Angela Merrill
USA
“I’m neither an optimist nor a pessimist. I’m a dyed-in-the-wool possibilitist! By this, I mean with an eco-mind, we see that everything’s connected and change is the only constant." - Frances Moore Lappé
1.5
Million is the number of non-profits seeking to create an impact in the US alone
150
the number of idea sketchbooks dedicated to understanding and transforming the world she will have accumulated in thirty years
1
vision to evolve beyond isolated organizations and into world change powerhouse networks
Protect your courage
Although she developed a great appreciation for dramatic natural beauty growing up in the Flathead Valley, Angela felt compelled to form deep relationships with people from every corner of the world.
This led Angela to travel through India and Nicaragua working in the community development sector. She was deeply impacted by the wisdom of diverse cultures, leading to an awareness of how community-based processes create better solutions. Angela has identified her role as “convener” to catalyze this inclusive approach to problem solving.
Angela spent the past year taking action from this insight by leading the Changemaker Campus Initiative at Portland State University – a network of students empowered to take action in a big way. Student clubs and departments from across the university collaborated through interdisciplinary events to spread the message that everyone has a part in impacting the world. However, Angela has decided to become a Watson scholar to learn how network building catalyzes world change on the largest scale yet. The network approach draws on ideas from many communities to shift slow-moving systems. From intimate communal dinners to conferences that convene thousands of organizations, Angela believes in the power of each individual perspective to contribute to the most effective solutions.
Throughout her time at Watson, Angela has worked with various Boulder individuals and companies – most recently with the artist incubator, madelife. Now on her final semester on the Watson degree track, Angela hopes to work at the praxis of systems thinking and social entrepreneurship after graduation.
