Laurie Meadoff: What Happens When Art & Humanity Pull Up A Chair?

Change the Story / Change the World

How do you describe a Laurie Meadoff? Start off with a big heart, add a pursing intellect, an insatiable curiosity, and a gargantuan exploding fireworks extravaganza of an imagination. Then add that she's a can't-sit-still, serial do-gooder problem solver who translates the word "NO" in any language, as the starting gun for the next story in the million chapter book she's been living, entitled There's no Such Thing as an Impossible Dream!

In this episode of 'Change the Story, Change the World,' host Bill Cleveland introduces Laurie Meadoff, a transformative entrepreneurial force in community arts, youth development, and social change. Laurie reflects on her life's work, including founding the internationally recognized City Kids Foundation, producing Emmy-nominated series, and engaging in art-based change initiatives across the globe. The conversation explores her unique approach to social justice, cultural democracy, and health equity through creative endeavors. Meadoff shares stories of impactful moments, like connecting youth worldwide and encouraging new generations to channel their creativity for activism, ultimately underlining the importance of listening, community empowerment, and sustained social impact.

00:00 Meet Laurie Meadoff: A Force of Nature

03:59 Laurie's Journey and Impact

06:16 Community Empowerment and Creativity

08:42 The Power of Listening and Adaptability

09:55 Art and Social Justice

11:00 Personal Reflections and Global Impact

18:25 Lean on Me: A Musical Interlude

22:05 Chat the Planet: Bridging Global Youth

28:53 Keith Haring's Legacy and City Kids

30:11 Artivism in Chicago

31:44 Take Back the Mic Africa

35:16 The Role of Artists in Society

39:06 Innovations in Health and Artivism

41:02 The Power of Observation and Witness

42:15 What You Going to Do About Hate?

48:52 Reflections and Future Aspirations

51:41 Closing Remarks and Resources

BIO

Laurie Meadoff is a leader, an innovator, and a change maker. Through artistic and expert use of her wide array of talents, Laurie has been able to make monumental strides toward a more tolerant and compassionate world through her media and community engagement strategies. Internationally acclaimed for her more than fourty-five years of work and accomplishments,Laurie Inc. & Team's current clients list include:

NidoVax, a company who is developing multiple rapid-response vaccines for the 2019 Novel Coronavirus,

Sling Shot Health, an innovative company which creates a discounted marketplace for patients and doctors.

Canoe Place Inn – A new hotel focused on creative innovative salons.

Amp.it - a digital media platform that helps content owners know ‘Who's watching and Why’. Creator of double Emmy nominated "Take Back the Mic: The World Cup of Hip Hop".

Laurie is committed to moving disruptive groundbreaking companies forward while networking with her social impact investors.

Laurie has always had her pulse on youth culture. Laurie launched Authentik Inc with partners Tony Krantz and Derrick Ashong. Authentik Inc is an innovation firm based out of NY and LA. Authentik Inc helps top brands stay culturally and socially relevant for the next generation. The team of world-class producers, change agents and millennials work with businesses to revolutionize meaning, message and impact.

Authentik Inc has worked with various prominent C-suite clients including Sea World and Pepsi leading the direction for complete brand transformations. Laurie leads business development along with her group of global Authentikators. Most recently Laurie was a Co- Executive Producer for Earth’s Call at the Aspen Institute. Earth's Call is a global call to action to people of all ages, faiths and cultures worldwide, to move the world together on climate change. This event helped to foster a 50 million dollar collaboration with the MacArthur’s Foundation’ Levers for Change’ program.

Laurie was Executive Producer and content developer for The American Grandparents Association producing a 13 part PBS series called Feel Grand with Jane Seymour focusing on health and well-being. She also produced a web series with Deepak Chopra called Timeless You.

Additionally, Laurie was nominated for an Emmy in 2016 as an Executive Producer for The World Cup of Hip Hop, a groundbreaking online global music competition which was nominated in the ‘Original Interactive Programming’ category.

Laurie also consulted for Playing Forward, a Tech company producing interactive and social emotional learning content for kids' entertainment and she helped launch The Vroom. Laurie Inc. and Team makes vital connections for businesses and community engagement strategies.

Laurie served as CEO of Cancer Schmancer, a groundbreaking women’s Health Advocacy organization founded by actress Fran Drescher. Laurie’s innovative work on behalf of women included the creation of Trash Cancer home parties produced by Humana focused on prevention, which reached over 28,000 people. Laurie also worked with her team to create Fran Vans, which screened women in need in both NYC and LA.

Laurie consulted for The Goldie Hawn Foundation with strategic planning for the launch of their social emotional learning program, MindUP. There, Laurie assembled the organization’s board, designed the marketing strategy, and produced a major fundraiser in New York City that resulted in palpable success for the Foundation. ​

As CEO of Chat Ventures, she executive produced programming for Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, ABC, HBO Family, MTV and VH1 and a host of international broadcasters. In addition to overseeing creative and strategic vision for the company, Laurie then formulated Chat the Planet, a global dialogue initiative committed to using media and online dialogue tools as a means of breaking down barriers reaching 350 million homes worldwide. As a part of this endeavor, Laurie co-created and executive produced the Webby award-winning series Hometown Baghdad, which reached three million web viewers in the first week and aired on The Sundance Channel and National Geographic International in long form. With experience filming in South Africa, Israel, Iraq, Iran, Australia, and Jordan, Laurie’s ability to imaginatively and insightfully capture a diverse range of subjects is exemplified. Laurie has spoken globally and was a part of Cultural Diplomacy panels’ for the Brookings Institute in Doha for three years along with speaking in engagements in Hong Kong and India.

Consulting for the Dalai Lama’s Connection for Change event, Laurie developed and produced Dinner Dialogues as a grass roots engagement tool for people to host salons targeted on the theme of wellness. She also helped produce major events for Deepak Chopra’s Alliance for the New Humanity for several years bringing the world’s top leaders together for shared dialogue. ​

Laurie is the Founder and President Emeritus of The CityKids Foundation. Founded in 1985, The CityKids Foundation has worked to engage and motivate young people from diverse demographics to positively impact their lives, their communities and the world using their voices. Success came naturally to Laurie in her role here, as she organized and executed annual fundraising events with sponsorship from mammoth corporations including Pepsi, MasterCard, and Burger King and the presence of well-known personalities such as Demi Moore, Michael Bolton, Robert De Niro, Herbie Hancock, and Keith Haring to enhance publicity. As a byproduct of the foundation’s achievements, which included a nationally touring repertory of the members, Laurie co-created and executive produced with the Jim Henson Company, the Emmy-Nominated series featured on ABC, CityKids. As a result of Laurie’s vision, drive, and excellence in communication, her community and youth outreach initiatives through media and performance have endured and the relationships cultivated persist today. ​

Laurie’s many awards and other distinctions include: ​

• Emmy Nomination for ‘The World Cup of Hip Hop’, 2016
• 2 Emmy nominations for ABC series, “CityKids”
• Board of Governors, We are Family Foundation 2016
• Dr. Joyce Yerwood “Lifetime-Maker” Award, 2012
• Richard Manware Humanitarian Award, 2008
• 3 Webbys for Hometown Baghdad, 2008
• Brookings Institute Cultural Diplomacy 2007, 2008
• 1 Gold Promax, History in the Making, 2004
• 2 Silver Promax, History in the Making, 2004
• Aegis Award of Excellence, Bridge to Baghdad II, 2003
• Rockefeller Fellowship: Next Generation Leadership - Year long fellowship studying issues of globalization, racism, media, immigration and democracy, 1998.

Guest commentator on NPR, CNN, The Oprah Show, LA Times, NY Times, Today Show, Good Morning America, Video Podcasts, Deepak Chopra: Serious Radio, and a host of international broadcast programming.

Laurie received her Bachelor of Arts in Education and Art History and her Masters in Educational Theater from New York University.

Companies mentioned in this episode:

• MTV
• VH1
• ABC
• Sundance Channel
• National Geographic
• Brookings Institute
• Laurie, Inc.
• Team Authentic, Inc.
• Cancer Schmanzer, Inc.
• Earth's Call
• Next Entertainment
• The Start Fund
• City Kids