All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerHow can dangerous speech be neutralized? This woman has some ideas.Rachel Brown headed to Kenya ahead of sensitive elections and an atmosphere of potential hate and violence. After a positive outcome there, she worked on a guidebook for the US Holocaust Memorial Museum called 鈥楧efusing Hate.鈥�
One nonprofit鈥檚 answer to a 鈥榝ood desert鈥� in DenverThe GrowHaus 鈥� an innovative indoor farm, marketplace, and educational center 鈥� emphasizes the importance of access to healthy food, and the potential of food to transform.
In Qatar, World Cup construction workers to get 'cooling' hatsScientists at Qatar University designed the solar-powered hard hats to improve conditions for 2022 World Cup laborers. Qatar's desert heat can approach 120 degrees F.
The L.A. team helping human-trafficking survivors find justice 鈥� and jobsThe Thai Community Development Center provides victims of human trafficking, as well as the city鈥檚 broader Thai immigrant community, with tools for long-term economic self-sustainability and growth.
Rural residents pool cash to save last local gathering placesAs population continues to trickle away from rural America, neighbors are trying to save spots 鈥� groceries, restaurants, bars, and stores 鈥� where people can still get together.
Difference MakerThanks to this Afghan woman, 6,000 imams have taken gender-sensitivity trainingJamila Afghani, who has battled discrimination since childhood, uses Islam to empower women in Afghanistan. She is committed to continuing the work despite threats and other obstacles.
He called himself a 鈥榖ad kid.鈥� But as an adult, he drew on that to do good.Harry Cummins III says he found his purpose in life when he opened a boxing gym to reach kids on the streets, in gangs, from broken homes. Kids like himself.
UPS tests electric bikes for deliveries in Portland, Ore.The trial program is part of the delivery company's efforts to reduce its carbon emissions, ease urban noise levels, and improve air quality. The experiment could also help get around traffic congestion.
Difference MakerThis woman has helped more than 4,500 disabled people get jobsWhen Shanti Raghavan鈥檚 brother started losing his sight, she began to learn about ways he could adjust. She then wanted to use that knowledge to assist others.
This 13-year-old formed a charity that has helped provide 500,000-plus mealsThe Jefferson Awards Foundation, which honors volunteerism, recognized Will Lourcey this year for his work fighting hunger and poverty.
Difference MakerThe woman behind #OscarsSoWhiteThe reverberations are still being felt almost two years after April Reign created that hashtag, when Oscar nominations were announced. What will the new awards season bring?
Five ways to give when you鈥檙e short on moneyMaking a difference doesn鈥檛 have to break the bank. Here are some options that are both inexpensive and meaningful.
How forensics is boosting the battle against wildlife tradeFrom rapid genetic analysis to spectrography, high-tech tools are being used to track down and prosecute perpetrators of the illegal wildlife trade 鈥� offering hope in stopping the trafficking of endangered species.
Entrepreneur turns plastic waste into a way to save trees in KenyaIn recycling the plastic waste, Aghan Oscar produces poles for use in construction, farming, and road signage. So far he鈥檚 sold 96,000.
St. Louis Zoo's 'Snail Ladies' crucial to saving speciesSt. Louis Zoo docents Ellen Miller and Donna Mills have been taking care of Partula nodosa snails for 23 years. Last month, 630 of the snails they've cared for were put into the wild in Tahiti.
Difference MakerWhen a home catches fire, this emergency responder helps care for petsFranklin Frake works for the Red Paw Emergency Relief Team, a Philadelphia nonprofit that provides assistance to displaced pets, and their owners, during and after a disaster involving their home.
How this woman became a voice for children in foster careIn her mid-60s, Char Williams found her calling as an advocate in court 鈥� and in life 鈥� for these youths.
Two tech companies win first Stop Slavery Award after workforce scrutinyThe award aims to recognize businesses that excel in efforts to investigate human rights abuses and clean up their supply chain. The first recipients are Hewlett Packard Enterprise and NXP Semiconductors.
Website seeks to match migrants with employers in GermanyHussein Shaker, cofounder of MigrantHire, has channeled his own experience trying to find work as a migrant into helping others. So far more than 8,000 migrants have registered on the website.
Rather than discriminating against ex-cons, this food business seeks them outLancaster Food Co. searches for job applicants who need help getting back on their feet, providing them with a livable wage. So far, not one has quit.