All People Making a Difference
Transition Towns moves communities beyond sustainability to resiliencyThe 320 Transition Town initiatives in 14 countries focus on urban agriculture, crowdfunding, and other social enterprises, using a 12-step model to organize a community toward a sustainable, resilient future.
Actor-activist Sean Penn says he's in Haiti for the long haulSean Penn's role in Haiti has evolved from heading a band of volunteers and serving as unofficial mayor of a homeless camp to becoming ambassador-at-large for President Michel Martelly, the first non-Haitian to receive the designation.
Catherine Rohr helps ex-cons return to society by learning to start businessesFormer venture capitalist Catherine Rohr founded the nonprofit Defy Ventures to train ex-prisoners in the ethical and other demands of becoming legitimate entrepreneurs.
Bakery charity feeds North Korean childrenLove North Korean Children has built four community bakeries with the humble intention of providing 5,000-plus youngsters with one steamed bun per day.
'One Day on Earth' captures the variety of human experienceKyle Ruddick and Brandon Litman got some 19,000 people to make videos of what they saw on a single day in every country in the world. The film 'One Day on Earth' shows what they found.
Karen Armstrong argues for practical compassionThe historian has helped world religions unite behind the idea of a worldwide charter for compassion. Can it become more than just a nice idea?
Obamas gave 22 percent of their 2011 income to charityThe biggest Obama charitable gift went to the Fisher House Foundation, a group that provides free or low-cost housing to military personnel or their families while they receive medical treatment.
Difference MakerMa Jun helps Chinese find out who's polluting and shame corporations into cleaning up2012 Goldman Environmental Prize winner Ma Jun enlists ordinary Chinese to help clean up China's pollution.
Shakira advocates for children at the Summit of the AmericasShakira will meet with heads of state, including President Obama, at the Summit of the Americas in Colombia. Shakira is already working to provide better education to children.
'Harry Potter' and 'The Hunger Games' fans urged to do goodMovies can inspire social action, says Andrew Slack, head of the Harry Potter Alliance. He challenges fans to 'fight injustices in our world the way [Harry Potter] fought injustices in his world.'
Three ways Africans are making cheap do-it-yourself electricityIn countries like Kenya and Tanzania, most people lack access to electricity. Wind turbines made from local scrap and a 'Netflix' model for distributing batteries may be solutions.
Young entrepreneurs do good - and make a profitYoung entrepreneurs find new ways to drive social change through founding businesses.
GoodGuide and others use technology to help turn consumers greenA host of companies and nonprofits are using technology 鈥� from smartphones to social networking 鈥� to make it easier for consumers to choose environmentally friendly products.
Difference MakerSeventh grader steers bus to safety in WashingtonWhen his school bus driver collapsed, 13-year-old Jeremy Wuitschick grabbed the steering wheel and pulled the keys from the ignition.- Difference MakerJon Wilson helps victims talk with perpetrators - and find closureWhen victims go behind bars to talk with those who did them harm, they receive something the legal system doesn't provide: a chance to find real closure, maybe even forgiveness.
Nonviolent Peaceforce helps protect women, children in South SudanBrewing conflict with Sudan in the north, and Joseph Kony's LRA in the south, are just two of South Sudan's challenges. Nonviolent Peaceforce is working to protect the population, especially women and children, from these and other threats.
Unconventional Charity: Water aims to raise $2 billion for clean waterScott Harrison, the founder of Charity: Water, takes an unconventional approach to bringing clean water to millions of people. Among his ideas: Put 100 percent of donations directly into projects 鈥� and look to entrepreneurs, not other charities, for great ideas.
A growing answer to rising seas: floating homesHomes, hospitals, even prisons and golf courses may be built over the water as architects cope with rising sea levels that will affect coastal cities around the world.
Liz Squibb knows how to help foster children - she was one herselfWorking at the Jim Casey Youth Opportunities Initiative she helps foster children make the transition to adulthood.
Cooperative businesses provide a new-old model for job growthCo-ops worldwide represent much more than hippie grocery stores: They're a fast-growing way to do business better in fields from finance to agriculture to industry.