Ginan Reda - Blog Changemakers

 Ginan Reda - Group 3

    The different groups in our class presentations discussed various historical changemakers who created social change through their work. The presentations were enjoyable to me because the groups presented different people who made major contributions to civil rights and political development and scientific research and business and cultural fields. The presentation introduced me to new information about these historical figures whom I already knew about and their achievements as changemakers. The presentations showed me that people can bring about social transformation through their individual actions.

    Group 1 talked about changemakers from the twentieth century. Their presentation included information about changemakers such as Rosa Parks and Susan B. Anthony and Paul McCartney and Martin Luther King Jr. and Rachel Carson and Duke Ellington and Frank Church. Their presentation proved that changemakers come from all walks of society rather than from politics. Both Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr. were important figures in the civil rights movement. Rosa Parks is known for giving a seat on a segregated bus to no one. Martin King Jr. is known as a protest leader who advocated for equality and civil rights in America.

    I also liked the reference to artists such as Paul McCartney and Duke Ellington. They showed that there is still another way to bring about change in this world and bring people together. Conclusion I think Group 1 did a good job of explaining to me how different people use their voices and talents to bring about change in the world. 

    Group 2 discussed changemakers in modern democracy. They had Steve Jobs, Betsy DeVos, Anthony Fauci, George W. Bush, Edward Snowden, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michelle Obama in their presentation. I thought this presentation was interesting, as it discussed people from recent history who have affected society, politics, and technology. Steve Jobs has affected society by bringing about new ways of using technology, such as the iPhone and other Apple products.

    Another way in which Mark Zuckerberg has affected our lives is through the way we communicate with each other. He achieved this through the creation of Facebook, which is considered to be one of the most used social media sites globally. Another individual they discussed is Anthony Fauci, who had a significant impact on our health, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. From what he has achieved, it is clear that scientists and physicians are able to influence our government and help guide us through hard times. Another individual they discussed is Edward Snowden. He is considered to be a topic of discussion and is considered to be on the other side when it comes to privacy and the government tracking our activities. Even though his approach was not conventional, it is important because it sparked a conversation about our security and individual rights. Another individual of significance is Michelle Obama. 

She was committed to various causes such as education, healthy living, and youth empowerment. I liked how the group discussed political and cultural icons because it demonstrated how change agents can impact society in various ways. I thought Group 2 did an outstanding job of linking the individuals to modern democracy and explaining why their actions were crucial in current events. 

    Group 3 was my group, and we were assigned to do a presentation on several historical figures who were considered changemakers, such as John D. Rockefeller, Nikola Tesla, Jane Addams, Thomas Edison, Harriet Jacobs, Harriet Tubman, and Abraham Lincoln. Through working on the presentation on these historical figures, I learned more about these individuals and their roles and contributions to history. John D. Rockefeller, for example, became one of the most successful businessmen in history through his oil business, and besides his wealth and oil business, Rockefeller also became a philanthropist and helped support many universities, medical research, and charities. Nikola Tesla and Thomas Edison are also significant historical figures who played important roles in the history of technology. Tesla is significant because he made significant contributions to the history of electricity and electrical engineering. Edison is known for inventions such as the light bulb and for creating one of the first industrial research laboratories. Learning about their rivalry and their different approaches to innovation made this topic very interesting. Jane Addams was another important figure we discussed. She was a social reformer who founded Hull House and worked to improve the lives of immigrants and the poor. Harriet Tubman and Harriet Jacobs were both connected to the fight against slavery. Harriet Tubman helped enslaved people escape through the Underground Railroad, while Harriet Jacobs wrote about her experiences in slavery and helped raise awareness about its cruelty. Finally, Abraham Lincoln played a crucial role in American history as the president who led the country during the Civil War and helped end slavery through the Emancipation Proclamation. Presenting this topic made me appreciate how many different people contributed to social progress and justice. 

Group 4 presentation dealt with changemakers associated with the U.S. Constitution, such as George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison. These individuals were some of the founding fathers of the United States and had important roles to play in the development of the U.S. government. For example, George Washington was the first president of the United States and set many precedents for the presidents to follow. Benjamin Franklin, in addition to being one of the founding fathers, was also a scientist, inventor, and diplomat who assisted in garnering support for the American Revolution. Alexander Hamilton had significant influence on the financial system of the United States and served as the first Secretary of the Treasury. James Madison is considered the “Father of the Constitution” because of his significant contribution to the development of the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 

    This presentation, in my opinion, was important because it reminded me how the framework of democracy in the United States came to be and how these individuals assisted in the development of the U.S. government. Overall, I enjoyed listening to all the presentations in class. Each group brought something different to the discussion and highlighted people who made important contributions to society. Some groups focused on historical figures, while others talked about more modern changemakers. This variety made the presentations interesting and helped me see how change can happen in many ways, whether through politics, science, activism, business, or culture. I think these presentations were valuable because they showed how individuals can influence history and inspire others. It also reminded me that changemakers are not always perfect, but their actions can still have a lasting impact on society. Listening to my classmates helped me learn new information and also see different perspectives on these historical figures. Overall, I enjoyed the presentations and thought they were a great way to learn about important people who helped shape the world we live in today