Prior to joining StartingBloc, Adriana was the Senior Director of Operations for Vision Education & Media and a founding member of the Board of Directors for Vision Ed Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to providing low income students with academic enrichment programs in science, technology, engineering and math. Adriana was responsible for strategic operations and planning and led a restructuring initiative that allowed Vision to increase its capacity by over thirty percent in two years. Additionally, Adriana was responsible for the creation of Ohmwork, a social network for science students that was funded by the MacArthur Foundation, and GreenFab, one of the first after school programs to focus on sustainable technology and engineering. Under her direction, Vision has become one on the most recognizable names in the field of educational technology and has launched collaborations with Sustainable South Bronx, and NYU's Interactive Telecommunication Program. Prior to her work at Vision, Adriana ran program development for the Women Presidents' Organization, a second stage capital organization for women entrepreneurs, and was the Director of Development for Women Alive, a Los Angeles based HIV/AIDS organization providing treatment advocacy and education to minority women. Adriana holds a bachelors' degree in English and Communications from the University of Pennsylvania, and she is a Boston 2007 StartingBloc alumna.

Taryn knew when she walked into the first day of StartingBloc's London 2007 Institute for Social Innovation she had found her village. Taryn's role as CCO focuses on building relationships that breed blended value creation. Specifically Taryn leads strategic program and partnership development at StartingBloc. Taryn graduated from Tufts University, geeking out in inter-disciplinary education through the American Studies and Entrepreneurial Leadership Studies programs. While at Tufts, Taryn felt the pulse of a variety of organizations and businesses through the Tisch College of Citizenship and Public Service Scholars Program. One of her first tribes, Taryn was inspired by the power of bringing together diverse individuals who have a shared passion and vision for a better world. Taryn's background in community development and program management is from time spent in exotic locales including Somerville (MA), Rome, Buenos Aires and Connecticut. Prior to StartingBloc, Taryn worked in the Human Rights department at Reebok International, where she experienced multi-national CSR program expansion firsthand during Reebok's acquisition by The adidas Group. Beyond the workplace, Taryn served as an assistant basketball coach at her alma mater during the 2007-2008 season, when the mighty Jumbos made the Elite Eight. All said and done, most of Taryn's business acumen comes from conversations at her childhood dinner table regarding Miller Foods, her family's second generation turkey farm turned food distribution business (check them out!).

Following the belief in the power of the private sector to create social value, Sarah Bishop is devoted to generating positive social impact. She presently coordinates StartingBloc’s flagship program, the Institute for Social Innovation. Sarah works on recruitment, curriculum design, and programming so that Fellows can get the tools, skills, and resources they need to live social innovation. She is looking forward to facilitating many happy connections during and after the 2010 Institutes. Prior to joining StartingBloc, Sarah spent two years coordinating countrywide education programs in El Salvador, Jordan, and Peru. She graduated with a B.A. in International Marketing from American University, where she founded and managed the Gymnastics team. She can do a cartwheel with her eyes closed and cooks up a mean veggie chili. Oh, and Sarah is a proud London 2008 StartingBloc Fellow!