All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerAt the soup kitchen this man runs, guests are served restaurant-styleBeau Heyen has brought a fresh outlook on addressing hunger to the Kansas City Community Kitchen and the broader metropolitan area.
Mobile farm stands, teaching kitchens aim to improve Philly's food accessWhen parents pick up their kids from after-school programs, they can also snag $40 worth of fresh produce, meat, and poultry for $20, as well as learn how to braise those collards.
In Asia, students take part in 24-hour relay races to end modern slaveryThe initiative seeks to raise awareness about human trafficking, as well as funds. Some say the races help them better understand the conditions of modern slavery.
Rescuing hikers: how one park district is making the process easierThe Bainbridge park district in Washington State is installing rescue locators that are coded with GPS coordinates. The information can help emergency responders find injured people in less time.
Difference MakerHe鈥檚 championed cleanup of the Chesapeake Bay for four decadesWilliam Baker started as an intern at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and has been president since 1982. Recent findings indicate that bay cleanup processes are approximately halfway to their 2025 goal.
The internet of things: a way small firms can use itINEX Advisors is bringing innovative applications to businesses in Massachusetts 鈥� troubleshooting IoT in the dirt, diesel, and seawater of the real world.
Ahead of winter, volunteers arrive to repair flood-damaged homes in W.Va.Five months ago, epic rainfalls swept through West Virginia. Now, one town has put out a call to churches, faith-based organizations, and individual volunteers to help repair and winterize homes.
How innovation could preserve culture, as climate change uproots communitiesSome creative ways to rescue culture are emerging, including from heritage protection organizations that until now haven't played a big role in figuring out solutions to climate-related threats.
Difference MakerThis man will serve 2,000 free meals for ThanksgivingRodney O鈥橬eill is carrying on a 40-plus-year tradition in Olympia, Wash., that was started by his mother. He, and more than 600 volunteers, also serve meals at Christmas and Easter.
Want to make a difference? Three ways to get started.It doesn鈥檛 have to take much. Here are some 鈥榣ow cost鈥� and 鈥榣ow time commitment鈥� ideas for giving back.
How one of Gen. George Patton鈥檚 grandsons helps vets with PTSDBenjamin Patton created free filmmaking workshops that tap into the power of storytelling. Participants report a significant drop in PTSD symptoms after completing the workshop, he says.
Sportswear companies make fashion statement out of ocean trashThis month, Adidas is selling shoes made mostly of plastic collected off the coast of the Maldives, and a swimsuit line from Volcom is largely made from recycled nylon materials, including abandoned fishing nets.
Difference MakerA Denver native brings the vast outdoors to at-risk youthsJes Ward is the executive director of cityWILD, which enables students in Denver to raft, backpack, mountain-bike, and snowshoe 鈥� while they also strive to reach their full potential.
How a 鈥榗omputer guy鈥� came to be a Promise Fellow for kids who have it toughWilliam Lah got involved at a local middle school, pledging that students will have a caring adult in their life, no matter what. Among other things, he helps them envision a future at college.
Refugee restaurant dishes up African fare to win Italian heartsItaly has become the main arrival point in Europe for people fleeing persecution and poverty in Africa. The hope is the new restaurant will improve community relations, one of its founders says.
In bid to improve police-minority relations, 'Bigs in Blue' pairs cops, youthsBig Brothers Big Sisters is undertaking the program, which could change perceptions for both police and children, says the organization's president.
How one engineering program used storytelling to recruit more womenThe mechanical engineering department at the University of Texas at Austin has worked to expand other people's understanding of what engineers do.
Difference MakerA daytime refuge for homeless people: the duo behind the pioneering effortIn San Francisco, Laura Slattery and Tina Christopher open church doors to homeless people during the day. The women鈥檚 own lives have taken elaborate twists and turns.
Amid climate change, small-scale farmers find merit in traditional techniquesMany small farmers are using natural methods to improve the soil and protect against pests. 'We can feed our people,' one says.
Thanks to volunteers, Olympic track at Sarajevo makes a comebackSports enthusiasts came together to repair the bobsled and luge track, which was devastated by the Bosnian war. Even though its condition is still rough, some say it's one of the best tracks for summer training.