Now that our country has elected our new administration, everyone is waiting for change. What we can't forget is that Change comes from within. Change comes from learning, advocating and participating in efforts to do good in this world. Unfortunately for many of us, the difficulty of finding the right vehicle to make change stops us from acting. Don't let this stop you! Enter this fantastic opportunity: The StartingBloc Institute for Social Innovation. (For full disclosure, I was a StartingBloc fellow two years ago, and it completely changed my life. I'm posting because I believe that it can change yours too)

What: StartingBloc is a fellowship programs that trains young leaders. While StartingBloc isn't specifically focused on green issues, sustainability is a core part of social change in the world. During the program, fellows are trained in key issues such as the triple bottom line, corporate social responsibility, social entrepreneurship, cross sector partnerships and sustainability from leaders in each field. Speakers in the past few years have included Tom Szaky from Terracycle, Jeffrey Hollender, founder of Seventh Generation, and CSRwire's president Joe Sibilia.

The program is just the beginning: after graduating, fellows have access to continuing education and networking opportunities, including seminars and workshops about the fundamentals of business, social investing, accounting, finance, capital markets, and law, as well as opportunities to meet with the founders of socially responsible business ventures. Fellows through the program also get assistance with MBA admissions in many of the top business schools including MIT Sloan, Yale SOM, and others. Many of these b-schools actually hold spots for fellows!

Who: StartingBloc is currently "Recruiting the next generation of leaders who will be making sustainable, positive, cross-sector collaborations around the world in the years to come." While there is no specific age limit, most fellows are undergraduates, and young professionals (anyone who has graduated college within the past five years), and a smaller percentage of folks are graduate students and older.

The time is now to act: Applications for the next Institutes run from September 15th to December 1st, 2008. While the cost of the program is not free ($350 for undergraduates and $450 for young professionals in New York and Boston, and $1200 for the Global Institute in London), financial aid is available to those who qualify. (And the cost is well worth what you get out of the program).

Why: StartingBloc fellows have the opportunity to meet and learn from some of the most creative thinkers involved in changing the world. There are several great green companies that StartinBloc partners with including: for profit companies, Zipcar, Domini Social Investments, KLD analytics, Universities, Social Sector partners including Ashoka, etc. These are big players!

For those who are not eligible to be a fellow, consider becoming a partner. StartingBloc fellows are typically smart, proactive and accomplished, and would make a great addition to your organization or business.

Apply Now. Send this to your friends. The change starts here.