All People Making a Difference
- Children were thirsting for stories. This couple built them a library.
When resources are slim, it can be hard to build community. In Ecuador, one couple has found that a love of literature can help bring people together.
- This Chinese folk artist shares joy on paper, one snip at a time
Women are keeping the art of paper cutting alive in northwestern China. To ensure the craft’s future, they must pass on their passion to the next generation.
- In New Orleans, Trinity City Arts unites creativity and public safety
How do you start a dialogue around policing? In New Orleans, one organization is using the arts to bring together officer effort and citizen vision.
- With his ‘Ambulance for Monuments,’ a Romanian preserves his culture
Romania’s cultural heritage is crumbling. Architect Eugen Vaida is inspiring a grassroots ethos of national pride through historical preservation.
- How Hope Johnson fosters independence and joy
Adults with disabilities don’t always have opportunities to connect with their communities. One provider makes sure they feel integrated – and seen.
- How WriteGirl helps teens find their creative voice
Girls used to be told to be seen and not heard. Keren Taylor founded WriteGirl to inspire them to see their voice as valuable.
- Archive detective: Frazine Taylor fills in Black family trees
Black families hoping to trace their history face a wide range of obstacles. Frazine Taylor has dedicated her life to unlocking the past.
- Where art mends lives, behind and beyond bars
Since 1978, the Prison Arts Program has run classes in Connecticut state prisons, helping students grapple with the past and prepare for a future beyond bars.
- Difference MakerIn Japan, domestic violence survivors help victims – and abusers
Domestic violence survivors are at the front of the charge to break women’s silence and end cycles of violence across Japan. They say compassion is their superpower.
- At The Record Co., music belongs to everyone
The Record Co. is a state-of-the-art facility that can be rented for as little as $10 per hour. Each month, 3,500 musicians pass through its doors.
- Difference MakerHow Indigenous collaboration is saving the cougar
How do you free a predator hemmed in by human development? In Washington state, scientists and Native American tribes are working to find a solution for trapped cougars.
- Unlikely partners restore watersheds in Dominican Republic
Francisco Núñez has spent 20 years restoring the Dominican Republic’s watersheds in the face of severe drought and natural disasters.
- ‘Old ladies’ welcome: How senior swimmers clean up Cape Cod’s ponds
The goal, says the founder of Old Ladies Against Underwater Garbage, is to show that older women, working as a team, can do a lot more than people might think.
- In Hawaii, can breadfruit’s resurgence bring food security?
Diane Ragone’s research and promotion of a long-ignored Hawaiian staple has, quite literally, born fruit – with big implications for food security.
- After a natural disaster, who cares for the animals? Meet Mehmet Tığoğlu.
Amid the human death tolls in natural disasters, animals are often an afterthought. But some aid workers make a point to prioritize care for lost pets.
- In India, peace building goes ultimate
Compassion, respect, and communication are all essential for lasting peace. In a conflict-wracked area of northeast India, an unfamiliar sport is helping foster these skills.
- Difference MakerFor the bullied, bullies, and bystanders: This mom has a plan
The Ability Awareness Project anti-bullying program teaches schoolchildren that kindness starts with recognition of the humanity of each individual.
- Meet Peru’s unsung hero of the Pómac Forest
Reviving a forest is a community affair. But collective efforts often begin with one person. In Peru’s Pómac Forest, that’s Carlos Alberto Llauce Baldera.
- The Dream Journey: Meet the friends bringing Pakistani music back
The cultural effects of an oppressive regime can linger for generations. But in Pakistan, a collective of music lovers is reviving the country’s musical heritage and spreading joy across borders.
- Dig It! Coffee Co. serves independence in a cup
People with disabilities often have limited options for advancement. A Las Vegas employer aims to pair dignity with opportunities for growth.