All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerIn Pakistan, she sees the value in children who 鈥榓re never seen or heard鈥�Plenty of people are doing good work in Pakistan, but too often such stories don't reach Western readers. So here鈥檚 one person helping street children 鈥� something that鈥檚 needed elsewhere, too.
Difference MakerNo whispering, just horses and city kids, learning on a farm鈥淲ho knows how you get a horse to trot?鈥� Dale Perkins asks the campers.聽鈥淵ou slap the reins!鈥� yells 11-year-old Schneider.聽鈥淣o, that鈥檚 only in the movies," says Mr. Perkins. 鈥淵ou just have to ask them. Trot, Derby.鈥�
鈥楻eturnships鈥�: how the cousin of internships is about giving backFor those looking to make a midcareer change or reenter the workforce after focusing on family, a returnship can offer the chance to make more of a difference.
Difference MakerStealth vegetarian restaurant wants to woo diners on taste aloneIt鈥檚 a belief in change through the taste buds: Can one locavore business grow the ranks of non-meat eaters, plus focus on building real relationships with buyers and sellers?聽
Difference MakerHow this man helps ordinary people feel a book is written just for themCarsten Sommerfeldt was dismayed at a disconnect between authors and the public. So he became a proponent of Shared Reading 鈥� an alternative to book tours and book clubs.
In a distressed part of Ohio, one way people are finding work 鈥� and purposeThe opioid crisis has been a stark challenge for many US communities. In Youngstown, the nonprofit Flying High is taking a notable approach that addresses a number of issues, including the need for job training.
For teen mothers facing homelessness, mentors can make a differenceYoung mothers tend to have many challenges, but they can still make a positive contribution in their communities. Mentors can help bring the teens closer to their goals.
Difference MakerBook lover turned literacy advocate looks to change lives 鈥榦ne word at a time鈥�Coping mechanisms can hide adult illiteracy 鈥� a problem linked to higher poverty and health-care costs. But even after cuts in government funding, one literacy nonprofit in Arkansas, led by Sara Drew, has grown.
Difference MakerA champion of foster children in need of permanent familiesThose aging out of the foster care system can face myriad challenges. Ken Mullner has been a key figure in efforts to make sure that every child鈥檚 yearning for a loving, supportive family is fulfilled.
Can surfing lift all boats in one impoverished Salvadoran community?El Salvador has been gaining a bigger and bigger reputation for violence. But in one part of the country, Marcelo Castellanos has been central to an innovative effort to counter the challenges.
How to be a philanthropist while you鈥檙e on the jobA majority of employees say they want to work for an organization that encourages giving and volunteering. Here are five philanthropic options offered by corporate America.
Difference MakerIn a rough part of the US capital, an endeavor to unlock children鈥檚 potentialWashington can be a contrast between a center of power and needy neighborhoods. Robin Berkley is leading one group鈥檚 efforts to level the playing field for young people in one of these communities.
Difference MakerThe man behind many enhancements enjoyed by visitors at Golden Gate parklandsNational parks wouldn鈥檛 be the same without the help of partner organizations. One of the most exemplary such groups is in the San Francisco Bay Area, led by Greg Moore.
In Honduras, troubled youth trade gangs for sportsMany people's lives in Honduras changed for the better in 2011 through the founding of Skate Brothers, a nonprofit skating club that aims to help young people get out of gangs by providing a safe environment for them to practice skateboarding and other sports.聽
Difference MakerOne woman鈥檚 plan to reform a bail system that disadvantages poor defendantsToo frequently, bail doesn't work the way it was intended. Robin Steinberg has launched an initiative that is drawing attention to this often-overlooked issue, with a plan to bail out 160,000 people in the US.
Difference MakerWhy ancient farming practices have resurged in a storied part of Mexico CityLucio Usobiaga is the main person behind the resurgence. His efforts show how an area that has evolved from its beginnings can make a return 鈥� and do so in an innovative way that benefits a range of people.
In Italy, how one cooperative is trying to counter the Mafia鈥檚 influenceThe organization Beyond the Dreams provides a glimpse into Italy鈥檚 challenges, which on one hand are distinctive and yet resonate far beyond its borders.
In Morocco, women find a recipe for success and gainful employmentNora Belahcen Fitzgerald founded the Amal for the Culinary Arts association in Marrakesh, Morocco, to train women in professional skills to enter the restaurant industry. The program has been so successful it has trouble keeping up with demands for its trainees.
He dreamed of teaching children with a background like his ownBaltazar Villalba found it's not too late to pursue your passion and that bringing your own experiences to the table can make your work more effective.
Difference MakerHow one woman in East Boston shares climate know-how with coastal neighborsChallenges associated with the environment can often seem bigger than one person can handle. But Magdalena Ayed is showing how each person 鈥� schoolchildren included 鈥� can have a role in addressing issues.
