All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerHow a volunteer came to lead 鈥� and transform 鈥� a group 鈥榞leaning鈥� fresh foodAs the executive director of Boston Area Gleaners, Laurie 鈥楧uck鈥� Caldwell is helping collect surplus crops so those in need can benefit from fruits and vegetables.
At London flower show, one garden aims to raise awareness about modern slaveryThe garden presents human trafficking in a creative, nonconfrontational way to an audience that may not be aware of slavery's existence in Britain, says Juliet Sargeant, the garden's designer.
To help homeless, students make the 'Backet' 鈥� a backpack and jacket in oneHaroon Pasha came up with the idea by drawing on his experience during the hajj. The team of students developing the product has been named a regional champion by Enactus, a social entrepreneurship organization.
How Twitter helped eighth-graders at a Vermont school learn scienceA recent experiment explored whether Twitter could be an effective way to extend classroom learning and link students to 'real world' science. The results were promising.
How tech companies are pitching in to support crisis responseThis will be a key theme at the World Humanitarian Summit in Turkey next week, where a Global Alliance for Humanitarian Innovation will be launched.
Difference MakerFor families dealing with loss, she offers a place in Baltimore to healAnnette March-Grier, a cofounder of the nonprofit Roberta鈥檚 House, is committed to helping people through some of their darkest chapters.
Musicians raise their voices in song to help children in GazaProceeds from the album 鈥�2 Unite All鈥� will support humanitarian relief for Palestinians. The album, featuring the likes of聽Roger Waters and Peter Gabriel, has themes of unity, forgiveness, and starting over.
With 'Sparkle' cheer teams, students with disabilities feel like they belongSparkle squads combine typically developing students and students with disabilities. The idea came from a 15-year-old who saw the systemic exclusion of disabled students from her high school's activities.
What鈥檚 a carbon farmer? How ranchers are using dirt to tackle climate change.Scientists believe that relatively simple land management techniques can increase the rate at which carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in soils.
An original CARE package recipient sends love to Syrian refugeesAs a 7-year-old in postwar Germany, Renata Senter was moved by a CARE package sent by Americans. Now she can relate to what Syrian children are experiencing.
Difference MakerHelp for female immigrants fleeing violence is this lawyer鈥檚 callingAnne Chandler has marshaled a team in Houston to take on complex and protracted cases 鈥� many of which were rejected by other lawyers who deemed them 鈥榰nwinnable.鈥�
A former dropout reinvents the job searchAli Mahlodji launched the Whatchado Web service, which has more than 1 million users across several European countries. It matches users who have similar characteristics and also features video profiles.
Yes, New York City has sea turtles and seals, and here's who's rescuing themThe Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation picks up stranded seals, dolphins, and sea turtles from New York State鈥檚 2,625 miles of coastlines, beaches, bays, and estuaries.
Youth orchestra provides an oasis from San Salvador's gangsThe Don Bosco Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus aims to keep teenagers off San Salvador's streets and away from the gangs. Being part of the orchestra gives the youths a sense of identity and purpose.
Your old clothes can help Malala send girls to schoolIn the 'Pass the Bag' campaign, people can send clothes to a San Francisco-based program that sells the clothing online and gives 40 percent of the proceeds to the Malala Fund.
Difference MakerAfter fleeing Syria, a musician reunites other refugees to perform in EuropeRaed Jazbeh has created the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, which is helping to shatter stereotypical images of refugees, instead offering a portrayal of them as having much to contribute to society.
One woman鈥檚 outreach in US: 鈥楳eet a Muslim鈥� eventsSince the attack in San Bernardino, Calif., Moina Shaiq has invited people to join her in a conversation.
In Cameroon, a bid to fight flooding creates jobs, reduces plastic wasteCoeur d'Afrique is paying young people to collect plastic litter, which is clogging rivers and blocking gutters. Cameroon's capital has seen some of its worst flooding on record in the past two years.
Tired of conditions in their city, Romans adopt a 'do it yourself' approachRome's residents are filling potholes, yanking weeds, and bagging trash. In doing the work, they're experimenting with what is a novel concept for many Italians: a sense of civic duty.
As immigrants move outside big cities, more US schools create welcome programsForeign-born students now make up 6 percent of the total US public school population. Experts say schools can be a place for integration.
