Zac Whyte | Community Builder & Media Maker

“The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others.” Gandhi

I’m a portfolio career artist, community builder and media maker

That’s how I’d describe myself. I’m committed to helping people achieve their authentic potential because understanding yourself leads to being of service to others. When I’m not spending time with my family, I run a creative multi-media production and education company. Over my 15 year career working for almost all of the major Canadian television networks, some radio stations, production houses and running my own company, the media industry has exposed me to some incredible people and opportunities. Becoming an entrepreneur has expanded those opportunities and given me the freedom to design a dynamic lifestyle that balances family and friends, academics, my professional career as a global studies and media educator, speaker, digital artist, business consultant and photographer, all the while striving to live a life that is on purpose and in service to my global community.

Anything can be changed in a day

I enjoy big picture leadership roles that create positive opportunities and connections for people in my global community. In my life there are blurry lines between work, family and play. I live a lifestyle of engagement and my free time often looks exactly like my work time – learning, doing, and teaching. I am always working on little arts, culture, environment or human rights projects of various types but there are a few that anchor my thoughts daily.  Projects like ChildSoldier.ca, OccupationHuman.org, and the project that got me really hooked on community service, Connecting With Kenya, a community building project that inspired 5000 people and 13 schools on Vancouver Island to engage, learn, paint, draw, dance, sing, scream, hug and fund raise $47,000 in six months to benefit Free The Children sponsored villages Pimbiniet and Motony in Kenya. The success of this project gave over 600 children in Kenya a new school, health care, water systems, a library and entrepreneurial skills to solidify their ideas for the future. For me, the biggest personal success of this project was experiencing thousands of powerful moments working with the children, youth and adults in my local community. This project wasn’t about money – it was about service. It raised twice the money I had hoped for. The youth that led the project are now young adults in Universities across the country inspiring their own network, creating their own projects, delivering massive change to the world every single day. That is the Juice that feeds me because anything can be changed in a day.

Establishing Unique Credibility

In spring 2011 I graduated with distinction from Vancouver Island University with a Liberal Studies Degree to complement my honours diploma from BCIT in Television Broadcast & Media Communications, and the student loan papers that funded my budding rock career during my 1.5 years in BCIT’s Civil & Structural Technology (face melting solos, calculus, ramen noodles and beer in combination do not produce sustainably good results).

Connect with me directly through Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and email. Share your ideas and thoughts about the blogs on this site. Tell me how we can work together and what you are doing to make the world a better place. Peace.

“Zac is an inspirational leader and a truly active global citizen. Through his work locally and internationally, Zac has created meaningful change in communities and leads by example, showing that one person can make a difference. His remarkable stories of insight and courage span from social engagement to social entrepreneurism, and offer tangible solutions to complex issues. It’s an honour to know and work alongside Zac – a shameless idealist, and an individual committed to civic contribution.”

Craig Kielburger CM, MSM, OMC, Co-Founder, Free The Children

 

 

“I really admire Zac and his ability to change the world. The support that he’s been able to provide through Free The Children to the communities of Pimbiniet and Motony, Kenya has been very significant and has created an opportunity for many children to break the cycle of poverty.”

Marc Kielburger CM, OMC, Co-Founder, Free The Children

 

 

“I’ve known Zac for awhile now. Not only is he the coolest and most loving father, but he is an incredible man who deeply cares for issues that affect the world today. Having witnessed war personally, the fight to end the use of child soldiers is an issue that I advocate for everyday. I can’t think of any person in the world who can bring this issue to the forefront of our society better than Zac. He truly does embody passion and the belief he can change the world. I’m truly honoured to call him a friend and I can’t wait to see where Zac will take his work now. I’m here to support you and I’ve got your back good friend!”

Michel Chikwanine – Motivational Speaker – Former Child Soldier – metowe.com

 

 

“Zac is what I would call a potpourri of randomness. He has all these little parts to him that somehow line up perfectly to be the, I don’t know what you’d call it, a ‘super activist.’ He has the passion, the drive, and the enthusiasm, which you need, and you can tell as soon as you meet the guy, and he has the stuff to back it up. He has the University education and can write a very in depth report that would hit home with any politician and would hit home with any fourteen year old kid. He’s got the videography background, the photography background, so he can string together amazing documentaries in a day. So not only does he have the education to get his point across, he understands local politics, he understands world politics, his knowledge is obviously drastic, but he has the little things to back it up to make it tangible. He’s not just out there on a rant and saying this is what we need to do differently, he’s out there doing that stuff differently and getting involved at all levels.”

Taylor Conroy – DestroyNormal.com

 

 

“With almost 30 conflicts still raging in the world today it is often difficult for individuals to take a stand and act to make a difference in the lives of our peers. The facts can overwhelm individuals and often paralyze them from taking any standpoint. That is when individuals such as Zac Whyte become so integral in society. Zac is educated in the facts and understands that it just takes a few small actions to create large reactions. He is not afraid to stand up and tell people about his passion and beliefs and that in turn inspires others to do the same, before we know it a chain reaction has been set off that can make a global impact. War Child relies on individuals such as Zac to spread the word about the issues our organization deals with on a daily basis and inspire individuals to get involved.”

Emma Cosgrove – War Child Canada