Synopses & Reviews
andlt;Bandgt;The powerful, personal story of Jim Ziolkowski, the man behind the organization buildOn--which turns inner city teens into community leaders at home and abroad--and his inspiring mission to change the world one community at a time.andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;pandgt;Jim Ziolkowski gave up his career in corporate finance to create buildOn, a service-oriented program that goes into high-risk areas around the world to work with students in their communities. Under Jimand#8217;s leadership, buildOn volunteers have contributed more than 850,000 hours of community service, and the organization has constructed more than 430 schools worldwide, from the South Bronx, to Detroit, Chicago, and Oakland, to Haiti, Senegal, Nicaragua, and Nepal.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;andlt;Iandgt;Walk in Their Shoesandlt;/Iandgt; is packed with the ingredients of a powerful bestseller as it traces Jimand#8217;s story from his transformation from a thrill-seeking twenty-something backpacker, to a Harlem-based idealist trying to launch a not-for-profit organization, and finally to the head of buildOn.andlt;BRandgt;andlt;BRandgt;Ziolkowski compellingly chronicles his exciting story of worldwide travel and adventure, creating a moving portrait of the power of faith, teamwork, and the boundless potential of the human spirit. Blessed with relentless optimism and an unshakable faith, both of which have fortified his commitment to the poor and the underprivileged, Jim Ziolkowskiand#8217;s inspirational memoir reveals that helping and empathizing with others can helpand#8212;and healand#8212;ourselves.andlt;Bandgt;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp;andnbsp; andlt;/Bandgt;
Review
and#8220;The answer is yes. Yes, one person can change the world. This book will challenge you and inspire you and push you to understand that you can (and should) make a difference.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Ziolkowski balances sobering facts with an approachable writing style. His unflinching determination drove him to establish over 500 schools . . . He believed that one person could indeed change the world, and his story may inspire others to do the same.and#8221;
Review
“The answer is yes. Yes, one person can change the world. This book will challenge you and inspire you and push you to understand that you can (and should) make a difference.” Seth Godin
Review
and#8220;Jim Ziolkowskiand#8217;s rare commitment to children living in poverty in the US and abroad is an inspiration to me. andlt;iandgt;Walk in Their Shoesandlt;/iandgt; tells his moving and unique story with heart, humility and even a touch of humor. Perhaps more importantly, Jimand#8217;s tenacity in the face of many hardships and doubts offers an illuminating example of the human capacity to transform faith into action.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;andlt;i andgt;Walk in Their Shoesandlt;/iandgt; is an inspiring tribute to the power of compassion and education: the keys to leading a meaningful life.and#8221;
Review
and#8220;Ziolkowskiand#8217;s life and work give testimony that service is the hallway that leads to the ballroom of kinship and exquisite mutuality. This is a heartfelt and brave account of gulfs being bridged, distances erased, and offers the hope that the illusion that we are separate can be obliterated. Both buildOn and its founder have helped us inch closer to dismantling the barriers that exclude.and#8221;
Synopsis
The powerful, personal story of Jim Ziolkowski, the man behind the organization buildOn—which turns inner city teens into community leaders at home and abroad—and his inspiring mission to change the world one community at a time.Jim Ziolkowski gave up his career in corporate finance to create buildOn, a service-oriented program that goes into high-risk areas around the world to work with students in their communities. Under Jims leadership, buildOn volunteers have contributed more than 850,000 hours of community service, and the organization has constructed more than 430 schools worldwide, from the South Bronx, to Detroit, Chicago, and Oakland, to Haiti, Senegal, Nicaragua, and Nepal.
Walk in Their Shoes is packed with the ingredients of a powerful bestseller as it traces Jims story from his transformation from a thrill-seeking twenty-something backpacker, to a Harlem-based idealist trying to launch a not-for-profit organization, and finally to the head of buildOn.
Ziolkowski compellingly chronicles his exciting story of worldwide travel and adventure, creating a moving portrait of the power of faith, teamwork, and the boundless potential of the human spirit. Blessed with relentless optimism and an unshakable faith, both of which have fortified his commitment to the poor and the underprivileged, Jim Ziolkowskis inspirational memoir reveals that helping and empathizing with others can help—and heal—ourselves.
Synopsis
andlt;B andgt;THE STORY OF REAL CHANGE CAN START WITH JUST ONE PERSON andlt;/Bandgt;andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Twenty-one years ago, Jim Ziolkowski gave up a fast-track career in corporate finance to dedicate his life to buildOn, an organization that turns inner-city teens into community leaders at home and abroad. He set out to show not that andlt;I andgt;heandlt;/Iandgt; could change the world, but how andlt;I andgt;each one of usandlt;/Iandgt; can, through the power of service to others.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;Today, buildOn students have contributed more than 1.2 million hours of service, from Detroit and the South Bronx to Haiti, Mali, and Nepal, while building more than five hundred fifty schools worldwide. Together, they are breaking the cycle of poverty, illiteracy, and low expectations in their own lives and transforming their communities.andlt;BRandgt; andlt;BRandgt;An international chronicle of faith and the boundless potential of the human spirit, andlt;I andgt;Walk in Their Shoesandlt;/Iandgt; tells the story of Jimand#8217;s movement and the thousands of young people who have decided to step forward, step up, and make a difference.
About the Author
Jim Ziolkowski started the nonprofit organization buildOn to break the cycle of poverty and illiteracy in nations throughout the world. He lives in Stamford, Connecticut. James S. Hirsch is a bestselling author who has written on race, sports, and the human drama behind topics ranging from the military to medicine. He lives in the Boston area.