All People Making a Difference
Gangstas to Growers uses hot sauce to keep young people out of hot waterThe recipe 鈥揷ombining food justice and social justice 鈥� is being tested in many US cities. But Atlanta has thrown its backing behind one effort to use African-American culture to help former young felons find a new path.
Difference MakerIn the Quaker tradition, this man helps volunteers connect with prisonersWhen prisoners have visitors, they may be better prepared to reenter society. Steve Gotzler leads the聽nonprofit Prisoner Visitation and Support聽in its mission to reach out to prisoners with respect.
Difference MakerOne man's mission to revitalize small-town AmericaDavid Leckey runs the聽Orton Family Foundation, which helps communities find solutions to problems like slowing growth and infrastructure breakdown. The guiding principle of his vision: Community-building.
In Uganda, art teaches people how to treat animals respectfullyArt for Animals uses paintbrushes and theater to try to change attitudes about dogs and cats. Animals shouldn't be feared, the organization says, so 鈥渨hy deny our comrades a right to love and care?鈥�
Difference MakerHow a gardener makes sure everyone can have fresh foodAshley Patterson wants to make farm-fresh produce a staple in her community's diet. To her, gardening is not only a source of healthy vegetables, it's a place that fosters community and togetherness.
Difference MakerThis artist鈥檚 vision prioritizes community and healingInternationally acclaimed artist Paul Goodnight uses his paintbrush to help communities see their issues in a new light. Over the course of his prolific career, he's started charities, led art therapy, and created influential public works.
Difference MakerThis man makes sure the public has access to Utah's Olympic facilitiesEach year, hundreds of thousands visit Utah鈥檚 2002 Olympic venues. One person they can thank for the chance is Colin Hilton, who makes sure the sprawling athletic complex is accessible to everyone 鈥� not just professional athletes.
How a rugby union is helping young women get jobs and gain self-confidenceIn Pakistan, women are defying gender norms and traditional economic pathways to become professional rugby players 鈥� allowing them to gain confidence and even sometimes earn more than anyone else in their family.
Difference MakerWant to get rid of classroom bullies? Just add babies.Mary Gordon believes that kids can learn to appreciate both vulnerability and strength 鈥� and embody those qualities in the classroom 鈥� as they watch a baby learn and develop over the course of a year.
Difference MakerOne Rwandan's surprising idea to protect wildlife: Recruit poachersAfter the genocide in Rwanda, survivors turned to poaching for survival. Ange Imanishimwe made it his life鈥檚 work to show poachers their livelihood lies in preserving, not destroying, the forest.聽
Difference MakerHow one woman鈥檚 citizen diplomacy has strengthened US-Russia ties for decadesSharon Tennison has been credited with helping to break the cold-war ice. And her mission isn鈥檛 over: She thinks the official rhetoric on both sides today is harsher than it was at the depths of the cold war.
How to give with quality: five points to considerThese days, many people looking to make a donation want to be sure it will truly make a difference. So in this piece, a philanthropy expert shares her insights.
This bighearted Flint resident helps many feel blessed at ThanksgivingWhen Chia Morgan saw a need in her Michigan community, she rose to the occasion. Her annual Thanksgiving dinner highlights what鈥檚 possible when one person takes action.
A chance for women in prison to express themselvesThe Haku Mo鈥檕lelo program teaches women in prison how to write and illustrate children鈥檚 stories, which helps them see meaning and purpose in their lives. The program can also draw parents and children closer.
Life skills with a side of kale: Helping homeless youth one salad at a timeFor homeless youth, employment is critical to independence 鈥� but the barriers are incredibly high. Restaurant chain Tender Greens offers opportunities for at-risk youth 鈥� and a model for other eateries.聽
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.