All People Making a Difference
For these homebound seniors, poems offer food for the soulPoems on Wheels delivers poems along with meal trays to thousands of older New Yorkers, offering nourishment for body and soul.聽
A T-shirt shop grows in Brooklyn 鈥� and brings hope to young livesCalled Reconnect Brooklyn, this group helps young men who lack ties to either school or jobs. Learning to make T-shirts is a meaningful step up.
Difference MakerJournalist wants Russians 鈥榯o believe in possibility of change鈥�Investigative journalist Ivan Golunov became a rallying point for Russians opposed to police corruption when he was arrested in June 2019.
This man brings hope to Arab youth, one Wikipedia page at a timeIn the Middle East, where access to Arabic-language content is limited, translations of web content offer ideas and empowerment.聽
Difference MakerFashion 鈥� not disability 鈥� defines this young entrepreneur鈥檚 futureTie designer Will Howell joins other Americans with disabilities finding independence through self-employment.
鈥楧efense ninja鈥�: One Muslim woman鈥檚 journey to empowermentFeeling powerless in the face of harassment, Fauzia Lala vowed to study self-defense. Now she helps others do the same in her school, Defense Ninjas.聽
Difference MakerFrom logger to tree-hugger: One man鈥檚 fight for the AmazonAfter going through his own transformation from logging company owner to conservation advocate, Mark Baker aims to pay it forward with聽nature tours.
She survived an atomic bomb. Now she campaigns against them.Setsuko Thurlow survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. Now, she devotes her life to advocating for nuclear disarmament.聽
鈥楾he backbone of this economy鈥�: Fighting for housekeepers' rights in South AfricaSouth Africa鈥檚 domestic workers are as exploitable as they are invisible. Activist Pinky Mashiane is on a mission to help secure their rights.
Difference MakerSight unseen: This teacher brings science to life for blind studentsCarla Curran is working to ensure that visually impaired people have an opportunity to make contributions in science.
Difference MakerHow do you feed an island? Try World Central Kitchen.Two months after Hurricane Dorian, meals are still a challenge in the Bahamas. World Central Kitchen is cooking, and trying to rebuild resilience.
Difference MakerIn one of Mexico鈥檚 most dangerous places for women, his students push backEcatepec, Mexico, is a hot spot for violence against women. Manuel Amador is helping students push back against the idea that鈥檚 the way it has to be.
Difference MakerRich in spirit: How Rev. Robin Hood fights for housing justiceMeet Robin Hood, Chicago鈥檚 activist minister helping shield African American seniors from mortgage fraud.
Difference MakerThe soft power of mothers: Fighting extremism begins at homeA program that has taught mothers in 16 countries was created by Edit Schlaffer to help women whose children are being recruited by extremists.
Difference Maker鈥楢 place of refuge鈥�: Bird-watching takes flight on Chicago鈥檚 South SideWhen she created the first 鈥淎frobirding鈥� group 15 years ago, Sherry Williams helped broaden and diversify a pastime known for its narrow demographics.
Difference MakerUganda鈥檚 forests are disappearing. He鈥檚 fighting back.Environmental activist William Amanzuru鈥檚 network, Friends of Zoka, is determined to push back against illegal logging and deforestation in Uganda.
Cover StoryMelinda Gates: What she鈥檚 learnedHow her approach to philanthropy, and her own life, has changed after $50 billion of giving.聽
Difference MakerThese dogs get second chances. Just like their inmate caretakers.Pennsylvania nonprofit pairs dogs with inmates. The goal is to help participants land a full-time job within 90 days of their release.
Difference MakerBlack history in plain sight: One woman鈥檚 quest to topple stereotypesA New Hampshire civil rights advocate resurfaces hidden stories of African Americans. Her work helps dispel the myth that slavery didn't exist in the North.
Difference MakerThe woman who鈥檚 appeared for 700-plus exams 鈥� to help disabled studentsPushpa Nagaraj has volunteered as a scribe for hundreds of students with visual impairments in India, helping them navigate an exam-based system.