Simple Acts, Big Impact

My guest today is Romy, a college sophomore who created a special program called MiSendero. MiSendero is an independent high school student-led organization focused on integrating and connecting English learner students to school activities by creating a format in which they can earn volunteer hours as Spanish tutors, join school clubs, become leaders within the organization, and participate in academic writing competitions to achieve success. Since Romy began this important work in high school, it has expanded throughout her home state of California and across the United States.

Romy is the recipient of a Diller Teen Tikkun Olam Award. Every year, the Helen Diller Family Foundation awards up to 15 Jewish teens with $36,000 each for their leadership efforts to change the world. From the environment to social justice to access to education and beyond, these young people are tackling big challenges in their communities and having tremendous impact. Applications are now open at www.dillerteenawards.org

Learn More about MiSendero at https://www.misendero.org/

Follow @misenderoyouth

Aani and Gage are two friends from Arizona (now both freshmen in college) who bonded over their shared passion for playing musical instruments as well as volunteering with the elderly. Together they created Our Ode To You which allows musicians, singers and visual artists to share their passion for the creative arts with seniors living in nursing homes and memory care facilities.

Follow to learn more and connect @ourode2you

Ayana B. is passionate about understanding the human heart, and raising awareness about cardiovascular health. She created Ligh on the Heart, a nonprofit dedicated to alleviating the struggles of marginalized communities facing poor cardiovascular treatment by providing research advice to high school students, granting insights from medical and research professionals, and pushing for advocacy through legislation. Light on the Heart also creates and distributes Little Hearts Stem crates, providing interactive STEM activities for under-resourced students.

Learn more at www.lightontheheart.org and follow @light.on.the.heart

Grace L. has a passion for research which was sparked when she was a curious 10 year old. She created a nonprofit called Research to Empower which seeks to inspire, support and empower aspiring young researchers, offering a master class, guidebook, resources and leadership opportunities to help students, particularly those from underrepresented communities, to achieve success.

Learn more and access all of Research to Empower's free resources at

www.researchtoempower.org and follow @research2empower

Welcome back to Season 3 of Simple Acts, Big Impact: Celebrating Teen Changemakers. Today's episode is the perfect "back to school episode" about the importance of books, school supplies, and representation in storytelling.

Rohan S. and his sister Anya are the founders of the Let's Learn Foundation which hosts book drives and provides school supplies for under resourced students in central Texas.

Learn more at https://www.letslearninc.org/about and follow @letslearnfoundation

Ashley N, is a highschool junior from Kentucky who started a nonprofit called Sargeant's Army which provides toiletry kits and outerwear for people experiencing homelessness and living marginally, especially our honored veterans. She's also a six time children's book author who donates 100% of the proceeds from her books back to her nonprofit.

Learn more at www.sargeantsarmy.org

Follow Ashley at @sargeantsarmy and @itsashleynevison

My guest today, Charlie J., loved building with Lego's growing up and believes that every child deserves access to play and learning tools. He created Pass the Bricks, an organization that collects, sanitizes, sorts and distributes lego kits to children in his community who might not be able to afford them.

Learn more at www.passthebricks.org or follow @passthebricks

Lucy B from Nashville had an idea to make a homemade blanket for a friend as a birthday gift when she was only 8 years old. That thoughtful gift turned into an effort called Lucy's Love Blankets which provides handmade blankets for children going through an illness, a divorce in their family or the loss of a loved one - anyone needing a little extra love.

Learn more at @lucysloveblankets

Today, in honor of Mother's Day this Sunday, I'm delighted to share a very special conversation with Alex H. Alex tells us the story of being raised by a single mother, and how he wanted to honor her hard work and sacrifice. He wrote and illustrated a graphic novel called HERO and created a project through which he interviews single mothers and gives them a platform to tell their stories.

Learn more at www.createwithlimits.org

Hero is available on Amazon.com