True Stories of Good People

Sara and Edgar are the married co-owners behind Nixta Taqueria—a beloved restaurant located in East Austin, Texas. Dedicated to their community, they've gone above and beyond to ensure their community is always fed, regardless of life's circumstances. When the couple faced challenges keeping Nixta open, their community paid it forward and showed up for them in ways they never could have imagined.

DeJuan Strickland knows what it's like to not be able to afford school lunch. After learning about how many other kids have experienced the same situation, he decided to do something about it. With the help of his mom, Sharron, DeJuan is helping to eliminate lunch debt for as many kids as possible throughout his community.

For Christy Wong and her family, animals have always been a big part of their lives—however, they never imagined that they would someday be operating an entire rescue farm. By creating a safe home for animals and a welcoming space for her community, Kauai Animal Education Farm is helping preserve the local Hawaiian culture and connection to the land.

Jelly Robinson is a hairstylist with a special gift for helping children feel safe and confident while getting their hair cut. With her mobile salon, Peace & Love Studios, Jelly is on a mission to make sure children with autism have access to sensory-friendly haircuts.

After Annel Alvarez had her son Adrian, she was going through a pretty dark time in her life, feeling a sense of losing her identity. She knew she needed to do something to pull her out of it, but also knew she couldn't do it alone—so she called up an old friend with an idea: "let's start a dance troupe!" A pretty simple idea on its face, but what turned out to have so much power to build community, celebrate Hispanic culture, and provide space for healing.

When Shanice Fleming left her career as a chef in New York City to start her own business as a farmer, her path seemed straight and clear. But with the help of mentors, community, and a beautiful epiphany, Shanice found something more—the desire to promote Black representation in the cut flower industry through her business, Queenz Cut Flower Farm.

The Watson family is committed to feeding their neighbors in their small town of Frazeysburg, Ohio. What started as a community food pantry has grown into an ice cream truck that delivers free hot meals—and of course, ice cream.

Photographer Jeff Rease is dedicated to honoring the stories of WWII veterans through portraiture. What started with one photograph in Alabama has grown into an international project featuring more than 290 veterans, and he has no plans of slowing down any time soon.

When a high school all-girls robotics team from Huntsville, Alabama landed a seat at the Tech Challenge World Championships, they weren't sure they would be able to afford to compete. Lucky for them, their local community came to the rescue. Their presence at the competition made history, and they continue to inspire other young women & girls in their community by showing there is a seat at the table for them in the world of robotics & STEM fields as a whole.

When a chance encounter on the internet brought together Anne, a Black female professional fiddle player, and Amanda, the only Black female violin maker in the United States, the serendipity wasn't lost on them. They immediately knew that with the help of their community, they could make history—and inspire others to live out their dreams.