A New Chapter
A New Chapter at ChangeMakers:
Hear from Executive Director Christian McAdams
Over the last three years I have had the privilege to contribute to the development of lasting initiatives that will drive our communities forward. So it is with deep gratitude and excitement that I step into the role of Executive Director at ChangeMakers Community Economic Development Corporation.
This transition is about more than leadership — it’s about honoring the journey that has brought us here and setting a bold course for where we are headed.
SINCE FORMATION IN 2021
ChangeMakers has stood as a bridge-builder: connecting ideas with resources, communities with opportunities, and vision with action. Under the guidance of our founder and outgoing Executive Director, Olani Lilly, we have cultivated a foundation rooted in service, resilience, and aloha ʻāina. Her leadership has been nothing short of transformative, and I am humbled to continue the work alongside her wisdom and the values she instilled.
OVER THE YEARS
We have launched programs that reflect the spirit of innovation and the heart of Hawaiʻi. From advancing pathways for local entrepreneurs and nonprofits to piloting pono lending models that reflect fairness and community, our work has always been about creating tools that serve the people rather than the other way around. We have seen firsthand the strength of collaboration — when small businesses, community leaders, and funders come together, solutions once thought impossible begin to take root. These experiences form the solid ground upon which we now build our next phase.
RENEWED VISION
As I take on this role, I am excited to share our renewed vision — one that organizes our work around Priorities, Pillars, and Pathways.
Our Priorities define who we serve: individuals, small businesses, nonprofits, and community leaders.
Our Pillars guide how we serve: training and education, funding, resources and services, and workforce and community impact.
Our Pathways bring it all to life: from personal finance courses, ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi preservation and revitalization projects, and small business mentorship to loans, job boards, fiscal sponsorship, and collaborative community initiatives.
Together, these elements create a structure that is both visionary and practical — one that can adapt to the challenges our communities face while staying true to our mission of building economic opportunity with cultural integrity.
MOVING FORWARD
Looking ahead, I see ChangeMakers stepping even more boldly into its role as a convener and innovator. We will expand training that equips youth and adults alike with life skills for long-term success. We will strengthen local businesses with resources that help them not only survive but thrive in a changing economy. And we will continue to develop creative funding models that keep wealth circulating locally, rooted in the values and resilience of our island communities. By aligning our efforts through Priorities, Pillars, and Pathways, we can create a thriving ecosystem where no voice is left out and every idea has a place to grow.
This moment feels less like a change and more like a continuation — a chance to ho‘omau and ho‘oma‘a the work started years ago. I believe that our new framework will help us deepen our impact, widen our reach, and ensure that every individual, family, and community we touch feels the difference of empowerment.
I was recently honored with the opportunity to sit down with Olani for a special podcast episode where we reflect on her vision, leadership, and the road ahead. This transition means so much to the both of us and I wouldnʻt have this opportunity to serve if it weren’t for her. I invite you to listen in, learn with us, and join us as we embark on this new chapter together.
Stay tuned for all of the new and expanded projects from ChangeMakers Hawaiʻi! E kūlia i ka nu‘u — let us strive for the summit.
If this post sparked something in you — a sense of kuleana, a desire to serve, or a vision for stronger communities — delve further into our ecosystem of change.