It’s never too soon to make a difference

Boulder is known for social activism, and few Boulderites are more active than Zoe Stith.

She organizes fundraisers and letter-writing campaigns for important causes on a local, national and global scale – from cleaning up local parks and volunteering at the local food bank to saving whales and lobbying President Obama to support creation of a national holiday to honor Native Americans. She also encourages her peers to follow her example.

Oh, by the way, Zoe is only seven years old – and has been an activist since she was three.

The first-grader at Boulder Community School of Integrated Studies is one of five people who will be honored at a gala next month as “Women Who Light the Community” – area residents who have made significant contributions in improving our economic vitality and overall quality of life.

BizWest is one of the sponsors of the Boulder Chamber’s 20th annual celebration. The other, somewhat older, honorees are:

Jane Miller, chief executive and founder of JaneKnows.com. She recently steered Rudi’s Organic Bakery to its purchase by the Hain Celestial Group. A founding member of the Women’s Council at the University of Colorado Boulder’s Deming Center for Entrepreneurship, she also has provided executive support for the Boulder-based Unreasonable Institute.

Hana Dansky, founder and executive director of Boulder Food Rescue, a nonprofit that provides the homeless community with food that would otherwise be discarded by local restaurants and grocery stores.

Lori Canova, chief executive of the “I Have a Dream” Foundation of Boulder County, which helps low-income youths achieve a brighter future through long-term educational and cultural programs.

Elena Aranda, director of the Compañeras Program at El Centro AMISTAD.  Compañeras works with primarily Spanish-speaking women to promote and strengthen cultural solidarity.

Register at BoulderChamber.com to attend the June 10 gala at the Lionsgate Event Center, 1055 S. 112th St. in Lafayette. Along with the award ceremony, it will include dinner, a pre-networking session, a nonprofit expo and auction, and music by Boulder’s own Rebecca Folsom.

And since the event runs from 4 to 7:30 p.m., it’ll be over, we hope, before Zoe Stith’s bedtime.

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