Authors
After graduating from St. Lawrence University in 2020 and returning home to Vermont, Ellen found that helping make the world a better place with the GE team was just where she wanted to be. You can usually find her watching television while getting crafty, on the ice as a figure skating coach for 10-14 year old's, or in her inflatable kayak named Heidi. She's quite the film nerd and quite the cook, and likes it best when those two things - movies and food - coincide.
Ellen Allerton
Former Chief Operating Officer
Ellen Allerton, our former Director of Operations and Head Writer & Editor at Goodness Exchange, is the engine that keeps our team humming harmoniously. She's the ultimate organizational aficionado, known for both her meticulous attention to detail and an uncanny knack for understanding societal currents, guiding us seamlessly towards intersections where our positive message has impact.
Surrounded by creative minds, she is renowned for both her astonishing attention to detail and her remarkable sense of social sensitivity: a wonderful instinct that keeps us aligned, seamlessly, with the ever-evolving, positive parts of the Zeitgeist.
Ellen's innate ability to translate creative ideas into actionable plans remains the cornerstone of our organizational model at the Goodness Exchange. Surrounded by the inspired impulses, competing ideas, and priorities of the two innovative founders of the Goodness Exchange, Ellen's role and impact stands as a testament to her cool head, innovative mindset and collaborative spirit.
For the past 5 years, Ellen has been the wizard behind the scenes, ensuring every aspect of our work shines.
As the driving force behind the quality of everything we have created, Ellen has demonstrated her prowess as THE detail person that every organization needs. She is the epitome of a "finisher," always surpassing expectations by going the extra mile. With that as a kind of "superpower," she consistently elevates the platform's reach and impact.
Despite the fact that we are prone to embracing a constant stream of innovations, Ellen's meticulous organizational abilities always ensure that operational processes run with clockwork precision. And as a leader, what truly distinguishes Ellen is her graceful and diplomatic demeanor, allowing her to hold individuals accountable while providing unwavering support, making them feel valued and indispensable.
And if that wasn't enough, Ellen also gets to exercise her own creative skills at the Goodness Exchange. She has spent years as a prolific writer on our team, using her social sensitivity and beautiful curiosity to craft articles that inspire and move others to action. In fact, she penned 2 of our top 5 highest performing articles of all time.
After her upbringing in small town Vermont, Ellen's high personal standards were honed in her college years at the renowned St. Lawrence University where she graduated with a dual degree in Performance & Communication Arts and Government. Living and studying abroad in Dunedin, New Zealand during that time broadened her global perspective and enrobed her with a global sensitivity that is much needed in today's world.
Today, she has filled her life with figure skating, softball, exploring in her inflatable kayak, and cherished moments with friends in Boston. A film aficionado and passionate cook, she revels when the two intersect.
Ellen isn't just a vital part of our team; she's the linchpin that makes us resilient, spirited, and fun-loving. Her commitment to excellence and passion for what's good in the world make her a vital change-maker when it comes to our effort to change the negative dialogue about our times.
Author's Articles
5 min read
The Most Detailed Look at Space We’ve Ever Seen Begins to Answer Humankind’s Biggest Questions
On Christmas Day 2021, NASA launched a piece of technology into orbit that has gotten us closer than ever before to some of humanity’s deepest questions. This machine is giving us the best look we’ve ever had at the very origins of our universe. Here's a look at the first four images from the James Webb Space Telescope.
Beyond Borders, What Connects Us? This Hand-Drawn Map of North America Shows Us
Maps are just maps… right? Just pictures of the world that show oceans and land; countries and states. That’s what you’d think, but as it turns out, maps can show us a whole lot more than that. What if a map didn’t just show us borders and countries, but things that made our homes, our states, the places we love so unique and special?
How Rice Paddy Murals Saved this Japanese Village
Each year the town of Inakadate, Japan is flooded with tourists who come to see something incredibly special: their annual murals. What’s so special about these murals? They aren’t sketched or painted on a wall, they are planted in epic proportions in the town’s rice paddies. And these massive starchy masterpieces aren’t just breathtaking... over the past three decades they have revived a once struggling town!
5 min read
The World’s First Germ Resistant Material, Inspired by… Sharks?
Taking inspiration from sharks, we now have a technology that can help prevent the spread of Staph infections, E Coli, MRSA, and other superbugs that we don’t even have antibiotics for yet! Engineers have discovered that shark skin has a unique pattern that can be duplicated and applied to everything from door handles to medical equipment to prevent the spread of deadly diseases.
These Heroic Rats Save Lives by Detecting Land Mines and Tuberculosis
Step aside Remy from Ratatouille and Templeton from Charlotte’s Web! These rescuer rats trained by nonprofit APOPO might not be nearly as famous, but their work sniffing out land mines and tuberculosis is saving many, many more lives.
Today is Enough and You are Enough. Use Your Special Things!
Do you have anything in your home that you're waiting for the perfect moment to use? A bottle of wine, dress, or candle, perhaps? Gillian Dunn has a special trick for how we can stop letting our candles melt in the closet, and instead decide that any moment can be special.
What is Slacklining? These Fearless Women Defy Gravity and Stereotypes
Have you heard of slacklining? This daredevil sport has historically been very male dominated, but things are starting to change. Walking almost on air, four fearless women have become pioneers of the open space, finding mental calm while harnessing their physical strength. By being open and vulnerable high in the air, they display brave feats that we all might just be able to learn from.
Giving Un-Adoptable Dogs New Life as Wildlife Crime-Stoppers
With an incredible sense of smell, natural instincts for hunting, and a trainable nature, man’s best friend might just be nature’s best friend, too. The Pooches of Working Dogs for Conservation are finding their niche in this world as anti-poaching agents, catching poachers, saving animals, and proving that when we lean into our talents, anything is paw-sible.
Mushrooms Could Start Replacing Leather, Bacon, and Styrofoam in the Next 5 Years
Have you ever tasted bacon made of fungi? Received a package cushioned by mushrooms? My guess is not yet… but probably soon! New York-based company Ecovative has created an alternative to plastic, which can save water, time, money, and the planet, too!
Removing 90% of the Ocean’s Plastic in the Next 20 Years is Possible
Just a few months ago in October of 2021, The Ocean Cleanup Project reached a revolutionary milestone with their newest System 002 model: proof of technology. With this massive achievement, the nonprofit is projected to clean 90% of the ocean’s plastic waste in the next 20 years.
Healing PTSD Through Hiking: The First Black Man to Achieve the Triple Crown
After hard times, we all need to find ways to heal. For this veteran, that was hiking. And in his love for the sport, he became the first Black man to achieve the Triple Crown of Hiking, a more than 8,000 mile feat. Now, his mission has grown from healing himself to inspiring others.
What’s Next When You’ve Already Peaked: Surfing with Mountaineer Jimmy Chin
World class mountaineer Jimmy Chin’s usual comfort zone is tens of thousands of feet in the air. He’s conquered mountains, but what remains on his bucket list is to conquer the waves. Today, he’s coming down to sea level to try the big surf and revealing the absolute joy of learning something new.
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