Saturday, June 20, 2020

Entrepreneur, author and non-profit leader, Brad Aronson joins Janeane to talk about his inspiring book, HUMANKIND: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time


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Brad Aronson’s inspiring book, HUMANKIND: Changing the World One Small Act At a Time (LifeTree Media; April 14, 2020; Paperback) is a collection of stories of ordinary people making extraordinary impact on the lives of others.

Brad Aronson first began volunteering as a teen, and continued volunteering part-time as he built up his first tech company. Now, the former ad executive spends most of his time supporting youth nonprofits, teaching entrepreneur courses to inner-city youth, and investing in startups.


Brad Aronson shares:

Specific actions people can take to help their neighbors, coworkers, and others in their community and around the world who are affected the most by COVID-19; Many of these can be done from the comfort of their home.

Organizations to donate to and support to help those affected by COVID-19.

Why people may be hesitant to help others, how they overcome their fears, and the sometimes small actions they can take to make a difference.

His mentoring and volunteering journey, including working with Big Brothers Big Sisters, Ronald McDonald Camp, Hopeworks, running a group home, and more

How people can utilize entrepreneurial skills and apply these to side jobs and hustles.

What we’re doing right and what we should do more for our younger generation.

Ways we can share our time and resources to help others from near (mentoring and helping people celebrate) and far (donating money or writing letters).

Advice for people going through their own hardships or those with family members who have been diagnosed with cancer.

How he discovered and chose the stories to feature in HUMANKIND and the impact these stories have had on his own life.


These heartwarming, true stories of people doing good in the world are just what we need right now.


“In this very elegant and wise book, Brad shows how we can create a life of adventure and healing by making our lives stories of love in action.”

—Deepak Chopra



Brad Aronson’s life changed in an instant when his wife, Mia, was diagnosed with leukemia. Following her diagnosis, Brad spent most of the next two-and-a-half years either by her side as she received treatment, or trying to shield their five-year-old son Jack from the worst of Mia’s illness. Amid the stress and despair of waiting for the treatment to take effect, Brad and Mia were met by an outpouring of kindness from family, friends, and even complete strangers.


HumanKind is a celebration of those moments—when a small act of kindness transforms a life. In its pages, you’ll meet the mentor who changed a child’s life with a single conversation, the six-year-old who launched a global kindness movement, the band of seamstress grandmothers who mend clothes for homeless people, and more. Brad also provides dozens of ways you can make a difference through the simplest words and deeds. You’ll discover how buying someone a meal or sharing a little encouragement at the right time can transform someone’s world, as well as your own.



HumanKind will leave you grateful for what you have and provide a refuge from the negativity that surrounds us. This feel-good book is an uplifting reminder of what really matters and provides resources that will help you to create positive change in your community and in your life, one small act at a time.

BRAD ARONSON


Brad Aronson is a husband and a dad, and when he’s holding the parenting reins, he likes to go all out. For him, that means leading an egg drop competition from the third-floor window of his family’s home or coaching indoor games of baseball and hockey, and then having to explain why something else is now in pieces. Luckily, his wife Mia is understanding. Brad Aronson started i-FRONTIER after college, which grew from a small apartment he shared with his best friend into one of the largest and top rated digital ad agencies in the US. Today, he invests in startup companies and spends most of his time supporting youth nonprofits. Much of this time is spent teaching entrepreneurship in Camden, N.J., and volunteering on the nonprofit boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters and Hopeworks. 


Using his business background, Aronson teaches inner city students entrepreneurship in order to instill self-confidence, discipline, and hustle. He believes in a hands-on learning environment so each student starts their own business in class, which has led to many adventures in entrepreneurship.

One day, Brad hopes to be famous for co-founding a national holiday that features a seven-foot-tall orange tree and more than fifty stuffed monkeys (see chapter nine in HumanKind). In the meantime, he works with tech startups and writes books. You can connect with Brad through his website, or on Facebook.

During Mental Illness Awareness Week from October 6 – 12 and World Mental Health Day on October 10, NAMI is highlighting our workplace mental health. Learn about NAMI StigmaFree, download key resources, and share on your social media.

About Mental Illness Awareness Week Everyone is impacted by mental health conditions – including the friends, family, and coworkers who don’...