40 in 40 Day #7

Day #7  Dafna Michaelson was 14 years old when she made the decision to not complain unless she was willing to take the action to change what she complained about. I would call that, "Shut up or put up."
It was no accident when Ms. Michaelson focused her career in the area of non-profits. She began to change her world and luckily our world. Her life may have continued along this path except for a chance question we are all asked, "What would you do if you won the lottery?" How many times have you been asked that question or asked the question of yourself? Boats, travel, college funds and more are the typical answers. Dafna Michaelson is not typical, nor was her answer. She told her boyfriend (now fiance) that she would go from state to state, interview the mayors of small towns and big cities and find out what positive action was being taking to improve the world.
This spontaneous answer opened the dream. What if this divorced mother did actually travel to all 50 states collect stories of renewal, growth, and then somehow publish these stories. Dafna also realized she wanted to meet the people who were solving problems, not talk to politicians and policy makers. "The 50 in 52 Journey" was launched. This young mother would trek across all 50 states in 52 weeks while still caring for her child. She would bring back stories to combat the nightly news of doom and gloom. She would make her dream a reality and all would win.
When fund raising and grants brought a trickle of cash to support this magnificent dream, Dafna Michaelson cashed in a small 401K to fund her endeavor. She set out to find the America she believed still existed, an America of individuals who solve problems,  not create them. Dafna Michaelson found them, over 300 of them, and she recorded their stories for all to see and hear. You can view  these stories, read more about the vision Ms. Michaelson holds and see her most current projects at http://www.50in52journey.com/
Dafna Michaelson is a young woman with a huge vision. Her heart was ignited by the simple question, "What would you do if you won the lottery?" Her dream became a reality when the dream became a must, with or without the lottery. What is your dream?
Action Taken: Dafna Michaelson acted. She made a plan, did research. She took a dream and made a reality. She asked the question, "If not me, then who?" http://www.50in52journey.com/