True Stories of Good People

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Rollin From the Heart: John Barry and Alison Brown Sep 30, 2021

Show notes

When John Barry and Alison Brown unexpectedly lost their 22-year-old son Ian in a tragic accident, their hearts were shattered. They knew how much he meant to them, but only when over 600 people showed up to his memorial did they begin to realize what a profound impact their quiet, caring son made on the community as a whole. As a way to process their grief, they decided to give back to the community by spreading the love of Ian's favorite outdoor activities and spreading Ian's legacy of kindness and compassion.

Rescuing Food in Jersey City: Claudia Wheeler and Yawa Endara Aug 31, 2021

Show notes

Claudia Wheeler is a full-time mother, as well as an elementary school teacher based in Jersey City, NJ. On top of all of her other responsibilities in life, Claudia also manages to drive across the entire city, 7 days a week, on food rescue missions to help provide sustenance to those experiencing food insecurity in her community. In total, she has rescued and delivered over 130,000 pounds of fruit, vegetables, grains to families and organizations in need.

A Love Letter to Black Queer Men: Kemar Jewel Jun 29, 2021

Show notes

After he was kicked out of his family home at 15 for being gay, Kemar Jewel found his chosen family through the underground Philadelphia dance scene. There, he leaned into his passion for movement and truly understood how Black queer men can help each other heal from trauma. Now a choreographer and director, Kemar is blending art and activism to spread hope, love, and healing—all while uplifting Black LGBTQ voices.

New York State of Kind: Ben Wei May 03, 2021

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When the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the US, it shook New York City especially hard. In a matter of weeks, hospitals around the city reached capacity and quickly ran out of personal protective equipment (PPE). 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 (AAPI) community in the fight against hate, racism, and systemic injustice.

Fruits, Vegetables and Community: Ashley Webb Apr 08, 2021

Show notes

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.

will.i.am: The American Dream Fund Mar 16, 2021

Show notes

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. Today, he is raising funds to expand these programs and help even more kids make their dreams come.

Bay Area Freedom Collective: Simon Liu, Jessica McKellar & Tenzin Kyizom Mar 11, 2021

Show notes

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. Not long ago, a collective member purchased a house where people who have recently been released from prison can live while they get back on their feet.

Every Kid Deserves a Bike: Katie Blomquist Mar 05, 2021

Show notes

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 beyond.

Purpose 4 Pets: Meet Kid Hero Genevieve Feb 11, 2021

Show notes

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.

Cookies4Cures: Dana Perella Feb 05, 2021

Show notes

When 5-year-old Dana Perella was at a speech therapy session she met another young girl named Mila, and they became fast friends. Over the years, Dana's speech challenges went away while Mila's got worse. Other health issues started coming up for Mila as well, and she eventually received a diagnosis of Batten disease, a neurological disorder that worsens over time. When Dana heard that Mila's family needed to quickly raise funds for a potentially life-saving clinical trial, Dana wanted to help, so she started baking cookies and selling them around her neighborhood. What started out as a small local project has grown into a nonprofit organization that aims to find a cure for all rare childhood diseases.

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