All People Making a Difference
- Difference MakerOne Rwandan's surprising idea to protect wildlife: Recruit poachers
After the genocide in Rwanda, survivors turned to poaching for survival. Ange Imanishimwe made it his life’s work to show poachers their livelihood lies in preserving, not destroying, the forest.
- Difference MakerHow one woman’s citizen diplomacy has strengthened US-Russia ties for decades
Sharon Tennison has been credited with helping to break the cold-war ice. And her mission isn’t over: She thinks the official rhetoric on both sides today is harsher than it was at the depths of the cold war.
- How to give with quality: five points to consider
These days, many people looking to make a donation want to be sure it will truly make a difference. So in this piece, a philanthropy expert shares her insights.
- This bighearted Flint resident helps many feel blessed at Thanksgiving
When Chia Morgan saw a need in her Michigan community, she rose to the occasion. Her annual Thanksgiving dinner highlights what’s possible when one person takes action.
- A chance for women in prison to express themselves
The Haku Mo’olelo program teaches women in prison how to write and illustrate children’s stories, which helps them see meaning and purpose in their lives. The program can also draw parents and children closer.
- Life skills with a side of kale: Helping homeless youth one salad at a time
For homeless youth, employment is critical to independence – but the barriers are incredibly high. Restaurant chain Tender Greens offers opportunities for at-risk youth – and a model for other eateries.
- Difference MakerIn Pakistan, she sees the value in children who ‘are never seen or heard’
Plenty of people are doing good work in Pakistan, but too often such stories don't reach Western readers. So here’s one person helping street children – something that’s needed elsewhere, too.
- Difference MakerNo whispering, just horses and city kids, learning on a farm
“Who knows how you get a horse to trot?” Dale Perkins asks the campers. “You slap the reins!” yells 11-year-old Schneider. “No, that’s only in the movies," says Mr. Perkins. “You just have to ask them. Trot, Derby.”
- ‘Returnships’: how the cousin of internships is about giving back
For those looking to make a midcareer change or reenter the workforce after focusing on family, a returnship can offer the chance to make more of a difference.
- Difference MakerStealth vegetarian restaurant wants to woo diners on taste alone
It’s a belief in change through the taste buds: Can one locavore business grow the ranks of non-meat eaters, plus focus on building real relationships with buyers and sellers?
- Difference MakerHow this man helps ordinary people feel a book is written just for them
Carsten Sommerfeldt was dismayed at a disconnect between authors and the public. So he became a proponent of Shared Reading – an alternative to book tours and book clubs.
- In a distressed part of Ohio, one way people are finding work – and purpose
The opioid crisis has been a stark challenge for many US communities. In Youngstown, the nonprofit Flying High is taking a notable approach that addresses a number of issues, including the need for job training.
- For teen mothers facing homelessness, mentors can make a difference
Young mothers tend to have many challenges, but they can still make a positive contribution in their communities. Mentors can help bring the teens closer to their goals.
- Difference MakerBook lover turned literacy advocate looks to change lives ‘one word at a time’
Coping mechanisms can hide adult illiteracy – a problem linked to higher poverty and health-care costs. But even after cuts in government funding, one literacy nonprofit in Arkansas, led by Sara Drew, has grown.
- Difference MakerA champion of foster children in need of permanent families
Those aging out of the foster care system can face myriad challenges. Ken Mullner has been a key figure in efforts to make sure that every child’s yearning for a loving, supportive family is fulfilled.
- Can surfing lift all boats in one impoverished Salvadoran community?
El Salvador has been gaining a bigger and bigger reputation for violence. But in one part of the country, Marcelo Castellanos has been central to an innovative effort to counter the challenges.
- How to be a philanthropist while you’re on the job
A majority of employees say they want to work for an organization that encourages giving and volunteering. Here are five philanthropic options offered by corporate America.
- Difference MakerIn a rough part of the US capital, an endeavor to unlock children’s potential
Washington can be a contrast between a center of power and needy neighborhoods. Robin Berkley is leading one group’s efforts to level the playing field for young people in one of these communities.
- Difference MakerThe man behind many enhancements enjoyed by visitors at Golden Gate parklands
National parks wouldn’t be the same without the help of partner organizations. One of the most exemplary such groups is in the San Francisco Bay Area, led by Greg Moore.
- In Honduras, troubled youth trade gangs for sports
Many people's lives in Honduras changed for the better in 2011 through the founding of Skate Brothers, a nonprofit skating club that aims to help young people get out of gangs by providing a safe environment for them to practice skateboarding and other sports.