All People Making a Difference
Difference MakerFor families dealing with loss, she offers a place in Baltimore to healAnnette March-Grier, a cofounder of the nonprofit Roberta鈥檚 House, is committed to helping people through some of their darkest chapters.
Musicians raise their voices in song to help children in GazaProceeds from the album 鈥�2 Unite All鈥� will support humanitarian relief for Palestinians. The album, featuring the likes of聽Roger Waters and Peter Gabriel, has themes of unity, forgiveness, and starting over.
With 'Sparkle' cheer teams, students with disabilities feel like they belongSparkle squads combine typically developing students and students with disabilities. The idea came from a 15-year-old who saw the systemic exclusion of disabled students from her high school's activities.
What鈥檚 a carbon farmer? How ranchers are using dirt to tackle climate change.Scientists believe that relatively simple land management techniques can increase the rate at which carbon is absorbed from the atmosphere and stored in soils.
An original CARE package recipient sends love to Syrian refugeesAs a 7-year-old in postwar Germany, Renata Senter was moved by a CARE package sent by Americans. Now she can relate to what Syrian children are experiencing.
Difference MakerHelp for female immigrants fleeing violence is this lawyer鈥檚 callingAnne Chandler has marshaled a team in Houston to take on complex and protracted cases 鈥� many of which were rejected by other lawyers who deemed them 鈥榰nwinnable.鈥�
A former dropout reinvents the job searchAli Mahlodji launched the Whatchado Web service, which has more than 1 million users across several European countries. It matches users who have similar characteristics and also features video profiles.
Yes, New York City has sea turtles and seals, and here's who's rescuing themThe Riverhead Foundation for Marine Research and Preservation picks up stranded seals, dolphins, and sea turtles from New York State鈥檚 2,625 miles of coastlines, beaches, bays, and estuaries.
Youth orchestra provides an oasis from San Salvador's gangsThe Don Bosco Youth Symphony Orchestra and Chorus aims to keep teenagers off San Salvador's streets and away from the gangs. Being part of the orchestra gives the youths a sense of identity and purpose.
Your old clothes can help Malala send girls to schoolIn the 'Pass the Bag' campaign, people can send clothes to a San Francisco-based program that sells the clothing online and gives 40 percent of the proceeds to the Malala Fund.
Difference MakerAfter fleeing Syria, a musician reunites other refugees to perform in EuropeRaed Jazbeh has created the Syrian Expat Philharmonic Orchestra, which is helping to shatter stereotypical images of refugees, instead offering a portrayal of them as having much to contribute to society.
One woman鈥檚 outreach in US: 鈥楳eet a Muslim鈥� eventsSince the attack in San Bernardino, Calif., Moina Shaiq has invited people to join her in a conversation.
In Cameroon, a bid to fight flooding creates jobs, reduces plastic wasteCoeur d'Afrique is paying young people to collect plastic litter, which is clogging rivers and blocking gutters. Cameroon's capital has seen some of its worst flooding on record in the past two years.
Tired of conditions in their city, Romans adopt a 'do it yourself' approachRome's residents are filling potholes, yanking weeds, and bagging trash. In doing the work, they're experimenting with what is a novel concept for many Italians: a sense of civic duty.
As immigrants move outside big cities, more US schools create welcome programsForeign-born students now make up 6 percent of the total US public school population. Experts say schools can be a place for integration.
Shipping containers make headway as housing options (yes, with windows)With many people struggling to pay rent, a surprising solution could be as close as the nearest port. But shipping-container housing is a sore subject for some local governments.
Now we're cooking: Course shows families how to make affordable, healthy mealsAlmost 370,000 families across the US have taken part in Cooking Matters' programs, which are part of the national No Kid Hungry campaign.
To reduce child abuse, one group teaches inmates about child safetyThe hope is that the inmates will pass their knowledge on to friends and bring lessons to a wider environment, says a member of a child abuse prevention group in Indiana.
Modern beekeeping offers Ethiopian youths a sweeter futureA recently launched program aims to provide work for about 12,500 Ethiopians in beekeeping and silkworm farming. It's supporting out-of-school and unemployed young people between ages 18 and 24.
Difference MakerWith World War II museum, a collector wants to get people to thinkKenneth Rendell has spent more than 50 years collecting World War II artifacts. More than 7,500 objects are on display in Natick, Mass.