All People Making a Difference
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.
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.