Matt Onojafe is the owner of Jafe Cycling. His bike shop caters to the Maryland community in repairing bikes and uplifting individuals in their health and wellness journey. Onojafe says that bike clubs bring people together and will soon become staple organizations for positivity and encouragement in the near future. “If a lot of us tend to just focus on what makes us passionate, your ability to impact your community increases, it elevates so much more.” - Matt Onojafe
“Beauty from ashes, ” Brittany Burcham says that becoming an emergency foster mother has allowed her to witness beautiful transformations. Burcham has fostered over 40 teens and is encouraging others to follow in her footsteps. She hopes that if more people step up to foster, mentor, or encourage teens, they can thrive and overcome trauma.
DeAngelous Williams says that My Sistah’s House is here to stay. MSH was founded in 2016 by Kayla Gore and Illyahnna Wasttshall to provide housing to transgender and queer people of color (TQPOC) in the Memphis, Tennessee, area. Their organization has provided housing security and sustainability to hundreds of TQPOC individuals.
Art is not the only mark being left in the tattoo industry. Women are banding together to validate themselves in the industry and for clients and aspiring artists. Standing up against sexism, racism, and misogyny are some of the social issues tattoo artist Cori Jin explores on her social media. She is banding women together to make a more progressive and inclusive industry.
The 100-Mile Ruck is a challenge organized by veteran Jon Klipstein to raise money and awareness for mental health and suicide among veterans. With 270 miles marched over three days and over $7,000 raised, the event was a massive success.
20-year-old Tanzanian American and college student Marie Mbullu is behind Habari Njema, the TikTok series dedicated to informing a diverse audience about news from the African continent. From politics to pop culture, to all of the good things going on in Africa, Mbullu works to inform her over 200 thousand followers, many of which have a new interest in African culture and current events.
“I can’t wait to see how much of a difference we are going to make in the future, how Teds for Beds is going to grow and evolve,” Jabbour said. Separated by more than 2,500 miles, two college students, one in Virginia and one in California, came together to help spread joy to pediatric patients across the United States. Teds for Beds is a non-profit based in Charlottesville, Virginia, with a mission to put a smile on children's faces.
Jeffrey Wall is the founder of his own nonprofit, Golden Age Karate. At ten years old, Wall was inducted into The US Martial Arts Hall of Fame. Now 16-years-old and a black belt in karate, he shares compassion and talent in karate to teach elders how to build confidence and skill. Wall travels to retirement homes turning older adults into what he calls “Ninja Nanas.” Wall hopes to remind people that they are not alone and can build confidence at any age.
“A piece of advice I would give [someone] is if you have a goal, reach for it, don't let anyone tell you you can't or stop you, ” - Jeffrey Wall
Meet 16-year-old Bella Adlah created an organization, Have Fun & Stay Strong, which has created over 300 packages with toys for pediatric patients in hospitals. Bella has partnered with 22 hospitals and 1 foster care center and is always looking for ways to grow her outreach and impact. Read more about Bella's work.
Sometimes all it takes is one small act of kindness to help someone through a tough time. With her Kindness Cards Project, Bethany Graham sends free cards and care packages to people struggling with chronic illnesses, disabilities, and mental health issues in the UK. Through her attention to detail and genuine passion for lifting the spirits of others, her project has grown and she plans to stick with it far into the future.
Ralph “Pop” Miller is a pet transporter who spends his time driving pets to their new homes. From large dogs to tiny kittens, Miller travels thousands of miles a week just to spread the love and joy of a pet to those who need it. Miller’s journey has not been easy. Just like people lean on their pets to overcome, Miller has gone through his own struggles but through the power of positivity, he has been able to overcome them.
Safe Bridges LA (SBLA) is a nonprofit organization founded by radio personality and former community service provider Joslyn “Inkwell J” Beard. SBLA helps transitional-aged youth find allyship and inspiration through radio broadcasting. She is also helping the formerly incarcerated find resources for advancement in career and emotional support. Beard is deeply passionate about supporting people facing these hardships because she says she was wrongfully convicted and wants to use her experiences to elevate and educate others about how to avoid these circumstances but also succeed despite them.
This second-hand clothing store is not like most. Bloom’s mission is to provide community members in need and their families with free clothing that sets them up for success. Whether it be for a job interview or otherwise, Bloom believes that your clothes should not an obstacle, so here, clothes are not just clothes, they are symbols of dignity.
Introducing “Adoration of the Queer Mind”: the only self-help journal dedicated to the queer experience, and the mother and son duo behind it. The journey to self-discovery is an uphill battle for many members of the LGBTQIA+ community, but the “Adoration of the Queer Mind” journal serves as a safe space for those who may need a place to reflect.
Safe Haven Baby Boxes is a nonprofit organization that builds upon Safe Haven laws to provide parents with a judgment-free way to surrender newborns anonymously. The organization has built 61 safety devices at Safe Haven locations such as hospitals, fire stations, and police departments.
Detroit’s Taproot Sanctuary practices the intersection of spirituality, right relationship with the earth, and social justice. By engaging the community and using earthly resources responsibly, co-founder En Sawyer has been instrumental in creating an intentional community grounded in self-reliance and sharing knowledge.
Mark Bryan is Instagram’s famous Man in Heels. He has been featured in numerous publications such as Vogue and amassed over 422K followers. On top of sharing his showstopping style, Bryan uses his platform to teach the importance of not judging others while reminding everyone that clothes have no gender.
Founder and CEO of Mango People, Sravya Kalyanapu, has created a makeup brand that is all-natural, non-toxic, and inclusive of all skin tones. Inspired by her South Asian roots and the ways that nature can be used for beauty, Mango People uses fruits as pigments while sticking to their motto: “If you cannot eat it, it does not belong on the skin.”
Johnny and Elaine Birks-Mitchell of Phoenix, Arizona, are the founders of The Bra Recyclers. Its mission is to support women in need and promote environmental sustainability. They have repurposed over four million bras to keep textile waste at a minimum while supporting survivors of domestic abuse, homelessness, and human trafficking.
Yuri Williams is the founder of A Future Superhero And Friends, a nonprofit organization that supports underserved communities like the elderly, homeless, and ill. Williams brings cheer and love to people who are facing hardship by dressing in costume as their favorite superhero. He helps people because he understands the hardships that people go through and is selfless enough to make a difference.
