004 - Global Heroes - February 2021 by Global Heroes

ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT

THE POWER OF POSITIVE, SOLUTION-BASED JOURNALISM.

MARÍA GABRIELA DE FARÍA

ON GROWTH, EMPOWERMENT, AND INSPIRING POSITIVE CHANGE

BREAKING BARRIERS IN CHILDREN’S

HEART

RESEARCH FEBRUARY 2021 VOLUME 2 - ISSUE 1

FIGHTING CLIMATE CHANGE FROM

SPACE

A NEW YORK

STATE OF MIND:

CELEBRITIES GIVE BACK

The Wall Street Journal news organization was not involved in the creation of this content.

Feeding people locally TRANSFORMING VILLAGES GLOBALLY.

THE OUTREACH PROGRAM

provides Pendo and thousands of children and their families, both at home and abroad, safe water, food, medical care, and education â&#x20AC;&#x201C; all keys to ensuring them hope in the present and opportunities for the future. Pendo lives in Tanzania with her family. She has never missed a day of school. Pendo knows how important an education is to break the cycle of poverty. She studies hard and has won many scholastic awards.

To make a difference and provide a future for children, like Pendo, please visit

outreachprogram.org

An ethical way forward for the jewelry industry, one handmade piece at a time. WWW.BARIO-NEAL.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS MARÍA GABRIELA DE FARÍA

ON GROWTH, EMPOWERMENT, AND INSPIRING POSITIVE CHANGE

20 21 22 24 12 25

GLOBAL SUPPORT

Outreach For A Better Future

RESEARCH & INNOVATION

A Better Chance: Creating Leaders For A Lifetime Giving Sight: The Transformational Journey Catherine Is Taller!

There Is No Greater Impact On Our Health Than Investing in Research A Generation of Neurofibromatosis Patients Forging The Pathway To A Cure

Vitamin Angels: Supplementing Health For Underserved Mothers and Children

CELEBRITY HEROES

Not Just Beads: Nabiki’s Story Of Empowerment

16 Breaking The Poverty Cycle 2

The Power Of Philanthropy

26 New York State of Mind: Celebrities Give Back

32 Breaking Barriers In Children’s Heart Health Research

letâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s heal kids together. Help children walk again, smile again, and hope again.

join us today!

cure.org/globalhero 616-512-3105 CURE International is a network of pediatric hospitals bringing healing to children with treatable conditions in Africa and Southeast Asia through surgical care and the life-changing message of Godâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s love.

Before: Unable to walk. Read his story at cure.org/ibrahim

TABLE OF CONTENTS 50 54 56 58 62

YOUTH HEROES

A SustainABLE Start: New York’s Youth Empower The Vulnerable

Change, One Word at a Time

ENVIRONMENT & WILDLIFE

A Company That Cares Canada and Impressionism: New Horizons The TreadRight Foundation Home And Abroad: Navigating The Challenges of COVID-19

EVERYDAY HEROES

42 36 44 Combating Climate

Kenya’s Wildlife Tourism

When We Think of the Deep Blue, We Should Also Think Green A Voice For Birds Of Prey

Parks Unite Us

Strengthening Family Ties: Army Veteran Regains Independence In Specially Adapted Smart Home

TRAVEL

Fighting Climate Change From Space

No Kid Hungry Answers The Call Of America’s Hungry Families

CORPORATE HERO

40 How Planting Trees Is A Community Effort Full Of Everyday Heroes 4

The Valley that Changed the World: Exploring Pennsylvania’s Oil Region

A $2 Million Commitment to Supporting NYC’s Beloved Street Vendors

SUPPORTING WOMEN, WILDLIFE, COMMUNITIES & CONSERVATION WOMEN ARE EARNING. WILDLIFE AND ENVIRONMENTS ARE THRIVING. BEADS THAT BRING BEAUTIFUL NEW POSSIBILITIES.

BEADWORKSKENYA.COM

Letter from the editor

Denise Koprich Shirazi Dear Neighbor, Welcome to Global Heroes.

hile the news has been less than optimistic lately, our focus remains on the positive. We shine a light on ordinary people who are accomplishing the extraordinary in hopes of solving humanity’s most challenging problems. We explore companies who challenge the status quo by conducting business more ethically and celebrities who give back while also using their platforms to advocate for change. Moreover, we are emboldened by our youth, who are on the front lines of climate change, and who even through a global pandemic, have been helping to ensure the most vulnerable are not left behind. In New York and around the globe, we are leaning on each other to help cope with daily life and carry the economic and emotional fall-out of the pandemic. Even amid these turbulent times, we have witnessed an increase in charitable giving and small acts of kindness. In particular, our youth are taking action and calling for optimism. They are stepping up and doing their part by working toward solutions to increased isolation, hunger, and homelessness. In this issue, we meet New York high school student Chloe Trujillo and her team at SustainAble Start, who have been supplying New York’s most vulnerable with environmentallyfriendly hygiene starter kits. Celebrities are also doing their part, showing gratitude to frontline workers, donating clothing to the homeless, and ensuring students have access to education. Corporations like Morgan Stanley, together with non-profit Robin Hood, are committed to ensuring New York’s street vendors (the smallest businesses) recover from the unprecedented losses suffered in this pandemic. We also look toward our future and the much-needed return to travel. As travelers, full of wanderlust and a desire to connect with people and cultures around the world, we must also consider how many lives have been affected by the disruption of the hospitality industry. The return to exploration abroad is needed for many reasons, but must be done safely. Thankfully, The Travel Corporation’s family of brands are offering immersive experiences for the traveler looking to safely experience unique destinations and make a meaningful difference. Before the travel restrictions were imposed, NYC was one of my favorite weekend getaway destinations. The myriad of exciting experiences, multitude of diverse culinary offerings, and the city’s undeniable energy were intoxicating, but were not what hooked me. In the end, it was the people’s sense of community, vibrant neighborhoods, and creative spirit that fueled my passion for the city, luring me back time and again. New Yorkers have unmistakable confidence that is easy to admire, but even more endearing are the quiet undertones of vulnerability and humble acts of kindness bestowed upon others at every turn. This city has endured and triumphed during the most challenging times, and this past year is no different.

I hope to see you soon. Stay safe. Stay well.

COVER PHOTO © OSVALDO PONTON PUBLISHER Amir Shirazi EDITOR IN CHIEF Denise Koprich Shirazi EDITOR Raye Mocioiu CREATIVE DIRECTOR Sergio D. Spadavecchia GRAPHIC DESIGNER Kelly Laufer SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER Allie Murray FINANCE DIRECTOR Marie LaVoie CONTRIBUTORS Alex Carter SALES DIRECTOR Stephen McDermott ADVERTISING Adam West Jacquelyn Brooks Nazeela Ahmed Jacqueline Stewart PRODUCTION COORDINATOR Susan Mestchian Headquarters 2660 Sherwood Heights Drive, Suite 202 Oakville, Ontario • L6J 7Y8 Office: 905-815-1500 info@globalheroes.com

CDP doesnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t just help communities recover from disasters. We help communities recover stronger than before. A pandemic, hurricanes, wildfires, floods, and man-made crises are threatening the lives and livelihoods of billions worldwide. Imagine a world where people can rebuild, recover from, and withstand future disasters. YOU can help make this world a reality. Give with confidence today.

Photo by ÂŠ Lise Metzger, courtesy of Land Loss Protection Project, a CDP grantee.

disasterphilanthropy.org/HeroGift

MARÍA GABRIELA

DE FARÍA ON GROWTH,

EMPOWERMENT,

AND INSPIRING

POSITIVE CHANGE

Inspired by her own heroes, María started her blog, The Faria Online, where she gives readers tips for living a healthy, sustainable, and empowering lifestyle. We sat down with the newlyminted blogger to talk about mental health, sustainability, and what it means to have a platform in 2021.

María Gabriela de Faría is no stranger to sharing her life on-screen. Since 2006, María has been acting in popular Latin American TV series like “Yo Soy Franky,” “Isa TKM,” and American series like SyFy’s “Deadly Class” and Fox’s “The Moodys.” In the face of a global pandemic, María has pivoted to a more personal method of sharing her life, her truth, and her experiences in growth.

On your blog, you share your experiences with anxiety and panic attacks, advising your readers that “We have to get in to get out” (of a mental struggle). Can you tell us more about why it’s so important to face your struggles head-on instead of avoiding them?

Because I know avoiding them is not an option, even when we truly believe it is. I know by experience that the more you avoid your “demons,” the bigger they become.

Between your blog and your social media platforms, you’re very vocal about supporting animal rights, veganism, sustainable fashion, and an overall eco-friendly lifestyle. How did this lead into your work with the World Wildlife Fund and Mercy for Animals? What has been your most memorable experience working with these organizations? Yes! I’ve always had a passion for animal rights, but a few years ago, I realized that as a public figure, I had the tremendous gift of having a platform for reaching people and a voice people listen to. I wanted to put it to good use. I started sharing information from WWF and Mercy For Animals, along with my own opinions and experiences. They reached out looking to collaborate, and I felt so honored! I learn so much working hand in hand with these two giants, these champions for animal rights and the protection of natural spaces. I have two rescue cats and had a rescue dog, so I’m deeply familiar with the gratitude and love they look at you with. But I’ll never forget visiting a farm animal sanctuary for the first time. There was just nothing like being able to meet the animals, look them in the eyes, and experience first hand what I talk about so much.

We live in a society that invites us to look for external solutions to internal problems. I believe that mentality has taken our personal responsibility away and put it in the hands of third parties. And I get it! The world seems like it’s moving too fast for us to slow down, and it’s so much easier to just make somebody else responsible for our mental health. But nobody knows more about what you’re going through than you, and not taking the time and space to sit with whatever you’re going through will prevent you from finding the exit door of the struggle you’re facing. That exit door could mean therapy, a change in your diet, a divorce, a yoga retreat, or (yes, sometimes) a medication. But there’s no way around the problem, the only way is through, and the only person who can walk through that door is you. Isn’t that empowering?! You often praise holistic healing methods as a way to deal with stress and anxiety. With so much going on in the world and many people spending way more time at home, how do you suggest people incorporate meditative practices into their daily routine? Meditation has many facets, and when I found that out, it was a huge relief! Some days meditation means sitting in silence, watching my thoughts go by. Other days, my mind will not cooperate, and there’s no use in resisting, so meditation is dancing with my eyes closed for as long as I want or can, or doing yoga, or some sort of conscious movement like walking. Mediation is whatever gets you out of your head and into your body, and the only person that will know what works for you, is you. What you need will be different every day, so asking, “what do I need today?” is a very important daily habit that I recommend to everybody!

Part of living a sustainable lifestyle is being more conscious about how we shop. What are the tips you use to ensure that you’re shopping responsibly?

I like to say that we are all “voting” with our money. And what I mean is that we create the world we live in with our money and the way we use it. In that sense, giving money to the fast fashion industry is a big no for me. I personally prefer to shop second hand and sustainable brands. I would start by visiting second-hand shops or, if you prefer brand new clothes, I would suggest looking for the Fair Trade certified logo and the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).

I LOVE THIS TOPIC! I love fashion, and I feel a little bit ashamed to admit that I didn’t know the incredible harm that fast fashion causes, not only to the planet but the lives of its workers. My first and most important tip is: educate yourself. There is so much information available now! But the one documentary that made me completely change the way I look at fashion was “The True Cost.” I highly recommend watching that documentary and taking notes (I did!).

MARIA ON SET OF “THE MOODYS” WHICH IS CURRENTLY FILMING ON ITS SECOND SERIES FOR FOX

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We live in a society that invites us to look for external solutions to internal problems With 14 Kids Choice Award nominations under your belt, it’s clear that you have quite an influence on today’s youth! What do you think is the importance of using your platform to inspire positive change? Nina Simone once said, “… An artist’s duty, as far as I’m concerned, is to reflect the times.” I am, more so than a ‘public figure,’ an artist and a human. I do feel the need to “reflect the times,” and my way of being of service is by sharing my truth with respect, honesty, and kindness, to the best of my capacity. More than inspiring positive change, what’s crucial to me is to make my audience, especially younger people, question themselves, their choices, what other people are telling them, and how they interact with their world. To me, the trigger to my better choices, my own evolution, has and will always be questioning my old beliefs. In that way, my message is not for everybody and, also, not “positive” for all. And that’s okay. Especially in these rapidly changing times. Your motto is “Change the world, one good choice at a time.” Can you share what this means to you? It means that we are constantly creating the world we live in, with every thought we think, words we speak, and actions we take. And if I focus on myself and not on everything that’s wrong with the world and everybody else, I can actually create change. When I stopped blaming politicians, leaders, and external factors on the state of my life and the world, that’s when I got to work. And the results I have found in my personal life have been wonderful. It means I choose to put the focus on myself and how I can create change. What is one good choice that everyone can make to improve the world around them? Question everything. And then question some more. Look for your own truth, LIVE your own truth, instead of repeating anybody else’s.

MARIA ALSO RAISES MONEY FOR CAUSES SHE SUPPORTS WITH HER DOS GATOS (BY THEFARIA) T-SHIRT AND TOTE COLLECTION. PART PROCEEDS ARE DONATED TO VARIOUS ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS. 10

And while searching and finding your truth, enjoy the process. Life IS joy, and experiencing it makes the world a better place. To catch up on Maria’s blog posts and shop her Dos Gatos line, visit TheFaria.Online

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loyd and Kathy Hammer planned to spend their retirement sailing the world, but when a friend invited them to help remodel an old hospital in Tanzania, East Africa, their plans quickly changed.

OUTREACH FOR A

BRIGHTER FUTURE

What started as a two-month construction program led to a breakthroughâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;the pair were shocked at how many people lived in desperation, and decided they could not stand by and allow children to die of hunger. They purchased truckloads of corn for villagers to barter with construction supplies and baskets. Day by day, villagers would arrive with stunning, hand-woven baskets to trade for corn. Since then, Outreach has purchased over 65,000 baskets! The Outreach mission was created based on what village leaders identified as the most important needs: safe water, food, medicine, and education. These four needs have become the four promises of Outreach and the mission they continuously strive to achieve.

FOOD When food comes, hope comes, and Outreach brings hope to food-insecure families, having provided more than 600 million meals at home and abroad. In the U.S., Outreach provides nutrient-dense, shelfstable, protein-rich, and easy-to-prepare meals to vulnerable children and their families, distributed to local food banks and pantries. Internationally, Outreach provides meals to Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Centers, school feeding programs, and emergency relief.

IN 2013, FLOYD AND KATHY WERE INVITED TO THE WHITE HOUSE BY PRESIDENT OBAMA AND FORMER PRESIDENT BUSH TO RECEIVE THE 5,000TH POINT OF LIGHT AWARD.

Each donation helps strengthen the four pillars of Outreach. Learn more and donate at outreachprogram.org

SAFE WATER

MEDICAL

EDUCATION

Clean water saves lives! Outreach assesses the water situation of each village to determine what needs to be repaired and implemented.

Healthcare should not be a luxury.

The Outreach Program works with local schools to provide support so that children have access to a good education.

In some areas, a mobile water system posed the best solution. In others, Outreach’s unique design of solar-powered water puriﬁcation systems in schools, businesses, and homes was the perfect solution to provide safe water and, in many cases, a micro-enterprise opportunity.

Through The Outreach Program, medical professionals from across the United States, Canada, Mexico, and England travel to Tanzania twice a year to change lives through healing and medicine. Since 2005, Outreach has supported 23 medical missions and coordinated the work of more than 1,200 medical volunteers in Tanzania and Haiti.

In 2004, Outreach developed the PortaDoc, a Mobile Medical vehicle to provide services to remote villages with limited or no access to medical care. Each week, the Porta-Doc travels to rural villages of Tanzania with essential medical supplies. With the Porta-Doc, Outreach can care for even more vulnerable children.

Isaiah is one of more than 1,500 children who attend the Outreach Children’s Centers each day. Outreach helps the most vulnerable children access education through nutritious meals, mandatory school uniforms, a tutor, and most importantly, a safe place to eat and play. The pass rates are almost 100 percent every year—twice that of the national average.

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GLOBALHEROES.COM

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NOT JUST BEADS:

NABIKIâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

STORY OF

EMPOWERMENT

MEET

NABIKI LESUPER from Kalama Conservancy. She is 49 years old, married, and a mother of 8 children; four boys and four girls.

Nabiki says that before she joined BeadWORKS, life was so difficult. She is part of the Samburu tribe that have inhabited northern Kenya for centuries. Itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a vast arid environment with very little rainfall. The Samburu people depend on livestock for their sustenance and share their land with rich and diverse wildlife, including endangered species like Rhinos, Grevy Zebra, and a herd of 7,000 free-ranging elephant in northern Kenya. However, sources of income were scarce. Her family solely depended on her husband, a nomadic pastoralist. He would have to sell livestock once in a while to provide for their needs. A balanced diet was scarce, and they were unable to attend to health issues. Ten years ago, Nabiki joined BeadWORKS Kenya, a handicraft business that harnesses the rich beading tradition of the women of northern Kenya. She initially resisted joining,

thinking it was a waste of time, but she agreed to participate after some persuasion from friends. In 2015, her group members made her a star beader. A star beader coordinates orders, production materials distribution, and other group activities. Over the years, she realized her leadership talent. Her group is well-organized and supportive of each other. Being a star beader gave her even greater opportunities. She has been able to go on several exposure trips. Before joining BeadWORKS, Nabiki believed that attending a meeting, giving opinions, and speaking in front of the men was taboo. Now, she confidently speaks up, which is a significant achievement for herself and other women. Her community even elected her to the conservancy board, a role that was historically only for men. She has opened a Savings and Credit account with the Northern Rangelands SACCO (a cooperative organization for community members that provides

access to financial services in the form of savings and loans). With this, she was able to educate her children. Being an active member of the SACCO, she was elected as a SACCO agent in her conservancy. She recently upgraded her house from a traditional hut to a permanent block-house, and she has opened a shop selling clothes and food. Nabiki’s story shows that BeadWORKS is not just about beads. It empowers women to control their destinies and shows them they are capable of more than they may realize. BeadWORKS is a movement of women who can speak for themselves, who act for themselves, who have savings, who can think about the future, and plan for their children. Through BeadWORKS, women are able to take on defining roles in their homes and communities, make informed decisions about healthcare for themselves and their children, connect to the outside world through cell phones, and even give back to their communities.

NRT receives critical support from USAID and The Nature Conservancy.

BeadWORKS was initially founded by The Northern Rangelands Trust (NRT) WWW.NRT-KENYA.ORG as a small, donor-funded program to organize women’s groups and help them sell their beaded products. In 2014, BeadWORKS became part of NRT Trading, a business accelerator of sustainable social enterprises. BeadWORKS underwent a complete transformation, implementing a Star Beader production system that empowered and gave women responsibility. The system improved training and gave the women access to credit and savings tools. Product quality and reliability improved immensely, and the business grew to 1,300 women, benefitting over 7,500 people. The Northern Rangelands Trust supports 39 community conservancies across northern and coastal Kenya. NRT member community conservancies work to conserve wildlife and sustainably manage the grassland, forest, river and marine ecosystems upon which livelihoods depend.

BREAKING THE

POVERTY CYCLE

WATER.ORG Co-Founder, Matt Damon

talks about the

POWER OF

WATER MATT DAMONâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S

global perspective was formed years before his movie career began. During a trip with his mother in the early 1980s, Damon saw what life was like for people living in developing countriesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; how they lacked the basic necessities that he was so used to. Those experiences followed him through his early life, leading him to SubSaharan Africa, where, while filming a movie, he spent time with families in a Zambian village. He saw the same reality that he recognized so many years ago, inspiring his commitment to helping solve the global water crisis.

In 2006, he founded H20 Africa Foundation to raise awareness about safe water initiatives on the continent. Three years later, Matt Damon met Gary White, an engineer and water and sanitation expert from Kansas City. White was the founder of WaterPartners International, an American non-profit organization that aimed to provide safe water and sanitation to people in developing countries. Realizing the incredible impact the two could make, H20 Africa and WaterPartners merged to create Water.org. Now, Water.org empowers people around the world with access to safe water and sanitation. To date, they’ve helped change more than 31 million lives. “Access to water is access to education, access to work, access above all to the kind of future we want for our own families and all the members of our human family.” —Matt Damon Co-founder, Water.org We virtually sat down with Matt to ask him what inspired his passion to ensure access to clean water for all, how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected the progress of solving the water crisis, and what we can do to help.

TRAVELING WITH YOUR MOTHER IN THE LATE ’80S, YOU WERE EXPOSED TO POVERTY IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WHICH LED TO YOUR COMMITMENT TO HELP SOLVE THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS. WHY WATER? WHY GARY WHITE? MATT: I couldn’t ignore the fact that, in the villages I visited,

most of the families lacked the same basic necessity—water. The lack of it dictated how people spent their days. Time spent finding and collecting it determined what else they could or could not do. Access to water is something we can easily take for granted in the States. To see people living in the water crisis at such a young age really impacted the way I came to view the world and helped me see the role I wanted to play in changing it. When I heard about how Gary White was working to empower people in need with safe water and sanitation through small, affordable loans, I was interested. After meeting him, I saw for myself how powerful this was for people living in poverty, and I knew this innovation, this solution Gary came up with was going to scale...and it has. We have reached more than 31 million people to date with access to safe water or sanitation, and each year this approach proves its efficiency as we change more lives, faster.

SARIATI IN INDONESIA USES WATER FROM HER NEW TAP FOR CLEANING, COOKING, AND BATHING.

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SINCE THE INCEPTION OF WATER.ORG, YOU AND YOUR CO-FOUNDER GARY WHITE'S SOLUTION TO THE WATER CRISIS HAS EVOLVED WITH A FOCUS ON SUSTAINABLE ACTIONS LIKE WATERCREDIT. CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS APPROACH? We’ve found that millions of people in poverty are already paying high prices for water—in time spent collecting it or money to pay for temporary access. They do this because they can’t pay for a water connection or toilet all at once, but, if given the opportunity, they can afford to finance the solutions. That’s why we created WaterCredit. WaterCredit makes small loans for water and sanitation possible for these families. Rather than coming up with, say, $150 at once, they’re able to make small, affordable loan payments over time, giving their families the taps and toilets they need immediately. And the repayment rate is incredible. The people we serve are repaying their loans at a 99 percent repayment rate. With millions affected across the world, there isn’t a one-size-fitsall solution to the global water crisis. Our approach is marketdriven and people-driven. It’s why and how we’ve reached more than 31 million people with access to water or sanitation, 8 million in the last year alone. WATER.ORG CO-FOUNDERS MATT DAMON AND GARY WHITE VISIT WITH A FAMILY WHO TOOK A SMALL LOAN THROUGH WATER.ORG’S PARTNER BANK IN THE PHILIPPINES TO GET A SAFE WATER CONNECTION AT HOME.

THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC HAS FURTHER WORSENED THE LIVING CONDITIONS AND HEALTH OF MILLIONS OF PEOPLE IN BOTH DEVELOPED AND DEVELOPING COUNTRIES, WITH NO CLEAR END IN SIGHT. WHAT IS NEEDED TO ENSURE THE UNITED NATIONS' SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOAL 6, CALL FOR CLEAN WATER AND SANITATION FOR ALL BY 2030, IS MET? IS IT STILL POSSIBLE? Water makes handwashing and hygiene possible, and washing your hands, as we’ve all been told, is a first line of defence against viruses like COVID-19. The problem is that not everyone everywhere has access to the water needed for this simple and powerful act. Even before this pandemic, we knew achieving Sustainable Development Goal 6 would take more than the amount of funding the world is currently contributing to solving the global water crisis. Closing this financing gap and achieving safe water and sanitation for all is possible, and I think Water.org is well-poised to help the global community get there, especially in a time when access to water is needed more than ever.

YOU HAVE SEEN FIRST-HAND HOW ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER CHANGES LIVES. IS THERE ONE MOMENT OR ONE PERSON WHO AFFIRMED YOUR PASSION TO PROVIDE EVERYONE WITH ACCESS TO CLEAN WATER IN YOUR LIFETIME? While I was filming a movie in Sub-Saharan Africa, I spent time with families in a Zambian village. They lacked access to water and toilets. I was reminded of what I saw as a kid in Guatemala—like the families in Guatemala, the entire days’ activities of the women and children in Zambia were dictated by the water crisis. From waking early to walk to find water, to spending hours carrying it back home—the multiple trips, the daily struggle, the illnesses—I knew I had to do something meaningful to help end the water crisis for these families and families around the world.

WHY SHOULD WATER FOR ALL BE EVERYONE'S BUSINESS? Through my work as an actor and my work as a co-founder of Water.org, I’ve travelled around the world and have seen firsthand the critical role water can play in improving lives. Water is everyone’s business because it underpins so many social issues. Whether you care about children’s health, women’s empowerment, the education of girls, or improving economies—access to safe water is the answer. Women, children, economies, and the health of our world rely on access to safe water. By giving to Water.org, people can help prevent the spread of diseases today and support the health of our world tomorrow.

WHAT HAS BEEN THE MOST GRATIFYING MOMENT THROUGHOUT YOUR WORK WITH WATER.ORG? Every time I meet the people we serve, and they share how their lives have changed since getting access to safe water or a toilet at home is gratifying. Their stories motivate and inspire me. For example, when I was in the Philippines last year, I met a woman named Zeny. Zeny finds scrap metal and wood and sells it, and her husband is a mototaxi driver. Together, they make less than $3 a day. They used to spend more than 15 percent of their income to buy water from a neighbor because they couldn’t afford to pay for their own water connection. Families like this are why we do what we do at Water.org. They work so hard, and they have so much potential. We make small, affordable loans possible for people like Zeny and her husband so they can give their families a lasting safe water solution at home. When you empower families in need with access to safe water, you empower them to break their cycle of poverty.

SOLVING THE GLOBAL WATER CRISIS IS NOT A ONE-PERSON JOB. WHAT CAN EACH OF US DO TO HELP? Donate to Water.org. Our organization is reaching families in poverty with access to safe water and sanitation every day, and our solutions are smart, lasting, and cost-efficient. For a donation of $5, you can help give one person access to safe water and the health, hope, and resilience that comes with it.

TO MAKE A DONATION THAT WILL CHANGE LIVES FOREVER, VISIT WATER.ORG/DONATE

THE POWER OF When disaster strikes, it does so without warning. Small Business Relief Fund. AWBI was one of the first COVID funds in Atlanta to couple awards with assistance to help businesses with scenario planning, cash flow analysis, marketing, and more. Among the more than 65 Black-owned businesses supported through the Fund was Brown Toy Box, a small business that was able to pivot its operations and business development activities to focus on selling its culturallyminded STEAM boxes to schools. This model has helped sustain the business and expand the reach of its curriculum.

“The power of giving has more impact than ever before,” says Patricia McIlreavy, chief executive of CDP.

“AWBI was the first capital I received when COVID hit. That funding was a lifeline, and because of that timely infusion of capital, Brown Toy Box is not only surviving the pandemic, we are thriving!”

CDP uses innovative strategies to help donors maximize the impact of their contributions, meet the needs of vulnerable populations, and ultimately, strengthen their communities. Not long after the COVID-19 pandemic started, CDP supported the Atlanta Wealth Building Initiative (AWBI) COVID-19

PHOTO COURTESY OF © AWBI.

CDP’S GRANT TO ATLANTA WEALTH BUILDING INITIATIVE HELPED PROVIDE MUCH-NEEDED CAPITAL AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO SMALL BUSINESSES LIKE BROWN TOY BOX TO SURVIVE AND THRIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC.

“Without Conexión Américas, my business may not have survived. I’m looking forward to expanding my business in the near future with my new food truck.” —Ruth Rico, Owner, Delicias Colombianas RR

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR DISASTER PHILANTHROPY

The Center for Disaster Philanthropy provides expert advice and resources while also managing domestic and international disaster funds on behalf of corporations, foundations, and individuals through targeted, holistic, and localized grantmaking. CDP brings greater attention to the life cycle of disasters—from preparedness, mitigation, and planning to rebuilding, resilience, and recovery. Donors can give with confidence, knowing that their support rebuilds stronger communities affected by wildfires, hurricanes, COVID-19, and other disasters. WITH THE HELP OF A CDP GRANT, CONEXIÓN AMÉRICAS WAS ABLE TO HELP ENTREPRENEURS LIKE RUTH RICO WITH RENTAL ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL RELIEF FUNDING AND BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.

—Terri-Nichelle Bradley, Founder & Principal of Play, Brown Toy Box Ruth Rico, the owner of the company Delicias Colombianas RR, is a food entrepreneur and member of Conexión Américas’ Mesa Komal culinary incubator. For years, Ruth has brought delicious Colombian arepas to Tennessee, and her business was incredibly successful at local festivals. Last year, she purchased a brand-new food truck with her savings— something she had been dreaming about for years. Then the pandemic hit, canceling all the festivals. Realizing the community needed support, Conexión Américas, with the help of a CDP grant, acted quickly to help entrepreneurs like Ruth reduce and eliminate rental fees and

Photo courtesy of © Conexión Américas.

THE

increasing frequency and intensity of disasters worldwide create a critical need for knowing when to respond and how to do so effectively. The Center for Disaster Philanthropy (CDP) takes out the guesswork by helping donors fully leverage philanthropy to strengthen communities’ ability to withstand disasters and recover when they occur.

connect them to COVID-19 related relief funding and business opportunities.

Learn more at disasterphilanthropy.org

A BETTER CHANCE: CREATING LEADERS FOR A LIFETIME A Better Chance is on a mission to change the landscape of American leadership by increasing the number of well-educated young people of color through access to competitive educational opportunities. Established in 1963, A Better Chance is the leading resource for identifying, recruiting, and developing leaders among young people of color in America who are capable of assuming positions of responsibility and leadership. A Better Chance helps Scholars of color and their families receive life-changing educational opportunities.

in her hometown of Oakland, California, and as a student at Duke. Gabrielle serves on Duke’s Black Student Alliance Advocacy and Caucasus Committee and the Presidential Council on Black Affairs, where she works to recruit academically talented Black students and improve their experience at the university.

Bonnie Jenkins is a former State Department official and expert on assessing global threats from nuclear weapons to global health. She is the U.S. representative to the G7 Global Partnership Against the Spread of Weapons and Materials of Mass Destruction (WMD) and chaired the Global Partnership in 2012.

The College Preparatory Schools Program (CPSP) is a process designed to recruit, place, and support students at more than 200 independent day, boarding, and select public schools. In its nearly 60 year history, A Better Chance has helped nearly 17,000 young people gain access to private and public schools nationwide. The organization’s Alumni leverage these educational experiences to become leaders throughout each phase of their personal and professional journeys.

Last summer, Gabrielle was selected as an Ethics in Place Fellow with the Kenan Institute, where she spearheaded her own research entitled, “Just-Us: Young Black Women’s Perceptions of Justice, Inequality, and Liberation.” For this study, Gabrielle interviewed approximately 50 Black girls from across the United States to identify the most pressing problems affecting them. As a Duke University 20|20 Scholar, she will continue her Just-Us research in 2021 and develop programming to address some of the issues girls discussed.

After graduating from The Spence School in 1978, Bonnie earned her BA at Amherst, followed by a JD at Albany Law School, an MPA from SUNY Albany's Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy, an LLM from Georgetown in International and Comparative Law, and a PhD from the University of Virginia in International and Comparative Affairs.

GABRIELLE BATTLE

BONNIE JENKINS

Gabrielle Battle (The College Preparatory School, Class of 2019) is currently a sophomore at Duke University, majoring in public policy. She is deeply passionate about racial justice and has worked to advocate for marginalized communities

Bonnie’s current focus is on her non-profit, the Women of Color Advancing Peace, Security and Conflict Transformation organization, of which she is Founder and President. Gabrielle and Bonnie are two examples of the talented community of leaders within A Better Chance’s Alumni network. With 2,230 currently enrolled Scholars, an average College Matriculation Rate of 99 percent (as of 2019), and 206 Member Schools nationwide, A Better Chance is changing the future of American leadership for the better. To learn more and donate ABETTERCHANCE.ORG. This advertisement was paid for by friends of A Better Chance.

GIVING SIGHT: THE TRANSFORMATIONAL JOURNEY C

ommunities worldwide suffer from unnecessary blindness or vision impairment, simply because they don’t have access to eye exams and appropriate glasses. Optometry Giving Sight is on a mission to change that reality. By focusing on support for sustainable solutions in underserved communities, Optometry Giving Sight aims to permanently solve this problem for the 1.2 billion people who need their help to see.

When you give the gift of sight, you also give the gift of hope and life. From schoolchildren who are able to succeed in their studies to future health professionals making a difference in their communities, Optometry Giving Sight allows transformational journeys to begin.

ALEJANDRA’S TRANSFORMATION For an active, intelligent, and successful student who always liked to perform well in school, it was concerning when, at the age of ten, Alejandra’s class performance started declining. She began to have problems reading words from the school board and recognizing people and signs from a distance.

“Fear,” she said, is the only word that comes to Alejandra’s mind when she was asked how she felt. Over time, the fear started to turn into distress, and she began to develop the habit of putting her head in her hands and resting like that for a long time—it all seemed to be too much. Her parents looked for a solution to the difficulty their daughter was experiencing. Unfortunately, eye care services are expensive and not close to Alejandra’s community. Luckily, the following year, Alejandra’s school was invited to participate in a school screening program implemented by Ver Bien, supported by funding partner Optometry Giving Sight. Having a comprehensive eye examination and the correctly prescribed glasses helped Alejandra greatly improve the quality of her life and allowed her youthful ambitions to open up again. “My life is easy now,” Alejandra said happily. “I can see all my friends walking to school, so I feel part of life again. I can see the school board and play catch again, my favorite lunch recess game.”

SAMUEL’S DREAM COME TRUE With the goal of pursuing a career within the medical sciences, Samuel Chagwadira became one of Malawi’s first-ever optometrists in 2012. Optometry Giving Sight was one of the funding partners that aided in the establishment of the Malawi School of Optometry. As one of the first students in the program, Samuel remembers the early challenges when the university had limited equipment and resources. Samuel said that graduating was like a dream come true, and that he will always cherish the memories of his time with lecturers and classmates. “To be part of the first group of graduate optometrists in Malawi feels great,” he said. “It is history in the making; we’ve written history!”

TO LEARN MORE, VISIT GIVINGSIGHT.ORG.

Giving Sight, Transforming Lives Optometry Giving Sight meets both immediate and long-term needs of communities without access to eye care, focusing efforts on training, establishing vision centers and optometry schools, and delivering eye care services.

133 VISION CENTERS ESTABLISHED

BASIC EYE CARE SERVICES PROVIDED TO MORE THAN 7.6 MILLION PEOPLE

MORE THAN 14,000 EYE CARE PERSONNEL TRAINED

OVER 40 COUNTRIES SERVED

To learn more about how you can make a difference for people, families, and entire communities across the globe visit:

givingsight.org

BY CURE EDITORIAL TEAM

All Photos © Chaanga

CATHERINE IS

“There are people who laugh at me. I do get upset because of that,” shares 13-year-old Catherine. There are more than 450,000 children in Zambia with treatable disabilities. And many of them, like Catherine, become targets for ridicule, shame, and rejection. Their lives are just as difficult socially and emotionally as they are physically. CURE Children’s Hospitals serve in hard places like this to bring physical and spiritual healing to vulnerable children like Catherine. Catherine had spent most of her life with severely bowed legs. She endured this condition for years, but sadly, there was no treatment available in her village. She was unable to walk long distances or perform most household chores. She was, however, able to attend school, but only because her family and friends carried her on their backs. One day, her sister Patricia learned about CURE Zambia. Just a few weeks later, Catherine was admitted to the hospital for treatment. The technical term for her surgery, performed by Dr. Lastroni, was a proximal tibia wedge osteotomy and fibula osteotomy—performed on both legs! A long cast was put on to hold the legs together with a 90-degree correction. This was a life-changing event for Catherine!

Even though she had casts on both legs, she was so happy. Why? She had hope that one day she would be able to walk to school, play with her friends, and help with chores. During her time at the hospital, she had learned that she was loved by God and precious in His sight. When Catherine returned for a follow-up visit, she excitedly began physical therapy to learn how to walk with straight legs. She was on the road to a new life—and was much taller! Without people supporting the work of CURE, vulnerable children like Catherine, will often go their entire lives without treatment. They are rejected, laughed at, and often seen as cursed. We are thankful to God for people like you that show love to the poor, weak, and disabled. To help vulnerable children with treatable disabilities receive lifechanging surgeries and experience God’s love, go to cure.org/globalhero or call 616-512-3105.

VITAMIN ANGELS: SUPPLEMENTING

NUTRITION FOR UNDERSERVED

MOTHERS & CHILDREN

MOM & HEALTH PROMOTER JUANA, PERU

EVERY MOTHER. EVERY CHILD. To build a healthier world, Vitamin Angels starts at the very beginning.

Communities experiencing marginalization often suffer the most. Add the threat of malnutrition, and the cycle of poverty and poor health can hold families and communities in its grip for generations.

A public health nutrition organization, Vitamin Angels focuses on improving access to nutrition interventions for underserved pregnant women and young children.

Vitamin Angels collaborates with a global community of program partners in 70 countries, and the U.S., to promote equitable access to healthcare and nutrition.

Meeting the intense and urgent nutritional needs of growing bodies and minds makes a lasting impact. Healthy mothers are more likely to have healthy newborns. Children who grow up strong can thrive in school and in life. And when they do, a world of possibility emerges.

THE LEADER

EVERYWHERE. At least half of the world’s population lacks access to essential health services, according to the World Health Organization.

Juana starts her day at 6 a.m., caring for her children, the family animals, cooking, cleaning, and preparing to make the rounds in her community. As a qhali (or health promoter), working in partnership with Vitamin Angels local program partner, Juana holds an esteemed position. Her peers rely on her for information and guidance on everything from water filtration to prenatal nutrition and breastfeeding.

Juana leads by example, taking prenatal vitamins and minerals provided by Vitamin Angels during her most recent pregnancies. The benefits are not only clear to her, but to her community, which has quietly observed this powerhouse over the years. Now, many readily follow in her footsteps, hoping for a healthier future for their children, too.

HELPING AT HOME To increase health equity, Vitamin Angels works in every U.S. state and Puerto Rico, through a network of 350 program partners, to reach pregnant women who experience low socio-economic status, lack of health insurance, and other barriers. 450,000 women and their babies received Vitamin Angels’ high-quality prenatal vitamins and minerals and nutrition education materials that support maternal health and positive pregnancy outcomes in 2019.

A mother’s first role—in fact, the process that transitions her from woman to mother—is to make a life from scratch. But that’s only the beginning.

NEW YORK

STATE OF MIND:

CELEBRITIES

GIVE BACK This year, celebrities are not just staying home, theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re giving back to the state they call home! From donating clothes and food to making sure vulnerable students have what they need to succeed, these stars are sparking acts of kindness across the nation.

BELLA HADID DONATES CLOTHING TO HOMELESS CHARITY DURING SNOWSTORMS

“The snow has been beautiful, but as it gets colder, I can’t stop thinking about the people who don’t have homes this winter.. who walk to work every morning in the snow without the layers they need… (sic),” Bella explained

NAOMI CAMPBELL DONATES 1,000 FOOD PARCELS TO HOSPITALS ACROSS NEW YORK Naomi Campbell teamed up with Cipriani Restaurants NYC to have 1,000 food parcels delivered to frontline workers at five hospitals across New York. Naomi wanted to offer the “small token of appreciation” to the courageous staff at Mt. Sinai, Montefiore, Harlem Hospital, Coney Island Hospital, and Elmhurst Hospital, who are putting themselves at risk to keep the city safe amid the coronavirus pandemic. She said: “Thank you for devoting yourself to being a frontline worker during the pandemic of COVID-19. I wanted to acknowledge and appreciate the risk you have been taking these past nine months to keep New York City safe. Please enjoy this small token of appreciation as a form of gratitude for your hard work and efforts during these difficult times.”

in a lengthy, heartfelt post on Instagram. “I am always thinking of the people that might not be able to afford thick, warm coats for themselves, their kids, parents, etc.” she continued. The 24-year-old urged her fans to throw their support behind the non-profit New York-based organization.

KELLY RIPA AND MARK CONSUELOS PROVIDE SCHOLARSHIPS TO HOMELESS STUDENTS Kelly Ripa and Mark Consuelos have paid for laptops and scholarships worth $2,000 each for a total of 20 of the most vulnerable students who are headed to college in New York. Kelly and Mark's generous donation is being done in partnership with the Win foundation in New York, which provides safe housing and critical services to help homeless women and their children rebuild their lives and break the cycle of homelessness. In a statement, Kelly said: “Mark and I are so excited to help these students in whatever small way we can. Starting college is a pivotal moment for so many and being a part of this time is really special for our family. We know

“I went through my closet and found some of my warmest things, jackets, and coats to send to @thepeoplestablenyc; they picked up all of it and will dispense it throughout the city to the people that need it most. I’m gonna continue to support them, especially through the winter!!” Bella enthused. “Thank you to the people’s table for all that you do. I am so inspired.”

each of these scholarship recipients has a bright future ahead and we can't wait to see what amazing things they accomplish!” Kelly, 49, added in her statement: “We were watching our kids, with all of their technology, and Mark and I said, 'Learning remotely is so difficult...how are they possibly doing this at Win?' Sure enough, they didn't have the Wi-Fi, tablets, or other things they needed.” One recipient, named Mikayala Garay, said: “As a student at SUNY Morrisville studying equine science to one day become a vet, I take classes off-campus at nearby stables. I'll use this money to buy books and to save up for a car to get to and from my classes off-campus.” —Reuters

•••

GLOBALHEROES.COM

•••

All Photos © REUTERS / BANG SHOWBIZ

Bella Hadid has donated clothes from her wardrobe to The People's Table to help the homeless during the New York City snowstorms.

A GENERATION OF NEUROFIBROMATOSIS

PATIENTS

FORGING THE

PATHWAY TO

A CURE

One of my doctors once said, ‘Jack may have NF, but NF does not have him.’ —Jack Burke, National Humanitarian Awardee

IMAGINE

being told by your doctor that tumors are growing in your body. There are limited drug interventions available that might help, but they may also have no effect. Your pain can be treated, but not necessarily all of it. And it’s unknown if and where you’ll grow more tumors. Essentially, you’ll just have to wait and see what happens. This is the reality for the 1 in 3,000 people around the world living with neurofibromatosis (NF for short), a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves throughout the body and may lead to blindness, deafness, bone abnormalities, disfigurement, learning

disabilities, disabling pain, and cancer. This is a community of patients that, while used to hearing “wait and see,” is not one to sit back and do nothing. They read, learn, advocate, raise awareness, and raise money to fund research—patients like Jack Burke and Lilly Ann Brooks. Jack, now 15 years old, was diagnosed with neurofibromatosis when he was 2 years old. For Jack, NF has brought many challenges. He has an eye orbit tumor surrounding the left side of his face, which, at 6 years old, required a tumor debulking surgery and reconstruction. When Jack was 8 years old, he was diagnosed with an inoperable brainstem glioma, which led to a year of chemotherapy in second and third grade. Due to complications from this glioma, at the age of 10, he had brain surgery to relieve

the pressure building in his brain and spinal cord. Two years later, it became painful and hard for Jack to walk, leading to a three-part surgery for each of his feet. Jack sees well over a dozen doctors and specialists, has had more than 40 MRIs since his NF diagnosis, and sees a number of different types of occupational and physical therapists. When Jack was 6 years old, he started a nonprofit to raise money and help kids just like him. The foundation, CureNFwithJack, has since raised millions of dollars for NF research. While still just a teenager, Jack is also an ardent public speaker, influencing both corporate executives and perfect strangers alike to invest in our vision to end NF. In November 2020, Jack received the Children’s Tumor Foundation’s National

photo by Duane Codrington

I want to be a voice and an example for everyone with NF, that we are capable of accomplishing anything. We do not have to be defined by our diagnosis. We can define our own lives with everything we do. — Lilly Ann Brooks, NF Ambassador

Humanitarian Award, honoring his commitment to our shared mission. Lilly Ann was diagnosed with NF when she was 18 months old and has tumors on her spine, neck, chest, and upper right arm. She suffers from severe scoliosis because of neurofibromatosis. But that has never stopped her. In June 2016, Lilly Ann joined a groundbreaking clinical trial that brought Koselugo (selumetinib) to market as the first FDA approved drug for NF, specifically for patients like Lilly Ann, who live with NF1 inoperable plexiform neurofibroma tumors. She has seen a 20 percent reduction in the size of her tumors. Today, Lilly Ann is a sophomore at the University of Alabama, where she is also a proud Alpha Delta Pi sorority member. While accepting the 2021 NF Ambassador

award at the Children’s Tumor Foundation virtual National Celebration Concert to End NF, Lilly Ann declared, “I want to be a voice and an example for everyone with NF, that we are capable of accomplishing anything. We do not have to be defined by our diagnosis. We can define our own lives with everything we do.” Jack and Lilly Ann are part of a generation of patients taking their diagnosis into their own hands, and they’re doing so with the Children’s Tumor Foundation, a not-for-profit organization dedicated to finding effective treatments for the millions of people worldwide living with neurofibromatosis, a term for three distinct disorders: NF1, NF2, and schwannomatosis. There is one approved drug, Koselugo, for the treatment of inoperable plexiform neurofibromas, a

type of tumor that affects a subset of NF1 patients, including Lilly Ann. Discoveries from Children’s Tumor Foundation-funded researchers led to the development of Koselugo (selumetinib), which is an amazing first step. There is still so much more needed for the millions of NF patients, like Jack, who are still waiting for an effective, approved medication. Visit ctf.org/globalheroes and join the fight to end NF.

by Jasmine Budak, SickKids Foundation

INNOVATION, DISCOVERY, AND PHILANTHROPY

IN 2009,

The Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) in Toronto, Canada got its first 3D printer, large and clunky by today’s standards, but high-end at the time. Few were more excited than Dr. Shi-Joon Yoo, a cardiac radiologist who saw the technology’s enormous potential to help surgeons study their patients’ hearts. With little more than a user’s manual, Dr. Yoo taught himself how to use the printer in his spare time. In those days, printing materials were rigid; the hearts were ceramiclike—and beautiful, Dr. Yoo recalls. But they also conveyed a lot of information, offering surgeons an exceptional view of the organ. They could hold it in their hand, see every angle, every valve, every unique defect. They would go into surgery with a better idea of what they’d find inside their patients.

By 2013, printer innovation had taken off. The machines were smaller and more precise, the materials softer and more pliable. Too eager to wait on funding, Dr. Yoo bought his own printer, set it up in a rented office space across the street from SickKids, and started printing hearts for his colleagues. These new models were flexible. They could be cut and sutured. They allowed surgeons an unprecedented opportunity to practice a rare or complex procedure beforehand. The potential benefits were enormous and exciting: fewer surprises in the operating room, reduced chance for error, and, ultimately, patients would fare better. The practice proved so useful among SickKids surgeons, Dr. Yoo teamed up with Dr. Glen Van Arsdell, then-head of cardiovascular surgery at SickKids, to develop a training course so surgeons elsewhere could benefit. In 2015, HandsOn Surgical Training (HOST) launched two four-day sessions, welcoming a dozen surgeons from around the world. Learning on models in a low-pressure environment where mistakes are not catastrophic will considerably fast-track a surgeon’s expertise, says Dr. Van Arsdell, now head of congenital cardiovascular surgery at UCLA Medical Center. (He remains a HOST instructor.) “I learned to operate over the course of 14 years. It’s a graded process; you are involved in progressively complex

Recently, HOST expanded to offer a yearlong curriculum for surgeons-in-training, who’ve spent almost no time in the OR— people like Dr. Nabil Hussein, a cardiac fellow from the UK who felt compelled to come to SickKids after stumbling on a YouTube video about HOST. Dr. Hussein had been pondering his own long path as a new surgeon; he figured he’d be in his 50s by the time he was sufficiently trained in difficult procedures. “I wanted to help make this path better—shorter,” he says. He was convinced that learning on models was the way to do it, and he wanted to be part of the revolution. While at SickKids, Dr. Hussein helped establish HOST’s new curriculum and, later, was part of the team that devised an objective assessment tool to validate HOST’s results. “No one else is doing this in the world,” he says. “The biggest barrier is cost, and we would not have been able to do this without donors.” HOST’s earliest supporters are Peter and Fabiola Butler. Peter’s connection with SickKids runs deep; in 1961, he had his first surgery to repair a congenital heart defect. He, more than most, appreciates the training and skill required by pediatric cardiac surgeons. Other key donors, Penny and Joseph del Moral, have a nine-year-old son who had several surgeries as an infant to correct his many heart defects. They too acutely understand the high stakes of congenital heart surgery and the value of 3D

For the HOST team, this world-first training program has proved its value and is here to stay. In several recently published studies, Dr. Hussein and HOST instructors showed that training on realistic models is highly effective. Using an objective assessment method, they found that for certain complex procedures, 80-87 percent of surgeons were more accurate, and all scored faster after practicing just once. And as 3D-printing technology advances and model hearts only get truer to life, their use in surgical training may very well become required curriculum in the field. The Labatt Family Heart Centre at SickKids is one of the top pediatric centers in the world, uniquely structured so that clinicians and scientists work together to treat and solve some of the most severe pediatric heart diseases. © Sick Kids

Congenital heart surgeries are among the most challenging. Unlike adult cardiac patients whose heart anatomy is predictable, an infant’s congenital malformation can be completely unique and totally wonky. Main arteries could be reversed, or a whole chamber missing. Not to mention, newborn hearts can be as small as a strawberry.

Over the years, the uptake has been growing. This past winter, amid COVID-19 global lockdowns and travel restrictions, the 6th annual HOST was held virtually for the first time. Hundreds of model hearts were printed, boxed, and mailed to 42 participants on nearly every continent. In some cases, trainees might be one of only two congenital heart surgeons in their country, where there are no teaching hospitals. For these surgeons, the opportunity to get more experience in rare disorders and learn from giants in the field is priceless and, broadly, could help improve pediatric heart-patient outcomes around the world.

printing to improve patient outcomes—here and around the world.

DRS. SHI-JOON YOO AND GLEN VAN ARSDELL

To learn more, visit sickkids.ca/en/care-

services/centres/labatt-family-heartcentre/

To learn more about HOST, visit:

3dprintheart.ca/about To donate, visit: sickkidsfoundation.com © Sick Kids_Dr.Nabil Hussein

operations and expand your confidence bit by bit until you’re ready.” Training on models will practically obliterate this timeline. “For a mature surgeon, performing a complex operation three times on a heart model will be enough,” says Dr. Van Arsdell.

BY ALEX CARTER

ALBERT RANDSBORG AND CHLOE TRUJILLO SETTING UP AT E HOUSTON AND BOWERY, WHERE WE GAVE OUT 400 KITS BY THE BOWERY MISSION OLIVIA WANG (VP) PUTTING UP A SIGN ON 129TH AND LENOX, WHERE WE GAVE OUT 100 KITS

omelessness has been a New York City quandary since the days of the Great Depression. This year especially, the pandemic has left many unemployed, evicted, and seeking refuge. Residents do what they can to help—food drive here, loose change there—but high-schooler Chloe Trujillo wanted to do something more substantial.

Within weeks, SustainABLE created starter kits for homeless shelters within New York, which included 10 essential items, consisting of reusable masks, sanitizer, deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, and menstrual products. These kits were distributed throughout the city in early March, helping and protecting the 80,000 homeless men and women by promoting good hygiene. These kits were a savior as the first wave of the pandemic started, overwhelming the city of New York. Thousands lost their jobs, their homes, and were forced to seek refuge in shelters. To help keep costs low, Trujillo and her team partnered with businesses who wanted to participate in helping the most vulnerable, “Money is tight right now, in all areas of the government, so we began working with more companies that are able to give us products.” Through fundraising and corporate partnerships, over $300,000 worth of products were redistributed to shelters. The organization also relies on public donations to help fund their hygiene kits. As a result of the resounding support from businesses, including Victoria’s Secret, as well the community, the cost per kit averages between $3-4. The original goal was to raise $10,000, but when that was achieved rather quickly, Trujillo turned to the shelters directly, determining which items were needed the most. Communicating with the shelters allowed the team to customize kits to suit the needs of the patrons. “Originally, it wasn’t supposed to be about hygiene, it was supposed to be more about hats, gloves, blankets and things like that, but that’s seasonal,” said Trujillo, “I wanted to make sure if I start something,

THE LEADERSHIP TEAM, LEAD BY CHLOE TRUJILLO, WHO DIRECT THE REST OF THE 80 VOLUNTEERS. LEFT TO RIGHT: PHILLIP FUHRMAN, OLIVIA WANG, CHLOE TRUJILLO, NINA HISSNAUER, SAMANTHA SALCEDO

On a cold night this past winter, Trujillo and her friends weren’t sure how to get back home to her apartment in New York City. It wasn’t until a random act of kindness exhibited by a homeless man was she then able to find the train station and return home safely. Stricken by the man’s kindness, Trujillo knew she had to repay the act, “He probably needed to worry about where he could sleep safely, but he was focused on helping [us].” She and her friends picked up products from the dollar store and began distributing them on the subway during their commute to school. Thus SustainABLE was born, a nonprofit organization, run by over 80 high-school students, supplying America’s homeless with hygiene kits.

it would have an impact all year.” Many products, like deodorant, menstrual products, and other basic hygiene essentials, are not supplied by the shelters. The team wanted to ensure the products they were giving were essential and straightforward. Although Trujillo wanted to help people as much as she could, she did not want to have a negative environmental impact, she admits, “Many of the products in the kits are traditionally wasteful.” To counter this, the businesses SustainABLE has partnered with all have an eco-conscious aspect to them: “some use ethical labor, sustainable packaging, or conscious transportation,” reveals Trujillo. Currently, 60 percent of brand partnerships are with sustainable companies, the goal is to increase that to 90 percent by 2022. Not only that, the products in the kits themselves are environmentally friendly. SustainABLE strives itself on being just that, and wants to be as non-impactful as possible. This means reaching out to companies who believe the same thing. As a result, they are able to offer natural deodorants and other eco-friendly products. For the young volunteers, “Having the smallest impact on the environment is important,” Trujillo explains, “the more sustainable products we are able to offer, the more sustainable we become and the less impact we have.”

Trujillo hopes that her pre-pandemic plans of having community meet and greets will be able to occur once restrictions are lifted. In the meantime, SustainABLE is working diligently to get their hygiene kits to the ones that need them the most; over 9,000 have already been distributed. Trujillo’s success within New York garnered nation-wide attention, and now with chapters all over the world, SustainABLE’s 80+ student volunteers are able to help even more individuals rebuild their self-confidence and to help foster a sense of community, one neighbor at a time. To learn more and donate, please visit sustainablestartny.org CHLOE TRUJILLO (FOUNDER/PRESIDENT) WITH 600 KITS

she learned in the classroom with her family and quickly realized they had not been exposed to the same information, simply due to language barriers.

hundred languages. People worldwide can use that education to empower themselves to make changes in their communities to combat climate change.

During middle school, Sophia Kianna was blown away while visiting her family living in Iran. The lack of light pollution illuminated every star in the night sky, but more than that, her immediate family members were unfamiliar with her talks of pollution and climate change. Sophia shared what

Upon her return home, Sophia devised a way to help her family and the families around the world who may not be aware of how pollution and climate change affect them. At first, she translated climate information into Farsi, the language her family speaks in Iran. Thus began Climate Cardinals, a nonprofit organization, now with over six thousand worldwide volunteers, all of whom work tirelessly to translate hundreds of thousands of words of climate information into over one

Climate Cardinals expanded dramatically during the pandemic and garnered the attention of the SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations, who named Sophia the youngest member of the newly-created Youth Advisory Group on Climate Change. While managing Climate Cardinals, being an active member of the UN Youth Council and studying for finals, we were lucky enough to sit down with Sophia for a couple of questions.

eet Sophia Kianni, an 18-year-old climate activist who plans to change the world for the better. Between finishing high school and staying safe during a global pandemic, this climate hero is inspiring activists everywhere to get involved.

ÂŠ Andrew Markowitz

COMBATING CLIMATE CHANGE, ONE WORD AT A TIME

LOOKING AT YOUR RESUME AND WHAT YOU HAVE ACCOMPLISHED, YOU’RE NOT A TYPICAL 18-YEAR-OLD. WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE GOING ON, HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO BE A NORMAL TEENAGER?

I always try and build time into my schedule just to have fun with friends and family. Coronavirus has definitely made it more difficult to be a typical teenager, with being quarantined and socially distant, but I have been able to go on socially distant walks and hikes with friends and family. Right now, however, school is my biggest priority, so sleep has been almost non-existent. In that sense, I seem like a typical teenager. AS A GENZ-ER, YOU HAVE USED YOUR PLATFORM TO REACH THOUSANDS OF YOUTH THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA, INCLUDING TIKTOK, INSTAGRAM, ETC. HOW DO YOU PLAN TO RESONATE WITH GENX AND BOOMERS WHO MAY NOT ALL BE “CONNECTED”?

Speaking with many of my family members, especially the older generations, having conversations can be really effective. I can express my fears and concerns about my future and use direct, emotional appeals to make compelling arguments for the need of climate change. I find that in-person conversations or panel discussions are more impactful for the older generations than social media because dialogue helps to demonstrate information in a way that resonates.

The younger generations have demonized the older generations for creating this climate movement; however, my older mentors have taught me so much and have helped me not to subscribe to that narrative. I believe there has to be a certain level of respect between both generations. Still, it is also important that the older generation leave a seat at the table for us to express our feelings and fears of our future, and collectively, we have to think of solutions without pointing fingers of blame. IN 2017, THE UNITED STATES WITHDREW FROM THE PARIS AGREEMENT. HOW HAVE GLOBAL POLICIES SHAPED YOUR ROLE AND UNDERSTANDING OF POLITICS AS A VOTING CITIZEN, AND WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR THE UPCOMING VOTING GENERATION?

Working with the UN, I have learned that climate change is truly a global issue that requires multilateral cooperation. Something like the Paris Agreement is leading by example, where wealthier nations take responsibility for their disproportionate contribution to carbon emissions. Thankfully, President-Elect Joe Bident will be re-entering the USA into the Paris Agreement. Similar global policies can help keep nations accountable and are important for global participation. Young voters need to be aware of candidates and their platforms, and for many, this requires research into policies and being an informed voter. Climate change is a policy issue and can only be resolved if people are voting for the right candidates.

AS A PART OF THE UN YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL ON CLIMATE CHANGE, HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR ROLE CAN HELP ELICIT GLOBAL CHANGE?

Using my role at the UN to work on issues that I am passionate about is what I’ve been trying to hone in on. My primary responsibility is managing Climate Cardinals, my international nonprofit. My biggest passion has been increasing access to environmental education, especially to non-English speakers. I’ve been working with UN entities, like UNICEF, translating materials to make information accessible to non-English speakers. Also, I plan to use my role to increase youth involvement within the UN and hear their feedback about what is important to them and bring their perspective into our UN policies. Finally, by working with the Secretary-General to ensure a socialjustice orientated approach to tackling the climate crisis, we will be able to tackle other related issues such as environmental racism and climate justice. Sophia plans to continue using Climate Cardinals as a vehicle to combat climate change around the world. From its humble beginnings to worldwide notoriety, Sophia is in awe of the success and is excited to see its impact in the years to come. At such a young age, this global hero has made huge ripples throughout the global community; the world is a much better place with Sophia Kianni in it.

DESPITE YOUR AGE, YOU’VE COLLABORATED WITH THE OLDER GENERATIONS. HOW DO YOU HELP BLEND THE GAP BETWEEN THE GENERATIONS— THOSE WHO INHERIT THE CLIMATE CHANGE PROBLEM AND THE OLDER GENERATIONS WHO GREATLY CONTRIBUTED TO IT WITHOUT TRULY KNOWING THE RAMIFICATIONS?

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FIGHTING

CLIMATE CHANGE FROM

SPACE The European Space Agency is using space technology to combat the effects of global warming on Earth.

Space has a surprising amount to do with climate change. In fact, space is the best vantage point for observing and analyzing climate change— that’s why, through the use of space technology, the European Space Agency has been helping to protect the planet from the ever-changing climate crisis. Since 1975, ESA member states have pushed the frontiers of science and technology to better humankind. Director of Earth’s observation programs, Josef Aschbacher, explains, “Understanding the Earth’s system and how human activity is changing the planet’s natural process is a complicated science.” Through the information collected by ESA, policymakers are informed and empowered to make practical decisions to elicit national and global change.

Sea-level monitoring satellite lifts off ©ESA - S. Corvaja

Climate change is a growing concern for mankind, and politicians and world leaders are coming to terms with its effects. Europe’s top space officials are urging other world leaders to use space exploration as a tool to inform the public, so there is a collective reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. ESA’s director-general, Jan Wörner, explains, “Space missions can show people what might happen to Earth in the future.” Venus and Mars, our two closest planetary neighbors, are examples of what could eventually happen to our planet if we waste resources and don’t correct our current habits. Being the leader in Earth observation, ESA is able to monitor the “pulse” of the planet. Offering the best vantage point, satellite images and data are used to provide key lines of scientific research. Observations of the same region, taken over time, are able to monitor the effects of climate change from space.

By providing different insights into Earth’s changing climate, satellites are a valuable and reliable tool to help the scientific community identify patterns and signs of change. Tom Slater, a climate researcher at the University of Leeds, explains, “Satellites are our only means of routinely monitoring vast and remote areas, so they are absolutely critical in providing measurements.” Policymakers are able to use the information to understand and detect climate change over time. With nearly 50 years of collective data, the scientific evidence of global climate change is irrefutable, and its consequences are far-reaching. Rising sea levels is one such effect.

glaciers around the world. Slater continues, “Satellite observations not only tell us how much ice is being lost, but they also help us to identify and understand which parts of Antarctica and Greenland are losing ice and through what processes—both are key in helping us improve ice sheet models.” In nearly three decades, over 15 trillion tonnes of ice have melted, allowing sea levels to rise by several inches. With so much at risk, monitoring sea level height is more important than ever to understand the changes taking place, so that politicians are able to implement the proper regulations in order to protect the most vulnerable communities.

Nearly 1.9 billion people inhabit low-lying coastal regions around the world, meaning any change to sea levels has a direct impact on their lives. With a drastic impact on global socio-economic stability, policymakers must be well-informed on the effects of climate change in order to create a practical strategy. To maximize the information gathered, the Copernicus Sentinel-6 mission was launched in November of 2020; using altimeter radar technologies, it is able to measure the time it takes radar signals to travel to and from the satellite and will be able to measure the sea surface height until at least 2030.

The future of combating climate change will be from space. At a UN summit in Madrid, via video link from the International Space Station, ESA astronaut from Italy, Luca Parmitano, urged world leaders to “pull their heads out of the sand” over climate change. Policies like the Paris Agreement can help the global effort of combating climate change. In a legally binding treaty on climate change, 196 countries all agreed to limit global warming as soon as possible. A true landmark in multilateral policymaking, the agreement was largely the result of the irrefutable evidence collected by ESA and similar agencies, “Climate change transcends borders and should therefore not be a political issue,” Wörner concludes, “from space, you don’t see borders.”

On 21 November, a Falcon 9 rocket lifted off from the Vandenberg Air Force Base, California, U.S., carrying the Copernicus Sentinel-6 Michael Freilich satellite— the first of two identical satellites to provide critical measurements of sea-level change.

Copernicus Sentinel-6 over the Andes © ESA ATG medialab

Discoveries through satellite data concluded the “worst-case scenario” situations for the changing ice sheets and receding

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GLOBALHEROES.COM

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How Planting Trees is a Community Effort Full of Everyday Heroes

That’s where we come in: One Tree Planted is a 501c(3) non-profit with a focus on global reforestation. We’re dedicated to making it easier for individuals and businesses to give back to the environment, create a healthy climate, protect biodiversity, and plant native tree species around the world.

One hero we’re privileged to work with is Zach Clark-Lee, Nursery Production Manager at the Colorado State Forest Service Seedling Nursery. Driven by “a purpose, a want, and a need to make our world a better place,” he grows and cares for 500,000 native trees, perennials, shrubs, and grasses every year. His days are spent seeding, transplanting, weeding, and getting orders ready for distribution. These plants are used for post-fire/flood restoration, wildlife habitat, erosion control, living snow fences, windbreaks, and more. He recently worked with us to plant trees in a burn scar from Colorado’s High Park fire. Combined, efforts like Zach’s create a powerful ripple effect: reforestation restores damaged ecosystems, provides habitat for biodiversity, stabilizes soils,

supports the water cycle, cleans the air, captures carbon, and cools the planet. It can also bring people together, heal communities, and stimulate local economies. Pretty good for planting trees! To learn more, you can find us at OneTreePlanted.org and @onetreeplanted on social media.

The good news is that although there are many challenges to overcome, this is no longer a fringe issue. There are millions of everyday heroes worldwide who are dedicating their skills, lives, and careers to addressing the climate crisis and creating a healthier planet.

When most people think about reforestation, they think about trees, but it’s the people who make restoration projects happen in the service of nature. From donors to administrators, nursery managers, ecologists, storytellers, community volunteers, and tree planters, everyone has a role to play.

rom increased extreme weather events to rising sea levels, extended wildf ire seasons, and prolonged droughts, our climate is changing right before our eyes. And many wonder: will we be able to change quickly enough to f ix it?

BY CRISTINA MITTERMEIER

When We Think of The Deep Blue, We Should Also

or many people, it is easy to imagine a distinct boundary between land and sea, between solid earth and flowing water—between green landscapes and blue seascapes. We tend to separate the two in our minds. Yet, in the margins where the ocean and the shore overlap, there exists a perfect blend of both colors in marine ecosystems that are as green as they are blue. Anyone who knows me even a little will tell you how much I love the ocean’s lush mangrove trees, its seagrasses swaying with the current, its wild salt marshes flooded daily by the tides, and its characterful seaweed clinging to rocks like a work of art. These in-between zones brim with a mystery and richness that, in my work as a photographer, I am always eager to capture on film. Beyond their beauty, the green plants of the ocean hold an incredible power that could be one of the keys to solving the climate crisis.

Today, the ocean is in trouble, getting hotter, higher, and more acidic as the planet warms. Yet, it also has the potential to be a solution and reverse this trend. Providing more services for humanity than we ever thought possible, the ocean and its coastal regions absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lock it away for millennia, with the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by nearly 4 billion tonnes a year in 2030— the equivalent of taking 2.5 billion cars off the road each year. The protection and restoration of mangroves, seagrass beds, and salt marshes, along with the expansion of seaweed aquaculture, is vital to this process. When I dove in the Jardines de la Reina— the “Gardens of the Queen”—in Cuba, a marine reserve protected for more than three decades, I felt especially moved by these underwater forests. Often referred to as one of the Crown Jewels of the Caribbean, the Jardines de la Reina is one of the few places you can still see untouched, intact, and healthy mangrove and seagrass ecosystems living in harmony.

Life was bursting at the seams. One moment I was surrounded by 10,000 tiny sardines swimming together in a rush of silver; the next, I found myself in the company of a group of eagle rays flapping their graceful, dotted fins. You don’t need to be a scientist to realize the magic that is happening there—everything is healthy because everything is protected. Sadly, not every coastal ecosystem in the world is thriving like the Jardines de la Reina. Since the 1980s, we have lost 35 percent of mangroves worldwide. When mangroves are degraded or destroyed, these forests go from sinks to sources, releasing carbon back into the atmosphere and contributing to the rising levels of greenhouse gases destabilizing the climate. These extraordinary aquatic trees are often harvested for their wood or cleared to make way for coastal development and public beaches. It does not take long for the coastal communities left in the wake of this mass deforestation to suffer consequences that far outweigh any short-term rewards gained.

It’s not too late to turn this ship around. Together, we can bring these critical environments back to life. The solutions to the ocean’s problems, to our problems, already exist. Yet many people just don’t know about them. For the last 30 years, I have used my camera to tell stories, defend the ocean and all of its wonders, and elevate the voices of those on the frontlines of conservation. It is at the heart of our work at SeaLegacy and Only One and an integral part of The Tide, a community of more than 5,000 supporters giving what they can each month to help shape our shared future.

mangroves. Tahiry Honko is designed to earn carbon credits through the conservation and restoration of over 1,200 hectares of mangrove forest— about 2,500 football fields. The local communities then allocate funds from the sale of these carbon credits to priority infrastructure and to help families pay for school fees. Through this project, the Malagasy people are tackling climate breakdown and preserving marine resources for future generations. This model has incredible potential to be scaled up and reproduced in other locations around the world.

This year, Tide members supported Tahiry Honko, a revolutionary mangrove carbon conservation project. In remote southwest Madagascar, working closely with our partner Blue Ventures, ten inspiring coastal communities have successfully developed a formal system to protect and sustainably manage their

From its vast depths to its verdant green edges, the ocean is one of our greatest allies in the race against climate change. This is why it matters that the ocean is both blue and green, why I feel passionate about the work to heal our planet through the trees and grasses of the ocean.

Ready to help tackle the climate crisis with the ocean’s trees? Learn more: only.one/greenseas

ABOUT CRISTINA MITTERMEIER Cristina Mittermeier is the marine biologist and activist who pioneered the concept and field of conservation photography. Mittermeier founded the International League of Conservation Photographers (ILCP) in 2005 to provide a platform for photographers working on environmental issues. In 2014, Mittermeier co-founded SeaLegacy, a non-proﬁt organization dedicated to harnessing the power of communications technology to educate and inform the world about the incredible beauty of the ocean, and all of the challenges that it faces in the wake of the climate crisis. Mittermeier is also the President of the Only One Collective.

JARDINES DE LA REINA

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A VOICE FOR BIRDS OF PREY THE FALCONRY FUND

The Falconry Fund was created to support ongoing efforts to protect and celebrate the practice of falconry, including fostering young people in taking up the practice. Activities and initiatives that educate and enlighten the public about the art and practice of

falconry are crucial to its present and historical practice. In 2021, the Falconry Fund proposes to start the process of building the North American Falconry and Conservation Center. We envision a 15,000 square foot center located on 1,000 acres in either South Dakota or Nebraska, USA. Total cost $8M. The facility will provide the organization with a hub in which to complete its mission of conservation, preservation, and education. The facility would serve as a physical anchor for our educational outreach as well as on-site public programs. We envision co-operative agreements with university students studying in conservation or renewable resources. The site would act as a preserve where habitat that benefits native plant and animal species could not only be studied but replicated in other states.

The future of falconry depends on the diversity of nature! Falconers support modern wildlife conservation and biological research, including recent efforts to confront threats to raptor populations and their critical habitats, and reducing electrocution threats to saker falcons in Mongolia and golden eagles in North America. With your help, we can improve the protection of wild raptors, quarry species, and their habitats. Help us make this dream come true. Discover more about the Falconry Fund by visiting us at www.Falconryfund.org

All footer photos © Mark Adam/Falconry Fund

Falconry is the ultimate bond with nature. The cornerstones of the Falconry Fund are to Protect, Preserve, Educate, and Communicate. In 2016, the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) inscribed falconry as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity. UNESCO also recognized falconry as a “living human heritage” under the Convention for the Safeguarding of the Intangible Cultural Heritage, a major development in ongoing efforts to protect falconry’s future.

is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and protecting the various arts and practices of falconry and the cultural and environmental aspects that make it possible. Our board is comprised of conservationists who all work for the organization voluntarily.

ÂŠ GIAMPAOLO SGURA

"Shania Kids Can was built on my experience growing up, I lived what these kids are living and it was tough to keep hope alive. If we can give them even one bright day, or one bright year, then we've given them something they may never have had and something that could change their life forever. During these unprecedented times it is more important than ever to support these kids and keep their hope alive. While itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s certainly been a challenge to pivot our model to a virtual one, I am pleased to report that we remain 100 percent operational."

www.shaniakidscan.com

PARKS UNITE US

™

We envision a New York where everyone has access to a quality park within a 10-minute walk from their home. For nearly 50 years, The Trust for Public Land has connected people to nature, creating parks, building trails, and protecting cherished open spaces from Long Island to the Adirondacks, through the Hudson Valley, and along the Great Lakes.

recognized an opportunity to reinvent them as vibrant city parks. We’ve already transformed 210 schoolyards and we have another 200 in the works, adding critical outdoor access in the areas that need better park equity in all five boroughs. That means new custom play areas, athletic courts, and features for neighbors of every age, like shaded seating and exercise tracks.

Our focus on people and equity is rooted in a deep commitment to giving the residents of New York City a dynamic place to come together. So why do so many New York City schoolyards look more like parking lots than places to play?

New York City’s public school system is the largest in the country, serving 1.1 million students who are disproportionately low-income with little access to close-to-home parks. Our green schoolyards become vibrant community hubs, open to the public after school hours and designed to meet the needs of neighbors as well as students. As the climate changes, these

At The Trust for Public Land, we saw these barren asphalt lots—uninviting to students and closed to the community—and we

BEFORE

AFTER

At The Trust for Public Land, we believe parks are a community superpower. When the pandemic shrunk life to a six-foot radius, parks became an essential part of how we coped. But 100 million people in this country—including 28 million kids—don’t have a park within a 10-minute walk of home. Even in cities with many parks, like New York, parks serving primarily people of color and low-income residents are more likely to be smaller, more crowded, and of lower quality. This disparity has serious consequences even in the best of times, and during this public health emergency, it’s more important than ever. spaces also play a vital role by capturing stormwater to reduce flooding and keeping neighborhoods cooler. The cornerstone of our program is a threemonth participatory design process, where students, teachers, parents, and neighbors take the lead in planning their new playground, resulting in play areas that double as outdoor classrooms, pavilions for hosting neighborhood gatherings, and spaces brimming with art and greenery. Since 1996, we’ve put a green schoolyard within a 10-minute walk of more than four million New Yorkers. We invite you to support our work. Visit TPL.ORG/NY to make a donation today.

OUTSIDE FOR ALL The Trust for Public Land creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.

ÂŠ 2018, Nick Benson Photography LLC

tpl.org/ny

THE OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA

With impressive Victorian architecture dating back to the mid-1800s, there’s history and beauty to be found behind every corner. Experience all that the region has to offer, from museums, lively local arts, brewpubs, shops, and a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities—the Oil Region has something for everyone.

during the Revolutionary War, Oil City has three historic districts. Contributing buildings/resources include the National Transit Building and Annex, an 1890s headquarters for a Standard Oil subsidiary, now home to an entry mural on the history of oil and gallery and artist studio spaces, and the Venango Museum of Art, Science & Industry, housed in a 1905 former post office, featuring regular and changing exhibits.

One of only 55 National Heritage Areas in the U.S., Congress designated the ORNHA in 2004 because of the significant influence the oil industry’s start had on the regional culture and world history. The ORNHA is managed by the nonprofit Oil Region Alliance of Business, Industry & Tourism (ORA).

Founded on land given to Seneca Chief Cornplanter as a thank you for his support

The Scheide House in Titusville is a historic home, once owned by John Scheide. The Scheide family were avid bibliophiles and built a collection of rare books, including a 1455 Gutenberg Bible, an original printing of the Declaration of Independence, and Shakespeare’s first folios. The collection was donated to Princeton University, constituting their largest single donation to date, valued at $300,000,000. Princeton keeps the collection in a reproduction of the Scheide House’s fireproof masonry library wing on campus.

All photos courtesy of © Oil Region

EXPLORING PENNSYLVANIA’S OIL REGION

Pennsylvania’s Oil Region is rich with history. The birthplace of the Oil Industry not only changed the area—it changed the world. What was once the site of the world’s first commercially successful oil well, gritty and industrial, is now a picturesque, biodiverse, second-growth forest with several cold water fishery creeks.

Investigative journalism pioneer Ida Tarbell grew up in Titusville during the oil era. She wrote The History of the Standard Oil Company, a scathing exposé of John D. Rockefeller’s business that led to antimonopoly legislation. Her historically preserved childhood home is now a house museum and site for special events. © Washington mural by Deac Mong

THE VALLEY THAT CHANGED THE WORLD:

In 1753, young colonial officer George Washington was assigned to deliver a message to the French, who had a string of forts in what would become western Pennsylvania. He and his contingent traveled from Williamsburg, VA, pausing

at what is now known as Riverfront Park in Franklin. Their final destination was Fort LeBoeuf in Erie County. They returned via a waterway that Washington named French Creek. The full trip took 14 and a half months to complete. His route is now known as Washington’s Trail and can be followed through western PA to the Maryland border. A new visitor center in the works on Liberty Street in Franklin’s retail core will highlight this story.

DISCOVER HOW THE BIRTHPLACE OF A WORLD-CHANGING INDUSTRY HAS BECOME AN AMAZING PLACE TO GET AWAY & EXPLORE

Travel the Oil Creek valley via the Oil Creek & Titusville Railroad or explore the Oil Creek State Park Trail. Once home to the epicenter of the oil industry, this scenic park is now a treasure trove of outdoor recreation. The 9.7-mile paved trail is part of more than 65 miles of paved trail and hundreds of miles of multi-use trails throughout the region.

The Drake Well Museum & Park commemorates the exact location of the first commercially successful oil well. The museum and grounds celebrate “the Valley that Changed the World,” and showcase how the discovery of oil impacts every day and every life since August 27, 1859.

OIL REGION NATIONAL HERITAGE AREA LOOKS TO THE FUTURE:

The Oil Region Alliance has recently received a $300,000 assessment grant from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to clean up and redevelop brownfields. Brownfields are properties that may be harmful to the environment due to the potential presence of a hazardous substance. “This grant opens the door to finally rehabilitating and redeveloping these and other relics of our industrial past. We now have the chance to make them living, breathing parts of our present and future, and usher in a new wave of the resourcefulness, innovation, and entrepreneurship that have defined our communities since the beginning.” —Selina Pedi, ORA Redevelopment Manager/ ACRVR Blueprint Community Coordinator.

Fishing enthusiasts enjoy world-class fly fishing on Oil Creek and the pristine French Creek, recognized as the most biologically diverse stream of its size in the state of Pennsylvania! They fish for smallmouth bass, walleye, musky, and flathead catfish on the Allegheny River.

“Brownfield redevelopment is just one component of our multifaceted mission. We will always be stewards of the ORNHA, preserving and interpreting our heritage and promoting and developing recreational assets. As a Regional Development Hub Organization, we have the opportunity to do even more in terms of conservation and ecology. Everything is connected.” —John R. Phillips, II, ORA President & CEO.

The OC&T Railroad is the best way to tour the valley and experience the rich wildlife! The three-hour tour starts at Perry Street Station in Titusville and follows Oil Creek by Drake Well and through Oil Creek State Park to the turning point at Rynd Farm.

The Allegheny Wild and Scenic River Water Trail, a 107-mile section from Kinzua Dam to Emlenton, is ideal for paddling, jetboating, birdwatching, and more for the whole family.

To learn more about the valley that changed the world visit OilRegion.org

KENYA’S

WILDLIFE TOURISM:

A CASUALTY

OF COVID GETS

A LIFELINE

BY: KILEY PRICE,

rom July to October each year, millions of wildebeests, zebras, and other wildlife travel from Tanzania to Kenya’s Maasai Mara region—a phenomenon known as “The Great Migration.” The animals are not the only species flooding the region during this time. Typically, thousands of tourists flock to the Maasai Mara to catch a glimpse of this spectacle. But the global COVID-19 pandemic did not spare East Africa. With global

travel all but halted, the tourists disappeared from the Maasai Mara— along with the life-sustaining revenue they provide to wildlife conservancies dedicated to protecting this land. Now, these conservancies are receiving a lifeline. Conservation International, through its impact investing fund, CI Ventures, and in partnership with the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, has established the African Conservancies Fund, a loan program helping to cover lease payments owed to Indigenous

Photos © Jon McCormack via Conservation International

CONSERVATION INTERNATIONAL

landowners who typically lease their land to conservancies for tourism operations. Not only is this program bolstering the region’s tourism industry—and the communities that depend on it—it will also help fund conservation efforts that drive wildlife tourism in the region, explained Michael O’Brien-Onyeka, who leads Conservation International’s work in Africa. “The fallout in tourism due to the pandemic means communities are struggling,” said O’Brien-Onyeka. “These lease payments will help ensure the lands that make up the greater Maasai Mara remain wild, and that the communities that count on income from tourism are supported during this global crisis.”

Spanning 1,737 square miles, the Maasai Mara ecosystem is home to 25 percent of Kenya’s wildlife, including such iconic species as elephants, lions, giraffes, and zebras. The conservancies that help protect the wildlife in this region support the livelihoods of 100,000 people. For the Indigenous Maasai peoples who own this land, lease payments by ecotourism operators are typically used to fund schools and health centers and to support wildlife protection efforts. In 2019, Maasai landowners earned more than $7.5 million in lease payments. “Over the last two decades, local communities and tourism investors have worked to find a way that nature and people can thrive together,” said Daniel Ole Sopia, the chief executive officer of the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association. “Our conservancies both secure critical wildlife populations and

benefit local people. This is what successful conservation looks like.” But this conservation model, one of the most promising and innovative in Africa, faces collapse as a result of the pandemic. According to the government of Kenya, the country’s tourism industry lost nearly U.S. $1 billion in revenue between January and October due to coronavirus lockdowns and restrictions on travel. Maasai landowners are expecting less than half of the revenue they collected on lease payments last year. This loss of lease income—and uncertainty on when tourists may return—could force the Maasai people to sell or convert their lands to farming, putting wildlife conservation in the region at risk, experts say.

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And as recent reports indicate a surge in poaching throughout Kenya since the pandemic began, wildlife conservation in this revered ecosystem is more important than ever, Onyeka explains. “There is no insurance policy, there is no social safety set; tourism has always been their only avenue to make money,” O’Brien-Onyeka said in a recent BBC podcast. “What that means is that organized criminal gangs that lead poaching have become the only employers in the area. People [are] raiding nature to survive out of desperation.” Through the loan program, conservancies across the Maasai Mara can secure short-tomedium-term funding to offset the revenue loss from COVID-19. The loans will be repaid out of future tourism returns and conservation fees that the conservancies collect from tourism operators. The loan fund was set up and structured in unprecedented time to quickly support the communities impacted by a loss of revenue in real-time. The initial bridge loan disbursement was received by the Mara North Conservancy in early December, the first of many conservancies participating in the program. As a condition of the financial support, the conservancies are required to implement governance, financial, and operational strengthening activities to help ensure their long-term sustainability and build resilience against future external shocks, such as disease outbreaks or natural disasters. Conservation International worked with these conservancies and with the Maasai Mara Wildlife Conservancies Association, a membership association of conservancies in the region, to incorporate their vision and priorities into the loan program to help ensure that these efforts are effective and long-lasting. Further, stakeholders are actively exploring opportunities to diversify revenue streams for this landscape. “Most immediately, the funding will provide a bridge of support for the conservancies and local communities that face global challenges outside of their control,” said Agustin Silvani, who leads the conservation finance program at

ÂŠ Conservation international/photo by Cynthia Tapley

Conservation International. â&#x20AC;&#x153;As tourism returns, revenues are expected to be available to pay back the impact investors while providing enough flexibility to weather downturns and ensure the longterm stability of the conservancies. We want the Mara to remain a thriving place for generations to come.â&#x20AC;? CI Ventures is the impact-investing arm of Conservation International. As a revolving fund, CI Ventures invests in companies that generate positive social, environmental, and financial returns over a specified period of time. The principal and earned interest returned to the fund are used for new investments in green enterprises.

More at Conservation.org/CIVentures 53

A Company

That Cares MEDJET ENSURES THAT THEIR SICK, INJURED, AND SCARED MEMBERS RETURN HOME SAFELY

o one thinks it will happen to them, but one in thirty trips end in a medical emergency or safety concern. Whether it’s an unexpected medical issue like a stroke, or a slip and fall, or (perhaps everyone’s biggest worry these days) coming down with COVID-19, having the right travel coverage is priceless. A medical transport membership like Medjet makes sure you get home for treatment and recovery, rather than being “stuck” in a hospital far away. It provides hospital-to-hospital, bedside-to-bedside transport to a hospital of your choice at home, regardless of medical necessity.

A CATASTROPHE IN CAIRO: JEANNIE’S STORY

While exploring the pyramids, Jeannie slipped on the granite and broke her hip and her wrist. At the hospital (“it was filled with cats!” said Tom), Tom and Jeannie decided to call Medjet. “They said they would call us back and tell us when the jet could come for us. So I’m in the hospital bed, and in come the paramedic and Registered Nurse from Florida. They

came right over to the side of the bed, and the paramedic put her hand on my shoulder and said, ‘We’re going to get you out of here.’ I was so relieved. The biggest blessing of being a Medjet member was that I got home, and everything was taken care of. I can’t imagine going on a trip without that coverage ever again.” Unlike health or travel insurance, which typically only medically evacuates to the “nearest acceptable facility,” (“acceptable” as deemed by the insurance company, not you), Medjet Members are transported to their home hospital of choice, regardless of medical necessity, for the cost of the membership and nothing more. It covers both domestic and international travel. “We help people when they’re at their most vulnerable, and are often alone,” said Medjet CEO, Mike Hallman. “Accidents, illness and safety concerns can happen anywhere, we get our members home.”

For Tom and Jeannie, Medjet made all the difference in getting the proper care after an unfortunate accident overseas...

“We joined Medjet after a bad experience woke me up to the fact that things can happen on trips. On a trip to Vietnam, I took an excursion in the sidecar of a motorcycle. The motorcycle and the sidecar went off the road that’s about 7 feet above the rice paddy, and I flipped over and plunged headfirst into 2-3 feet of water. The program I was involved in for evacuation told me, ‘we don’t know where we would take you, but we know we’re not going to pay for it.’ That was the first thing I heard, and I knew I had the wrong coverage. I did some research after my accident and I found Medjet, and I was so grateful that we had it in Cairo.”

Canada and Impressionism: New Horizons SPRING 2021

NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA, OTTAWA

CLARENCE GAGNON, OLD HOUSES, BAIE-SAINT-PAUL, C. 1912, PRIVATE COLLECTION, TORONTO

Next spring, experience a fresh perspective on the reception and spread of Impressionism in Canadian art at the National Gallery of Canada.

The exhibition presents 108 works drawn from public and private collections, including 14 from the national collection.

The first of its kind, this exhibition brings together masterworks by Canada’s renowned painters, celebrating and exploring the development of Impressionism in Canadian Art from the last decades of the nineteenth century to the late 1920s.

WHAT DOES CANADIAN IMPRESSIONISM LOOK LIKE?

Visitors can follow in their footsteps to discover the pioneering Canadian artists’ commitment to interpreting foreign and familiar surroundings imbued with an Impressionist vocabulary. “The exhibition explores the multifaceted ways in which two generations of pioneering Canadian artists contributed to the worldwide phenomenon of Impressionism and the advent of modernity in their homeland.”—Katerina Atanassova, Senior Curator of Canadian Art at the National Gallery of Canada By applying stylistic innovations and modernist principles to Canadian subjects, these artists created works that responded to the local environment and to emerging discourse around nationalism in Canadian art. EMILY CARR, AUTUMN IN FRANCE, 1911, NATIONAL GALLERY OF CANADA, OTTAWA

Canadian Impressionists developed an abiding interest in landscape painting during their studies and travels abroad. Back in Canada, artists such as Clarence Gagnon adapted Impressionist techniques to capture the colourful reflections of light on snow and ice. Some Canadian Impressionists spent their careers abroad. Helen McNicoll’s Sunny September (1913) portrays a light and airy scene in England, demonstrating how Canadian Impressionism adapts as it travels. Portraits of women and children demonstrate the Canadian Impressionists’ engagement with the critical and philosophical issues of their day, such as women’s suffrage and the nature of childhood. Visitors can experience the exhibition from the comfort of their homes with the accompanying exhibit catalogue, a one of a kind publication featuring scholarly articles that critically examine the works in the exhibition. It is available in English, French, and German.

Learn more and visit the exhibition online at gallery.ca and find the exhibition catalogue at ShopNGC.ca.

REVEALS ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCES FOR 2021

TRAVEL ENTHUSIASTS CAN START PLANNING TO HELP KICK OFF 2021 IN A MORE MEANINGFUL DIRECTION DISCOVER HOW TO EXPERIENCE THE TOP GETAWAYS IN 2021 WITH THE TRAVEL CORPORATION’S FAMILY OF BRANDS BELOW:

MAKE TRAVEL MATTER IN KENYA On African Travel, Inc. (ATI)’s 9-day Captivating Kenya luxury journey, travelers will discover two prime wildlife regions and engage in Kenya’s conservation success story. Kenya’s breathtaking landscapes vary from semi-arid regions and forested highlands to snow-capped mountains and endless savannah plains. This diversity of ecosystems and wildlife species makes the destination appealing for travelers all over the world.

hen the timing is right, travel will return with more meaning than ever before, and our friends at The Travel Corporation are offering immersive experiences for every kind of traveler, this year and onward. Travelers will no longer be looking to simply check off destinations but experience the depths of the places they visit and make a meaningful difference. The breathtaking African landscapes and abundant wildlife might be calling your name in Kenya, or perhaps a journey of ultimate luxury in Italy with access to iconic locals and the most notable sites before they open to the public. If you are looking to get away with friends and family to reconnect, explore Ireland and Scotland for a trip full of cultural immersion and a deep dive into life with the locals.

This incredible adventure to Kenya will kick off at Nairobi National Park, where travelers will witness unique views of rhinos with Nairobi’s cityscape not far behind. Enjoy a stay at the family-owned, The Emakoko Boutique Lodge, the perfect base to explore Kenya’s oldest national park and view endangered black rhinos, as well as elephants, giraffes, and lions. A tented treehouse in a forest glade is your base from which to explore the remote Matthews Mountain Range. Learn about the conservation work carried out by the Namunyak Trust and visit the Reteti Elephant Sanctuary, Kenya’s first community-owned and managed elephant orphanage. Here, you’ll meet some of the women from the Samburu tribe that care

for these elephants and who have earned a role traditionally reserved for them. Lastly, the trip will conclude with a visit to the Maasai Mara’s grassy plains, located in southwestern Kenya, along the Tanzanian border. Home to the annual Great Migration and the greatest and most diverse conservation of wildlife in Africa featuring lions, cheetahs, elephants, zebras, hippopotamus, wildebeests, and much more. Truly a once-in-a-lifetime experience, and yours for the taking in 2021! BOOK ON: CAPTIVATING KENYA – 9 DAYS AVAILABLE FROM: WINTER 2021, ONWARD. AFRICANTRAVELINC.COM

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TURN YOUR JOURNEY INTO GOLD IN ITALY On a luxurious journey through Italy, Luxury Gold, the global leader in luxury guided journeys, offers experiences unlike any other. Stanley Tollman, Chairman of The Travel Corporation (TTC), has leveraged his extensive relationships to put together the Chairman’s Collection (CC) experiences, offering the rare opportunity to meet iconic local legends and unique access to incredible places. On the Ultimate Italy 12-day journey, travelers can join Marchese (Count) Francesco Mazzei at his elegant Tuscan estate for an exclusive lunch and wine tasting while learning the art of winemaking and hearing about his rich family heritage. The Mazzei family has been perfecting the art of winemaking for over 24 generations and championing Chianti wines from the beginning, making the Marchese the perfect teacher. When in Rome, enjoy a VIP Experience at the Vatican City as you explore the Sistine Chapel with a Local Expert before it opens to the public. Continue to St. Peter's Basilica to see La Pietà before seeing the Roman Forum and skipping the line to visit the grand Colosseum.

Wander through the Isle of Capri and take in the stunning views from the Gulf of Naples. You will enjoy delectable cuisine at the Michelinstarred Mammà restaurant, cooked by chef Salvatore La Ragione in perfect Caprese style with the freshest of produce. Afterward, continue onward to Pisa and enjoy exploring the splendid Duomo, Baptistery, and the renowned Leaning Tower of Pisa. Visit Cinque Terre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that must be seen at least once in your life. You will join your Local Expert to view the picturesque fishing village of Manarola, then enjoy a cruise along Monterosso’s rugged coast before stopping in town to explore the medieval quarter and famous beach. As an end to your journey, you’ll embrace the magic of Venice and toast farewell to the friends you have made for a lifetime. BOOK ON: ULTIMATE ITALY – 12 DAYS AVAILABLE FROM: WINTER 2021, ONWARD. LUXURYGOLD.COM

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CONNECT WITH FRIENDLY LOCALS IN IRELAND AND SCOTLAND Traveling from Dublin to Edinburgh, Trafalgar, the world leader in guided vacations, offers a 15-day Best of Ireland and Scotland adventure that will have you immersed in all the highlights and must-sees on your bucket list. Explore the irresistibly beautiful Ring of Kerry, the mesmerizing Giant’s Causeway, the captivating Isle of Skye, the lush Scottish Highlands, and much more. This is the perfect itinerary for history lovers, scenery seekers, and adventure chasers. Travel back to the 1930s in Ireland during a Connect with Locals and Trafalgar exclusive Be My Guest experience throughout an unforgettable historic encounter at Muckross Traditional Farms. Against the scenic backdrops of the lakes of Killarney, you’ll be warmly welcomed by the locals as well as your incredible host and storyteller to learn about traditional farming techniques, how to churn butter, and enjoy a sample for yourself. You will be treated to a delicious and traditional Irish meal in the Quilles Farmhouse, featuring lamb casserole and boxty, an iconic potato pancake. Sip and savor local beer or Irish wine and enjoy traditional music and dancing.

Dive into Culture with Trafalgar during a visit to the County of Kildare for an unforgettable sightseeing visit to a genuine Irish Stud Farm, and learn about Ireland’s horse breeding traditions. You can even join a Local Specialist on a tour of Glengoyne Whisky Distillery and enjoy an in-depth first-hand perspective on Scotland’s gold nectar. Travel to the House of Waterford Crystal, home of Irish crystal, as you explore the world’s largest collection of Waterford Crystal up-close and personal. BOOK ON: BEST OF IRELAND AND SCOTLAND – 15 DAYS AVAILABLE FROM: WINTER 2021, ONWARD. TRAFALGAR.COM

WHERE WILL YOUR WANDERLUST TAKE YOU IN 2021? VISIT TTC.COM. At TTC, their philosophy is simple. To create enriching experiences for travelers by combining an unbeatable mix of exceptional service and quality at a great value. At the heart of everything they do is their passion for providing industry-leading service and quality so that guests can focus on what’s most important—the transformative and immersive travel experiences they offer worldwide. Through their sustainability efforts, in partnership with their not-forprofit, The TreadRight Foundation, and vision to Make Travel Matter, they exist to create life-changing moments for every guest who travels with any of their 40 awardwinning global travel and hospitality brands that span across 70 countries.

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Marchese Mazzei, Tuscany

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Emilia Romagna

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CHAIRMAN’S COLLECTION Tuscany: Meet Marchese Mazzei at his ancestral home to indulge in a special lunch and learn about his family’s winemaking heritage.

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Navigating the Challenges of COVID-19 This year especially has brought unimaginable challenges to medical flight services, leaving the ill or injured domestic and international travelers stranded and unable to return home. COVID-19 has heightened the need for an emergency medical plan. Todayâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s travelers are confronted with health and transportation concerns in a world with travel and border restrictions. There are continuous changes to cross-border processes, which include COVID-19 testing and quarantine restrictions for both medical teams and the ill traveler. The work of Angels of Flight is more important than ever, as there are fewer medical flight options, and the cost of air ambulance service has gone up during the pandemic.

Whether within the U.S. or abroad, Angels of Flight is ready to help bring you home or to another healthcare facility. We provide guidance, support, and solutions for travelers, no matter where they are in the world. Our team-based collaborative approach, under which our clients are case-managed for efficiency, and a timely medical flight home to family, treatment, or recovery, is available to all travelers, hospitals, group benefit plans, government, and businesses. Give us a call at 705 743 5433 to let us help put your plan in place. www.angelsofflightcanada.com

Unsplash/Ethan McArthur

edical emergencies are unpredictable and can happen to anyone, anywhere, and anytime! When the unexpected occurs while you are far from home, you or your family must navigate all the complexities of repatriation to home or an appropriate hospital for ongoing care.

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BY BRANDON BLACK, SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS WRITER, GARY SINISE FOUNDATION

ARMY VETERAN REGAINS INDEPENDENCE IN SPECIALLY ADAPTED SMART HOME AT

the worst of times, Jeremy Haynes felt like a burden on his wife. Chores around the house that were once routine and effortless suddenly required help because of his limited mobility. He felt demoralized for not being able to assist her and their kids. Years after a career-ending injury in Afghanistan left the Army veteran paralyzed from the waist down and with

a traumatic brain injury that affected his memory, Haynes and his family accustomed themselves to the limitations and sacrifices of accessible housing. In 2019, while living at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Haynes and his wife, Chelsea, made a wish list of modifications they needed most in their specially adapted smart home from the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment) program.

Their requests were modest: a wheelchairaccessible bathroom, maneuverability between rooms, and easy entry into and out of the home. “I’ve been running a marathon, and I’m just now crossing the finish line,” said Haynes, who in January 2020 moved into the custom-made home nestled on more than six forested acres in Fairfax, Virginia. Haynes is the first to say that he is not an emotional person. But he was overjoyed as he wheeled himself under the archway

STRENGTHENING FAMILY TIES:

MONTHS AFTER MOVING INTO THEIR SPECIALLY ADAPTED SMART HOME, CHELSEA HAYNES (CENTER) SAID, “TO SEE HIM [JEREMY] DOING MORE THINGS INDEPENDENTLY AROUND THE HOME AND WITH THE KIDS HAS BEEN A PHENOMENAL MOMENT AMONG SO MANY MOMENTS.”

and through the front doors to the home for the first time. Crossing the metaphoric finish line of living in a wheelchair-accessible home, he said, “I can begin to rebuild with my family.” He is no longer a father on the outside looking in. Taking stock of the home’s adaptive features, Haynes saw the boundaries that once separated him from his children fall before his eyes. For too long, he explained, “They saw dad in two places: in the bed or the living room of our previous home.”

Wide doorways integrated throughout the home, said Haynes, “Allow me to interact with my kids in their own space.” He can be at their bedside and pray with them before they fall asleep. And he can read a bedtime story to his three-year-old and five-year-old in the comfort of their room. For a long time, when he needed to bathe, Haynes relied on Chelsea, a drill sergeant in the Army Reserve, to position him into the bathtub. “Mentally and spiritually, I

felt demoralized and hopeless. My soul was just tattered.” He now uses handrails and other mobility features inside the bathroom to care for himself. “To see him doing more things independently around the home and with the kids,” said Chelsea, “has been a phenomenal moment among so many moments.” On a deeper level, Haynes described the mental and emotional impact the home provides to recovering veterans like

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himself in “being able to independently achieve things that many said I’d never be able to do alone.” Homebuilding commenced in 2017. Each iteration of the floor plan and design incorporated Haynes’ needs with no detail spared. Even his torso was measured to ensure the kitchen table's height was not too high or too low. Said Haynes about working with the R.I.S.E. team and contractors, “They made sure that everything was tailored around me, and tailored in a way that gave me the opportunity to not only independently achieve the things that I could never really do again, but also forge a greater bond with my family.” What was once inevitable when he entered a room or left the house—his wheelchair clipping the edge of the doorway and jerking him backward—is now a thing of the past. With so much technology incorporated into the home, he and Chelsea had their struggles adjusting to the learning curve in mastering the functionality of the iPad. “My brain was equipped to like an ‘84 Chevy,” Haynes said, “walking into our home, it’s like a Ferrari.”

The seemingly limitless control of the home they have in the palm of their hand has equated to an about-face in Haynes’ stamina. Instead of spending energy rolling from one end of the home to the other— turning off a light here or switching off the television there—he drags or taps his fingertips using a central app on his iPad to do exactly that. More than six years have passed since August 5, 2014, when an Afghan military policeman opened fire at a training facility in Kabul, Afghanistan, striking Haynes four times and, in an instant, upending his and his family’s lives. The R.I.S.E. home, explains Haynes “continues to empower me to take back what was lost, but it also energizes me to redefine binary things I was often told I would never be able to achieve independently.” “This home is an instant impact that continues to be a game and life-changer, for our family.” The Gary Sinise Foundation Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment (R.I.S.E.) program builds mortgage-free, specially adapted smart homes for severely injured veterans and first responders. The

program also provides home modifications, mobility devices, and adapted vehicles to wounded veterans and first responders.

To learn more about how you can support these heroes, visit GARYSINISEFOUNDATION.ORG

The Gary Sinise Foundation was established under the philanthropic direction of a fortyyear advocate for our nation’s defenders, actor Gary Sinise. Each of the Foundation’s programs originated from Gary’s personal relationships with our nation’s service community and a wide range of nonprofits he had supported for decades. Ever aware of the gaps in care these deserving heroes often encounter, he was inspired to serve them—always giving a little more. With the creation of the Gary Sinise Foundation, his crusade now supports all those who sacrifice on our behalf: active duty, veterans, first responders, and their loved ones. Each program shows appreciation for America’s heroes through entertainment, family support, and acts of gratitude.

ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY®

THE 2021 BLACK HISTORY MONTH

VIRTUAL FESTIVAL CELEBRATING THE 95TH ANNUAL BLACK HISTORY THEME

The Black Family: Representation, Identity, and Diversity Monday, February 1, 2021

FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - OPEN TO PUBLIC Announcement of the Black History theme and Introduction of ASALH’s Inaugural Virtual Black History Month Festival

Wednesday, February 24, 2021 FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - OPEN TO PUBLIC Diving with a Purpose: Recovering and Reexamining Our Roots

Sunday, February 28, 2021 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST

Saturday, February 6, 2021 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. EST FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - OPEN TO PUBLIC From the Continent to the Americas: Foodways, Culture and Traditions in the African American Family

Wednesday, February 10, 2021 FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - OPEN TO PUBLIC Presentation of the Inaugural ASALH Book Prize

FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - OPEN TO PUBLIC ASALH Prince George’s County Truth Branch Event Featuring a conversation with Dr. Bernice King

Sunday, February 28, 2021 7:00 p.m. EST FREE COMMUNITY EVENT - OPEN TO PUBLIC ASALH and PBS Books Present: A Conversation with Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, Sundiata Cha-Jua, and Nubia Kai

Marquee Event

Saturday, February 20, 2021, 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EST (TICKETED EVENT: $50.00, $125.00, $150.00)

Finding Our Roots in African American History A Conversation with… Henry Louis Gates and Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham

Henry Louis Gates, Jr.

Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham

Acclaimed for his scholarship, his documentary films about African, Afro-Latin, and African American History, and his popular television series, “Finding Your Roots,” Henry Louis Gates, Jr., has brought fascinating African American family stories to the wider public. The Black History Month Festival in 2021 is proud to feature a conversation between ASALH’s national president Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham and Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who will share his thoughts and motivations in popularizing Black History through the heritage of African American families and communities and their search for roots. Joe Madision, legendary voice in radio, and a recognized human and civil rights activist will serve as the host for this event. Reverend Lamar will offer the traditional invocation on behalf of the new Festival. ASALH BRANCHES WILL HOST VIRTUAL PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT THE MONTH ASALH BRANCH EVENTS CAN BE FOUND AT ASALH.ORG/BRANCH-EVENTS

ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF AFRICAN AMERICAN LIFE AND HISTORY THE FOUNDERS OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH WWW.ASALH.ORG | 202-238-5910 | #ASALH #ASALHFAMILY #ASALHFESTIVAL

CITY HARVEST

SHENENDEHOWA CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

No kid

in America should go hungry! Crisis or not, No Kid Hungry is on a mission to end hunger for children and families across the nation.

BOYS & GIRLS CLUBS OF ALBANY

LONG ISLAND CARES FOODLINK

Ending childhood hunger is far from easy, but with a team of teachers, chefs, community leaders, parents, lawmakers, and executives who share the same dream of a world free from hunger, No Kid Hungry has provided over 1 billion meals since its inception in 2010. We sat down with three food heroes, Billy Shore, Founder & Executive Chair of No Kid Hungry, Rachel Sabella, New York Director of No Kid Hungry, and Henry Street Settlement partner Chef Alex Raij, owner of El Quinto Pino, to discuss how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed the culinary landscape and the fight against childhood hunger.

OVER a million children in New York could face hunger this year due to the pandemic. Is there a particular region of the state you have seen with an especially steep rise in food insecurity? Is it more challenging to reach kids with the meals they need in a rural community or a heavily populated urban one? Food insecurity has grown in every corner of our state, from Suffolk County to New York City to Binghamton and beyond. Hunger is in every community, and it can look very different. Statewide, as many as a million kids could face hunger this year—a drastic uptick as a result of the pandemic. There are challenges and opportunities everywhere when it comes to providing meals, and across the board, school nutrition staff have risen to the occasion. In urban areas, people have been hesitant to use public transportation, so walkable sites have been very important. In some of our more rural communities where families may live far from a meal site, delivery models have been really successful. It’s also been critical to offer flexible hours so parents can pick up meals as part of their commute. CAN you speak to how No Kid Hungry has worked with school districts across the state to ensure children who depended on free school meals still have access to food? Have you seen a rise in the number of children who rely on free meals since the start of the pandemic? This crisis has brought unique challenges for educators, parents, and students alike—among the most important of these challenges has been ensuring kids get the meals they need to succeed. With increased food insecurity, more kids need meals than ever before, but with many students learning virtually, it’s harder to reach kids with the food they need. Between the start of the pandemic in March and the end of 2020, No Kid

Hungry New York granted more than $2.5 million dollars to schools and community organizations feeding kids across the state. These grants helped with the added staffing and equipment costs required to expand and adapt their programs to meet increased need, operate safely under these unprecedented circumstances, and switch back and forth between in-person and remote learning. Every school district in our state has stepped up to feed kids. I really can’t say it enough— the school nutrition staff who continue to work day in and day out, at times putting their own health at risk to serve meals and support their community are the unsung heroes of this pandemic.

SOUTHHAMPTON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT

and I wanted to find a way to pivot to cooking directly for those in need in our neighborhood on the Lower East Side, so Henry Street Settlement was my first call. No Kid Hungry helped make our partnership possible.

WHAT can a concerned New York resident do to solve hunger in New York? Reach out to your member of Congress and local elected officials and ask them to support programs that feed kids and families. That means allowing schools and community organizations the flexibility they need to serve meals in a way that reaches the children that need them and expanding Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits so families can buy groceries. We also want help spreading the word about the availability of meals—families can text FOOD to 877-877 to find meals at no cost in their community.

Chef Alex Raij, Chef-owner, La Vara, Txikito, El Quinto Pino, and Saint Julivert Fisherie CAN you tell us more about your history with No Kid Hungry and your current work with the Henry Street Settlement? Prior to COVID, most of my experience with No Kid Hungry was helping to raise money for their programs. I had the extreme privilege of participating as a guest chef at several No Kid Hungry Dinners, which have raised thousands of dollars to help end childhood hunger. But when COVID-19 hit, my partner Eder

CITY HARVEST

HOW did you and your husband, Eder Montero, find your passion for giving back and supporting your community? As chefs, we know intuitively that feeding people, and especially children, improves their long-term outcomes. But the pandemic has really shifted our perspective on how to show up for our community.While we have always engaged with other chefs to raise money and awareness, we also needed to provide security for our staff members who had the rug pulled out from under them, too. It was jarring. We are so grateful for organizations like Henry Street Settlement and No Kid Hungry, which helped us keep our staff employed while also providing nourishment for our neighbors in need.

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Rachel Sabella, New York Director of No Kid Hungry

BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF THE CAPITOL AREA

TXIKITO

After being closed by the government mandate last March, we definitely thought it would be short term, but quickly we realized was this was a long game. We spent the first few weeks cleaning and helping our employees navigate their options for assistance. Then, after receiving the second round of PPP funding, we were able to reopen our Brooklyn restaurant for takeout and outdoor dining. Our Chelsea restaurants are located in an area where most of our customers fled the city. So we began to look for opportunities to do relief meals. We were so excited that our partnership with Henry Street Settlement and No Kid Hungry could provide safe employment for 4 full time employees at 2 restaurants. Our staff really took ownership over these meals, and we were astonished to see how much variety and care they put into those meals.

Billy Shore, Founder & Executive Chair of No Kid Hungry COVID-19 has made it harder for vulnerable families and youth to rely on the food programs that regularly operate. What is needed to ensure that families can have access to nutritious food during a pandemic? Unlike other parts of the world, hunger in America is not due to a scarcity of food. Our nation has the food supplies and it has robust, effective nutrition programs that can reach those in need during this crisis. The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), school lunch and school breakfast, WIC, and Pandemic EBT all exist, and we must make sure they’re accessible to all families that need them. School meals are free and available for all students at schools all over the nation right now. We know the solutions, but we need to create the political will to enact them and ensure families, some who may be facing hunger for the first time, know these programs exist. That is No Kid Hungry’s plan. We will continue to work with schools and local organizations, providing the investment funds and technical assistance they need to continue their work to feed kids. We advocate for strong, smart policies from federal, state, and local lawmakers and agencies. Since the start of the coronavirus pandemic last March, No Kid Hungry has been deploying emergency grants to organizations across the country that are feeding kids; by the end of 2020, we were on track to provide a total of $60M. And to ensure that we can continue responding at scale to meet this unprecedented need, we’ve launched an effort called The Monday Fund to raise and deploy $100M by 2023. My hope is that through the work of No Kid Hungry, we strengthen families and the programs that support them like SNAP, and eliminate the bureaucratic and logistical barriers that make these programs hard to access. By doing this, we will not only feed kids but be on our way to seeing a world where no kid hungry is a reality.

IN a time when many restaurants in NYC are forced to close their doors, why is it important to you to stay open? Explain your journey in the last year since the onset of the pandemic.

THE global health crisis has brought to light the systems of inequality that plight low-income Americans and communities of color. What steps can we take to address this and ensure that more funding, more innovation, and more collaboration goes into helping marginalized communities thrive? Putting an end to hunger starts with getting to the root of why kids are going hungry. Americans with low-income and especially those of color do not always have the access to resources, health care, nutrition, housing, and safe spaces that are essential to protecting the health of their families. That’s why we’re prioritizing deploying emergency grants to provide funding, resources, and hands-on guidance to organizations and areas throughout the U.S. where there is the most need. This includes rural and high poverty/low resource areas, communities of color, and particularly marginalized groups with deeper investments in states and areas hit hardest economically, along with organizations led by people of color. These are big challenges, but there are solutions. They will require us all to work harder, collaborate more, invest in more communities, innovate new solutions, and have tough conversations about the root causes of racism and poverty. TIMES of crisis tend to bring out the everyday heroes who want to make a positive impact on

their communities, from donors, to volunteers, to chefs! How has No Kid Hungry seen members step up to feed Americans during the pandemic? It’s been incredible to see so many stepping up and doing what they can to make sure kids are fed. The passion, creative innovation and drive of people monetizing what they do—or “sharing their strengths”—to raise funds has been so inspiring. Fitness trainer Isaac Calpito has raised more than $1M for No Kid Hungry by hosting a daily livestream of his TORCH’D workout on Instagram, recruiting celeb friends like Vanessa Hudgens, Lisa Rinna, and Kelly Ripa. Restaurant partners like Taco Bell and The Habit Burger Grill launched roundup campaigns, where their customers can round up their change at checkout and 100 percent of proceeds come to No Kid Hungry. Taco Bell raised over $4.2M for No Kid Hungry in just six weeks, simply by asking customers to round up their change. Despite challenges facing the restaurant industry, the culinary community has found ways to nourish their communities in collaboration with No Kid Hungry. Chefs from across the country like Alex Raij, Patrick Mulvaney, Erik Bruner-Yang, and John Rivers and more set up feeding operations in partnership with local school districts and health agencies, collectively providing thousands of meals to kids in need.

WESTSIDE CENTER FOR COMMUNITY LIFE

In partnership with honorary chairs and hunger champions Ayesha and Stephen Curry, as well as Sam Kass and Rachael Ray, plus an incredible campaign team led by cochairs Renee and John Grisham and Carrie and Leigh Abramson, we’ve launched The Monday Fund, a recovery campaign to raise and deploy $100 million by 2023 to feed kids through the crisis and in its recovery. Funds raised will be invested in schools and community organizations on the front lines and will help secure policies and solutions to strengthen the safety net for children, helping families prevent hunger at home and when school is out. There are so many ways to get involved and support this work, whether it’s sharing resources in your community, writing a letter to your local lawmakers to urge them to strengthen programs like SNAP, or donating if you’re able. You can learn more by visiting NOKIDHUNGRY.ORG

SCHENECTADY INNER CITY MINISTRIES

A $2 MILLION COMMITMENT

TO SUPPORTING NYC’S BELOVED

STREET VENDORS

THE STREETS OF NEW YORK CITY ARE ABOUT TO GET A LIFELINE...

But between a decrease in customers due to stay-at-home orders, an increase in permit costs and rental fees, reported losses of 70-90%, and no help from government programs, COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on street vendors across the nation. While street vendors contribute an estimated $293 million to the city’s economy, the informal nature of their work bars them from government disaster relief and unemployment insurance. As a result, these local businesses are in need of a lifeline.

To address this devastating gap and help street vendors, Morgan Stanley and Robin Hood have come together to provide financial assistance to 2,000 street vendors across New York City in partnership with The Street Vendor Project. This funding will provide more than 2,000 NYC vendors upwards of $1,000 each in cash assistance. Morgan Stanley has made a $2 million commitment to this effort. Robin Hood is donating an additional $375,000 and assisting with grant management and cash distribution to reach the target population. “With our headquarters in Times Square, many of our employees rely on these vendors for their morning coffee or a quick lunch. Morgan Stanley is committed to supporting those in our community that support us on a daily basis as they face unprecedented economic hardship,” said James Gorman, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Morgan Stanley. “We are proud to work with Robin Hood and the Street Vendor Project to provide economic relief to vendors during a critically difficult time and encourage others to join us in this important mission.” There are approximately 20,000 New Yorkers who sell food and merchandise from the streets and sidewalks of New York City, many of whom are people of color, military

veterans, and low-wage immigrant workers. “Over the last year, as the pandemic intensified racial and economic disparities, street vendors have been forced to face the crisis alone, finding themselves ineligible for benefits as a result of their immigration status and the very nature of their work,” said Wes Moore, Chief Executive Officer of Robin Hood. “Vendors come from communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic in every aspect. They have lost the majority of their income during the pandemic, and despite their critical role in our city's culture and economy, every level of government has left them out in the cold without financial relief,” said Mohamed Attia, Director, Street Vendor Project of the Urban Justice Center. “We are so thankful to Morgan Stanley and Robin Hood for this generous donation to help over 2,000 of our City's smallest businesses recover.” TO DONATE VISIT ROBINHOOD.ORG/SUPPORTSTREETVENDORS © EMILIE FARRIS - UNSPLASH

ain or shine, New York City's street vendors keep the city running. With a hot coffee here, a churro there, and an affordable and delicious lunch wherever you need it, street vendors are a central part of the cultural fabric of New York City.

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With your help, we can improve the protection of wild raptors, quarry species, and their habitats.

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004 - Global Heroes - February 2021

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004 - Global Heroes - February 2021

MARÍA GABRIELA DE FARÍA