When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the US, it shook New York City especially hard. At a time when so many New Yorkers felt hopeless, New York native and tech entrepreneur Ben Wei found the courage to act. Now, one year later, he’s on another mission to help others; this time, to unite the Asian American and Pacific Islander community in the fight against hate, racism, and systemic injustice.

When Ashley Webb moved her family from Los Angeles to New Orleans in 2017, it was a huge culture shock. Not only was the city very different, but the neighborhood they moved into was considered a food desert, meaning there is no immediate access to fresh produce. Wanting to change this, Ashley and her husband started a community garden—and it blossomed into a much bigger project than they ever imagined.

Most people know will.i.am as the founding member of The Black Eyed Peas, one of the most popular hip hop groups of all time. Aside from music, however, Will actually has another passion: education. Since founding the “i.am.angel foundation” in 2009, Will has worked tirelessly to set up robotics programs in schools, get kids into STEAM fields, and help high school students get prepared for and accepted into college.

For formerly incarcerated individuals, safe, stable and affordable housing is the foundation of a smooth reentry into society. Unfortunately, it’s often the most difficult resource for them to obtain. Recognizing this need, one San Francisco Bay Area collective—run by and for formerly incarcerated Californians—is bringing housing and other necessary resources to people who have been similarly impacted by the criminal justice system.

When Katie Blomquist was in her mid-20s, she left her career in marketing and PR to pursue something more personally fulfilling: teaching. After landing a job at a school in Charleston, South Carolina, Katie quickly fell in love with her students. When she learned that most of them didn’t have access to simple childhood pleasures such as bicycles, she wanted to change that. What started out as a singular act of kindness has grown into a movement that is bringing joy to kids in Charleston and...

Eleven-year-old Genevieve may be young, but she has big dreams. After going through the application process to foster a kitten, she was inspired to start her own nonprofit organization to improve the foster matching system in her local area. While Genevieve’s efforts are virtual-only for now due to COVID-19, she dreams of someday expanding to an in-person rescue center where she can house and care for animals of all shapes and sizes.

When 5-year-old Dana Perella was at a speech therapy session she met another young girl named Mila, and they became fast friends. When Mila was diagnosed with Batten disease, Dana wanted to help, so she started baking cookies and selling them around her neighborhood. What started out as a local project has turned into something much bigger.

Dion Dawson is a fighter in more ways than one. As a veteran, he served in the Navy as an award-winning member of his department’s communications division. As a civilian, Dion is the founder and leader of Dion’s Chicago Dream, a nonprofit that provides material resources, community connection, and thousands of pounds of fresh food and counting to residents in his lifelong neighborhood of Englewood.

When Julia Vitarello's precious daughter Mila was diagnosed with Batten disease at the age of seven, she was terrified and heartbroken. Determined to save Mila by any means possible, Julia set out to raise enough money to fund an experimental clinical trial, and what happened next made medical history.

When high school students and sisters Nanette and Krystal Amihere noticed that there were not many youth advocacy programs in their town, they decided to start their own in an effort to strengthen the community. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the sisters harnessed their program’s foundations and launched an initiative to make masks and cards for frontline workers and nursing home residents. What started out as a small, local project eventually saw young people from all over the world getting...

When Elijah Lee was in the first grade, he learned that one of his classmates was experiencing child abuse. He assisted her in getting help, but the experience left him with a heavy heart. Today, Elijah is 13-years-old and is a passionate teen activist who believes that all children have the right to grow up in safe, loving environments.

When the coronavirus swept through New York City this past spring, Brian Taylor had no choice but to close his dog grooming business to the public. But while in lockdown, his heart hurt for his community members and their pets. Under financial strain, many of them could no longer afford the essential grooming services that kept their dogs clean and healthy. So as soon as it was safe to do so, Brian began grooming pups at no cost while raising money for others.

Last year, 14-year-old Lorenzo Liberti discovered a passion to honor and help veterans in his community who were in need. Using his artistic talents, he carved beautiful, 3-foot long American flags by hand to benefit a local charity. When the COVID-19 crisis hit the country, he realized his flags could also help honor and support frontline healthcare workers across the US. Today, his heroic flags hang in hospitals around the country as an emblem of hope and thanks to the people working there.

Ra Ra Rollins is a full-time student at New York University and is going for his master’s degree in Counseling for Mental Health and Wellness, with a focus on LGBTQ+ communities. However, Ra Ra’s journey to this path was not linear and he’s had to overcome a myriad of obstacles to make it a reality. One thing he’s learned throughout this journey is that, although it can be terrifying to put yourself out there, vulnerability can lead to beautiful things.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic hit, frontline workers have been risking their lives every day to keep vital services going for those who need it. Many of them need support themselves but don’t have the time or energy to seek it out. In response, a group of mental health professionals created a solution that allows frontline workers to easily access therapy—free of charge.

Mark Lytal isn’t one to take a hot shower for granted. He never forgot his 20 years in the US Air Force, when deployment would often mean long stretches of time without running water and nothing but baby wipes to keep himself clean. His experience eventually motivated him to create a volunteer-led organization that provides hot showers and hygiene products to folks experiencing homelessness. To date, he’s helped thousands of people stay safe, clean, and hopeful.

When 8-year-old Madi Wilson noticed that there weren’t any crayons at school that matched her skin color, she told her mom she felt sad. Motivated to help all kids feel seen and represented, she launched a project to help deliver multicultural books & art supplies to classrooms in her school—and it grew bigger than she ever imagined.

Shawn Dromgoole's family has lived in the same Nashville neighborhood for over 50 years, and he has lived there for his entire life. After hearing about the deaths of George Floyd and Ahmaud Arbery, Shawn became fearful of walking alone in his own neighborhood and shared his frustrations online. What happened next was a show of support that Shawn never expected, and it has grown into an entire movement across the country.

Josh Santiago knew he wanted to be a barber from a young age. What he couldn’t have imagined is that he’d end up taking his skills to the streets and offering haircuts to those most in need—completely free of charge. In the last five years, Josh has used his talents as a barber to brighten thousands of people’s lives in his Philadelphia community and beyond, and he has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

Shortly after the COVID-19 pandemic hit the United States, 15-year-old Hita Gupta received a disappointing phone call. The local nursing home where she regularly volunteered was letting her know that she wouldn’t be able to visit again anytime soon due to the high risk for their residents. Hita was worried that the seniors would be lonely with no visitors, and she wanted to make sure that they felt loved and taken care of.

When 7-year-old Cavanaugh Bell was bullied, he said he felt a darkness inside him. He didn’t want other kids to feel the same way, so he asked his mom if she could help him spread some positivity in the world. Now, they have started their own nonprofit organization that advocates for bullying prevention, and they have pivoted their efforts to serve communities in need during the COVID-19 crisis.

In the aftermath of 9/11, David Sylvester, like so many other Americans, was feeling immense pain and anguish. He really wanted to do something to help, but didn’t know where to start. Then, he discovered one very simple but powerful thing that did help on a profound level—a hug. And that simple concept has turned into a 19-year-long mission to repair the fabric of humanity, one hug at a time.

Iyabo Boyd is the founder of Brown Girls Doc Mafia, an initiative advocating for over 4,000 women and non-binary people of color working in the documentary film industry from around the world. COVID-19 has impacted the filmmaking community hard, and also disproportionately affects people of color. To support their community in a time of great need, Iyabo and a team of volunteers launched a fundraiser—and the response was bigger than they ever expected.

Common Roots Farm in Santa Cruz, California is a very special place. Not only do they produce delicious fruits and vegetables, they are also a non-profit, volunteer-based farm whose mission is rooted in creating a space that fosters full inclusion of people of all abilities, to farm together in partnership.

When Khloe Thompson was 9 years old, she started asking her mother questions about people experiencing homelessness. After learning more, she knew she wanted to help. What started out as a simple idea to give someone a care bag with necessities has turned into an entire movement. And 4 years later, Khloe is more inspired than ever to keep making big things happen.