All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerMost Grenadians don鈥檛 know how to swim. But one woman is changing that.Deb Eastwood left behind a six-figure salary at Xerox to work with a youth organization. She now leads a campaign in Grenada to teach islanders 鈥� especially children 鈥� how to swim.
How a couple's gift to a university benefits more than just college studentsThe McVay Youth Partnership at Hamline University offers paid leadership opportunities for students, who mentor middle- and high-schoolers. The program was endowed by Pete and Mary McVay.
A onetime prison warden shares her first love with youths: the artsAlexandreena Dixon founded an organization that uses African storytelling traditions to teach long-forgotten African values and rituals. The aim is to broaden horizons for black children.
Difference MakerNever mind he鈥檚 only in his mid-20s. He鈥檚 already conducted 22,000 performers.Rasmus Puur was one of the chief conductors last month for Laulupidu, a big choral event in Estonia. His message for its young participants goes beyond music.
Difference MakerShe arrived in Senegal 43 years ago 鈥� and is still there working on social issuesMolly Melching founded the nonprofit Tostan, which operates in a number of African countries. It鈥檚 known globally for alleviating poverty, as well as for helping to reduce child marriage and female genital cutting in Senegal.
Difference MakerUsing a taro patch in Hawaii, this couple teaches the islands鈥� values to youthsDean and Michele Wilhelm mentor young people facing challenging circumstances. Taro farming provides an opportunity for the couple to weave regional culture into the lessons.
A helping hand for young mothers in povertyNew Moms in Chicago provides job training, transitional housing, and doula support. The aim is for the new mothers to become self-sufficient.
Difference MakerFrom 鈥楩ull House鈥� to Afghanistan: an American teaches street children musicLanny Cordola, a US rocker, had toured with well-known names in music, and he had appeared in a couple of episodes of the ABC comedy as a musician. But everything changed when he learned about two attacks in Afghanistan.
Difference MakerA former exec at Trader Joe鈥檚 grows another kind of grocery storeDoug Rauch opened Daily Table in a low-income area of Boston two years ago. The nonprofit grocery store has been a pioneer in its approach to food waste, food deserts, hunger, and obesity.
Out of work? How volunteering can open doors.The job search can be discouraging. Service activities offer a number of benefits to those looking for work.
Difference MakerAn outdoorsman鈥檚 outreach to youths facing troubles at homeRyan Kerrigan takes youths in Washington State rafting and rock climbing to teach life lessons 鈥� such as聽realizing one鈥檚 own worth and not giving up.
The Canadians helping refugees start anewUnder Canada鈥檚 Private Sponsorship of Refugees program, ordinary citizens can take a frontline role in aiding those who have been through immense challenges.
Difference MakerThis theater director gets at the big issues of the day 鈥� with young actorsMartina Droste鈥檚 theater project in Frankfurt features both local youths and young refugees. The wide-ranging themes they present have encouraged tens of thousands of theatergoers to think about the issues in new ways.
An ally for pets when their owners are deployedMany service members have had to surrender their beloved pets to shelters. Buzz Miller created a foster-care alternative.
Difference MakerA mother who knows from experience what families dealing with homicide needClementina Ch茅ry鈥檚 son聽was killed in the crossfire of a gang-related shootout. Soon after in Boston, she founded the Louis D. Brown Peace Institute to address the roots of violence and support grieving families, regardless of circumstance.
An alternative to junking that broken applianceAt Repair Caf茅 events, handy volunteers help their less-skilled neighbors. The events are part of a repair movement spreading around the world, at a time when the global trash pile is growing exponentially.
Difference MakerHow a forlorn playground became one of America鈥檚 most innovative public spacesToody Maher is an urban visionary who helped residents in Richmond, Calif., collectively transform a deserted spot. She believes that the most beautiful and enlightened public spaces belong in the most disadvantaged communities.
Difference MakerHe鈥檚 led a transformation among Roma villagers: crime down, productivity upL谩szl贸 Bogd谩n, the mayor of Cserdi, Hungary, has worked to instill a sense of self-worth in the villagers while also countering common prejudices about the Roma. And he鈥檚 led by example.
Difference MakerHe鈥檚 given at-risk young men the space to learn and growRichard Bienvenue founded Our House, which is now located on a farm in Maryland. There, male adolescents focus on learning trades that can become their careers, and they do it with a structure that has often been lacking for them.
Difference MakerHaving trouble getting a job as an older worker? This woman has some advice.Elizabeth White herself couldn鈥檛 find work later in her career. She鈥檚 now written a book in which she identifies issues that older workers face and suggests steps for restoring what she calls 鈥榓 richly textured life.鈥�