#85 Patrick Gaspard, Open Society Foundations

It's hard to describe how energy shifts when Patrick Gaspard is in the room. He is positive, ready to engage, and most importantly, completely present. As president of the Open Society Foundations, whose philanthropy supports democratic practice, human rights and equal access to justice in 120 countries, Patrick is a powerful presence in many rooms. His ability to listen to and act on what communities are saying in those rooms is grounded in his personal experience as an organizer. He knows that listening yields critical information and validates those who are not heard enough. Steeped in the convictions of founder George Soros, Open Society Foundations advocates for persecuted communities across the globe, from the Rohingya forced into statelessness by Myanmar to the LGBTQ community in Kenya. In the United States, Open Society Foundations supports organizing, social mobilization and civil rights. Patrick is optimistic about what a new generation of organizing has generated. He sees young people breaking through the silos and thriving in a world of intersectionality. He reminds us, that change making is urgent, unstoppable and fun, an important message in these chaotic times.