backtomorrow.org.nz/

Check out our newest release of contributors and speakers for hashtag ! 🚀

Join us to hear from these leaders and changemakers (and more) who are shaping the future of Aotearoa. Secure your post today and be part of the action! 🌟

🎟️: https://lnkd.in/gitxZtE

See you there!

Join us at Festival for the Future in Wellington on July 17-18 for the "Innovation for a Better Tomorrow" panel. 🌟

In an era defined by rapid advancement, this session will highlight how innovative leaders are creating impactful solutions for a more inclusive and sustainable future. We will discuss the role of purpose-driven businesses in driving social and environmental change, and how individuals can contribute through investment, purchasing decisions, and advocacy.

Our panelists Izzy Fenwick, Mrinali Kumar (EatKinda), Andy Bowie (Uber / My Auto Shop, and Chris Simcock (Leaft Foods) will share their journeys, the challenges they faced, and the successes they've achieved in leading impactful ventures. After this panel, you'll walk away with a clearer sense of how to engage in and support the purpose-driven economy.

🎟️ https://www.festivalforthefuture.co/get-tickets

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🌟 We’re just ONE MONTH away from Festival for the Future 2024! 🌟

Excitement is building as we prepare to gather in Wellington from July 17-18 for Aotearoa’s biggest leadership and innovation summit. Don’t miss your chance to be part of this inspiring event, connect with amazing people, and ignite your potential.

🎟️ Still haven’t got your tickets? There’s still time! Secure your ticket today and join us in shaping a brighter future.

https://www.festivalforthefuture.co/get-tickets

We can’t wait to see you there! 💫

Meet Kauri Tearaura (they/them), a trailblazer in diversity, equity, and inclusion.

As the youngest senior leader in the New Zealand public service, Kauri is the DEI Lead at the Ministry for the Environment. They are a performance artist and an experienced governor, having co-chaired Rainbow Youth and served on various boards, including the Young Workers Resource Centre and Seed Waikato. Kauri's commitment to fostering inclusive communities is reflected in their work and their role as a trustee for Youth Arts New Zealand and as a Youth Advisory Board Member at Inspiring Stories. 🌈

At Festival for the Future, Kauri will be part of a panel on diversity and inclusion, bringing their extensive experience and passion for creating equitable spaces.

Join us to hear from Kauri Tearaura and gain insights on how to drive meaningful change in your community. 🎤

We're thrilled to announce Shaneel Lal, an inspiring activist, writer, and political commentator, as one of our contributors at ! 🌈

Shaneel, the first transgender person to be named Young New Zealander of the Year (2023), has been a relentless advocate for LGBTQIA+ rights in Aotearoa. They played a pivotal role in the successful campaign to ban conversion therapy in New Zealand and continue to champion the protection of q***r communities under hate speech laws.

As a founder of the Conversion Therapy Action Group and a trustee of Adhikaar Aotearoa, Shaneel's work is deeply rooted in fighting for justice and empowering marginalized voices. Their dedication to activism and resilience in the face of adversity is truly inspiring. 💪

Join us to hear Shaneel's powerful story and insights on creating a more inclusive and equitable future for all. 🎤

Hey future leaders and changemakers! 👋 We’re excited to gather for another incredible Festival for the Future, and we want YOU to be part of it.

Right now, you can grab your tickets for just $149. But heads up – prices will go up on June 16th! Don’t miss this chance to secure your spot at the best rate and be part of a community dedicated to shaping a brighter future. 💡

Why wait? Get your ticket today and look forward to inspiring conversations, new friendships, and unforgettable moments. 🎉

Secure your tickets below to join us before the prices increase:

https://www.festivalforthefuture.co/get-tickets

Are you passionate about climate justice? Do you want to get involved in creating sustainable solutions for your community?

Exciting news! We're running the Impact Challenge again this year - an opportunity to dream into what climate justice and community resilience means for your community and take action to make it a reality!

We are also seeking two motivated, organised and connected individuals to join our team as Impact Challenge Coordinators.

If you're keen to be part of our team check out the role descriptions and get applying now!

https://www.inspiringstories.org.nz/join-the-team

We are so excited to announce our finalists for The Impact Awards 2023!! These incredible young people are doing game-changing mahi across Climate, Wellbeing, Inclusion, Enterprise and Local impact.

Find out more about there here - https://www.inspiringstories.org.nz/the-impact-awards-semi-finalists

What could climate justice and community resilience look like in your community? 🌿🌏⭐️

We have three prizes of $1,000 to giveaway to young people (14 - 30) to run a project, event or campaign aligned with our co-created vision for climate justice.

Deadline to apply is THIS SUNDAY!! 🚨

https://www.inspiringstories.org.nz/the-impact-challenge

Kia ora Inspiring Stories whānau!

We're thrilled to introduce a brand-new initiative on our community platform – Lunchtime Chats 🍔🗣️. This is your chance to engage in lively and informal Q&A sessions with some inspiring people from across Aotearoa.

What's It All About?

Lunchtime Chats are 30-minute hosted sessions designed to bring you closer to the mahi of inspiring leaders in our community. Whether you have burning questions, a thirst for knowledge, or simply want to connect, these sessions are perfect for you.

Mark Your Calendars! 🗓️

Our very first Lunchtime Chat is scheduled for Wednesday 23rd August featuring Devon Murphy (CEO of Inspiring Stories) and Sean Prenter (Inspiring Stories Youth Advisory Group member).

They'll be ready to chat and share insights from 12:30 PM to 1:00 PM. Don't miss out on this opportunity to dive into some enriching conversations and chat with our awesome CEO!

Join our community of like-minded changemakers and RSVP here:
https://shorturl.at/bdhLN

🔔 ANNOUNCING our amazing semi-finalists for The Impact Awards 2023! 🔔

From supporting cyclone-affected communities in the regions; to increasing access to healthy food amidst the cost of living crisis; to campaigning for law reform and systems change – these young New Zealanders are demonstrating incredible courage and leadership!

Head to our website now to learn more about these inspiring changemakers – https://www.inspiringstories.org.nz/the-impact-awards-semi-finalists

If you'd like to get involved or support in some way such as sponsoring an Award Category, supporting scholarship efforts, or purchasing a table for the Awards Ceremony, please get in touch.

FREE WEBINAR ALERT! 🔔

Interested in social enterprise? Want to know how to use business as a force for good? 🌏🕊️

Join inspiring social entrepreneurs Tesh from Raglan Food Co and Shazeea from Ngāti Whātua Ōrākei to learn more about how to use business to create social change in Aotearoa.

🗓️ Wednesday 9th August
⏰ 7 PM (NZ time) for 30-minutes panel, followed by 60 minutes workshop

Register now!

WEBINAR: Business for Good | Humanitix WEBINAR: Business for Good , Hosted online, Wed 9th Aug 2023, 2:00 am - 4:00 am CDT. Tickets are free. Only on Humanitix

Got a passion project you'd love to explore?

Our friends at the Blackbird Foundation are now inviting young people aged 16-25 to apply for grants of $1000 as part of their Protostars programme to explore and build their passion projects.

Past projects they've funded include community gardens, art exhibitions, a travelling STEM roadshow, a sustainable go-kart build, haptic feedback VR gloves, a q***r comedy show, and more.

Open to young people in Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia.

Head to their website to apply or learn more –

Protostars | Blackbird We've led the pre-series A round into ANU physicists-led company Nomad Atomics. Learn more about what the team is building.

🔥 The Impact Awards winner spotlight: Ihorangi Reweti Peters, 2022 Wellbeing award winner🔥

Ihorangi is working tirelessly to improve access to mental health and counselling for Tamariki and Rangtahi Atawhai (Care Experienced young people that are Mentally ill). His mission is to see every Young Person in state care have access to services they desperately need to keep themselves and others safe.

Ihorangi shared his experience winning an Impact Award, "it made me feel very happy that I’ve been recognised for the work that I’ve been doing to improve the live of young people in care and with care experience"

To all the rangatahi who aren't sure about applying, Ihorangi said it best "be brave and put yourself forward."

Application close this SUNDAY 23rd July, nominate someone awesome or apply now >> https://www.inspiringstories.org.nz/the-impact-awards