Kiara James has a true heart of gold. While studying for her undergraduate degree in Public Health at the University of Louisville, Kiara started her non profit, Pushing Forward Inc. Pushing Forward is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting people living with Spinal Cord Injuries (SCIs), particularly those from low income families, in Louisville Kentucky. 

Sara’s House is a non-profit organization based in Detroit, Michigan, that works with homeless and low-income women to empower them to become self-sufficient and independent.

Geneva Jackson had no experience running a non-profit when Sara’s House was handed over to her in 2005. As she puts it, Geneva felt “inspired by a vision from the Lord” to help women in need. She had spent her life working for the local government and had never been married, had children, or experienced homelessness or abuse that some women she serves at Sara’s House have suffered. But she wanted to serve and help where possible, so she took over managing Sarah’s House.

With the motto, “The Future of Southern California,” the small town of Murrieta, California, has a rich history that Aimee Edgeworth is trying to share through art, education, and community connection. 

What started as a 15,000-acre sheep ranch, Murrieta became a booming train town after the Southern California Railroad came through in 1883. This busy railroad town became a calm suburbia after the last train left the station in 1935. In 1990, Murrieta received official city status after a two-year campaign and a decade of immense population growth. 

I believe in manifestation; I know that what I focus on will grow, that good begets good, and that paying it forward pays off, yada yada. That said, I have never met someone as good at manifesting her dreams as Rebecca Folsom. 

Last weekend, a few hundred people came together to celebrate Rebecca and her newest album, Sanctuary, at the eTown theater in Boulder, Colorado. Artists, musicians, philanthropists, business leaders, healers, refugees, veterans, and community members came together in what Nick Forster (CEO of eTown) called perfect synchronicity. For the past three years, Rebecca has collaborated with people across the spectrum of humanity to create a sonic experience that is entirely captivating.

Lucinda Jones is a quiet powerhouse, one of those humble people whose actions speak louder than their words. As a young artist and educator, Lucinda has already made a lasting impact on the Oklahoma City community by painting public murals, teaching technical programs, and providing art education to underserved youth through her non-profit Innovative Self-Expressive Artist Studio (ISEA) Inc. 

What started with simple conversations about body image, weight and how to help young girls and boys prepare for college, has developed into a non-profit that brings the neighborhood together through various events, creating a sense of community. 

Rasheyida, or Aunty Rocky as she is called in the community, established her non-profit, the Lewis Connection, in February of 2022 after working within her community independently for many years by mentoring youth, organizing college prep drives in the community, etc.

In 2019, Melody Willis decided that she would “remove her mask” and speak about her experience with domestic violence as part of her healing process. She wanted to create a safe space for women and men to tell their stories without judgment, something she felt like she didn’t have. Two years later, Melody decided to take it a step further and started her own non-profit to support domestic violence survivors and their families. She designed a two-part program consisting of 6 months each, Surviving Butterflies and Overcoming Butterfly.

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, Shanelle Boyd turned a rocky start into an extraordinary life full of mentorship, success, and purpose. As a teenage mom, Shanelle has first-hand experience overcoming barriers and adversity, experiences she has been called to share. Throughout her journey from adolescent mom to thriving adult, people started coming to her for advice and mentorship. Shanelle feels called to support the women in her community, to offer other women the support she lacked. “Because I was a teenage mom, that has naturally come up in my work, giving back to my community because I just didn’t have that support.” 

Losing a loved one is one of life’s biggest challenges we can face. When an elder family member or friend dies, we console ourselves with “they are in a better place” or “they lived a long and happy life” and that gives us some measure of peace so we can move on. But what do you say, when a life is taken too early, a bright and promising future is suddenly gone? For parents, losing a child is unimaginable. The child is supposed to put the parents to rest, not the other way around. How do you move forward from that?

Shameka Burrell was inspired to start the nonprofit, Families Strengthening Families, in 2016 when her daughter shared that a friend in school was struggling with self-confidence because of the way she spoke. “I thought it was a great idea to get with my daughter and her friends, and some people within the community to talk about self-image.” And so Shameka did just that. The goal of Families Strengthening Families is to keep families together. Whether that means supporting parents, children, single moms, or struggling dads, Shameka is committed to providing proactive tools to help families stay together. 

Raised by a single mom in Tallahassee, Florida, Marcus Manning started Pouring Out Success Inc with his best friend to provide a safe and supportive environment to the youth in his community. A place where they can receive the social, emotional, and academic support they need to succeed in life.  

Music helps bring people together across cultures, religions, and even languages. It is the key to creativity and is the language of the universe. You don’t have to understand the lyrics to enjoy a song, harmonize with the melody, or feel the emotions behind it. For Dan, music has always been a part of his life, ever since he picked up his first guitar at the age of 13, saying, “ever since then, it is like I always have a song in my head – there is just a soundtrack to the world that has always been in my head.” 

Tab Butler is an inspiring philanthropist, constantly giving back to her Aiken, South Carolina community. From driving older community members around, providing internet and computers to students during the pandemic, to helping youth organizations, Tab is always looking for ways to pay it forward in her community. Tab has even started her own non-profit, Love With Action, so she can have an even bigger impact in her community! 

A certified etiquette consultant and a BA holder in applied science and technology, Jalicia Richard started the Femininity Brunch and Care project to fulfill what she believes is her purpose on this planet. Jalicia hopes “to inspire women to overcome their struggles” by sharing her experience and creating a space for connection and community.