Ted Regan has been a familiar face at the Great Bay Foundation since 2002, when we first funded Rippleffect, the youth development organization he co-founded that offers “learning adventures in living classrooms” to disadvantaged youth. Among Ted’s many accomplishments during his nine year tenure at Rippleffect was leading the successful effort to buy and protect in perpetuity Cow Island, located in Casco Bay. Under Rippleffect’s stewardship, Cow Island has been transformed into a one-of-a-kind resource for Maine’s disadvantaged youth – a place where they can learn marketable skills and participate in a variety of leadership-building recreational activities. A staunch environmentalist, Ted takes great pride in the fact that all of Rippleffect’s programming on Cow Island is supported with alternative-energy sources.

Intrepid social entrepreneur that he is, Ted Regan has once again focused his efforts on launching and growing a new venture, Kaleidoscope. This “change agency” seeks to “congregate and collaborate eco-warriors, thought provocateurs, and change activists at the vanguard of social change.” Other goals include increasing environmental and social justice awareness and broadcasting extraordinary examples of leaders, leadership, and courage.

Kaleidoscope’s first program is Kindle, a three-day Northern New England Bioneers gathering that will take place in Portland, Maine from October 17th – 19th, 2008, and feature over 70 effective and innovative leaders from the local and national arenas. One confirmed speaker is Kathy Freund, Great Bay grantee and founder of both ITN™ and ITNAmerica®.

To learn more about Kindle, view videos of speakers, register for the conference, and read the Kindle Blog, visit www.kindledinme.com. Interestingly, Ted recently blogged about fellow Great Bay grantee Melvin Murrel (Poling Aquaculture Inc.) in a blog post entitled “Hornpouts, Alpacas, and Ferns, Oh My.” Ted made a trip to Melvin’s fish farm and comments on how closely the overarching environmental sustainability and social impact goals of Kindle align with those of Melvin’s operation.

For more on Ted Regan, be sure to check out his video on the Great Bay Foundation You Tube Channel.