#EverydayLeaders
Some of the most important leaders in our lives will never read their name in an article, receive a fancy award, or see their face on a billboard. They may not even consider themselves leaders. But these #EverydayLeaders are keeping our communities, our neighborhoods, and our families together. They show up, they step up, they keep us going, they make our lives better.
We want to honor and celebrate them. We want to scream their names from rooftops. We want to shower them with goodness. Most importantly, we just want to say thank you.
Showing 71 nominations
During COVID she has developed a program to deliver STEM kits to disadvantaged girls in the DC metro area, to ensure that even while isolated from school, they can still develop their STEM skills and passion while learning from home.
Brittany is tireless in her work to increase the representation of women in STEM and really deserves to be recognized for the exceptional difference she’s making in girls’ lives.
City: Los Angeles, CA
Mary Linda Moss is an artist, an entrepreneur, my neighbor, and a hero. On a typical Saturday afternoon, in July of 2018, Mary Linda was at a local supermarket, shopping for groceries when chaos ensued. Following an altercation and a car chase, a man entered the store and began exchanging gunfire with the police outside. The store patrons, along with Mary Linda, became hostages in the standoff.
Mary Linda, being the calm, kind, compassionate leader that she is, engaged with the gunman, and became the mediator between him and the police via cellphone. Sensing that he was looking for a way out of the situation alive, she kept the gunman, and the other hostages calm while slowing the police down and managing the situation.
Mary Linda leads with her heart. She is brave, and strong, and she saved lives that day with her compassion. Angelinos are lucky to be able to call her a neighbor, and I am so proud to call her a friend.
(There are a number of accounts of the story which do it more justice.)
https://www.latimes.com/local/la-me-abcarian-hostage-20180803-story.html
https://www.wbur.org/kindworld/2020/04/28/marylinda-moss
Sheri is the first one to volunteer or lend her voice or name as it proceeds to benefit victims of crime and their loved ones. We’re constantly amazed by her energy and compassion for others. From terrible tragedy, and after many years, she fights alongside others to honor and preserve Lori’s memory, while bringing attention to the ongoing needs of rights and protections for all future victims of crime.
My mum has volunteered at the club for many years, and when I was a child I’d go along and swim with the other children. Nicoline taught me how to swim back then as my coach, and over the years she’s taken on more responsibility and has done such a fantastic job. She’s done everything from coaching, editing the club magazine and now as the chair.
However, my favourite part about Pia’s leadership record is her work as an Ambassador for Dialogue. This work focuses on encouraging dialog and understanding among young people across regions, nationalities and ideologies, and Pia is also a frequent moderator of debates across Denmark.
Omoyosola has been a parent at our groups for over a year. Originally based in South-East London with her young child, she was moved away from her friends and social network and could no longer access the internet at her local library due to the pandemic. She really struggled in lockdown with ‘no internet, no TV and no radio’, but after receiving internet she was able to join our community Zoom groups, access accurate information about COVID and subsequently offered up her time to help other parents get online.
Omoyosola has been an inspiration to many in our community. Her support has not only facilitated the communities work to tackle Digital Exclusion but has also ensured that the families in need of the most support are visible and included. While navigating her own daily struggles throughout this pandemic her support has improved wellbeing, a sense of belonging and increased our families’ online skills. They have also been great role models, helping to empower parents and show that they can lead and help others.
Now more than ever, we can all appreciate the critical role internet access has in our lives, connecting us with people, ideas, education and activities. However, as Covid-19 and social movements like Black Lives Matter highlight the often-invisible inequalities in our society, digital exclusion has also emerged as a serious issue. People confined to their homes without phones or computers cannot socialise, access public services or even access up-to-date information about the pandemic.
https://time.com/5895174/nina-baginskaya-belarus/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/world-europe-53941984
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nina_Baginskaya
https://www.vice.com/en/article/889pe3/nina-baginskaya-belarus-minsk-protest-detained
Traditional therapies provided a slow and steady growth, but the transformation she was hoping for in Dante didn’t occur. Everything changed when she discovered KinderMusik. After 3 months of home based music lessons, dramatic growth in Dante occurred. His social skills skyrocketed as he started to interact with those around him through music. Music unlocked his world.
After learning about the power of music, Karen asked has been on a nonstop mission! She was able to raise money for Connecting Thru Music and is providing a much needed for the disabled children in our area. Many people said it couldn’t be done, but through community effort, CTM was able to bring an enhanced learning music program to schools throughout our county.
Now, not only is Dante thriving, over 300 children with special needs in public and private settings are receiving this very vital service.
Currently CTM is providing music services to over 180 students at in-school programs and, after receiving a grant from The Kids Hope Alliance, children with developmental and intellectual abilities are receiving our services during after school and holiday/summer programs. Starting with the COVID19 pandemic, CTM introduced a virtual platform so that learning and development can continue at home and at sites when a live class is not feasible.
Now CTM is actively partnering with community organizations to bring music therapy to even more children with special needs. They serve pre-school through high school children with special needs who are in who are in our county and (soon) throughout Northeast Florida. Currently CTM funds two public elementary school programs during the school day and has received funding from The Kids Hope Alliance to provide after school and camp programs throughout the county.
Karen Demuth, Executive Director
Connecting Thru Music
1917 Beach Avenue
Atlantic Beach, Florida 32233
(904) 310-4827
[email protected]
https://www.connectingthrumusic.com/overview
https://www.connectingthrumusic.com/news/a-local-mother-is-on-a-mission-to-help-bring-music-therapy-to-duval-county-schools
https://www.connectingthrumusic.com/news/mom-creates-music-therapy-program-to-help-students
https://www.connectingthrumusic.com/news/music-therapy-program-helps-children-with-special-needs-in-neptune-beach
https://www.iheart.com/podcast/966-courageously-go-deb-29418089/episode/karen-zizmer-demuth-connecting-through-29434770/?cmp=ios_share#
https://www.connectingthrumusic.com/news/she-is-fierce-is-getting-ready-for-another-big-event
https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5f6a487f10472f47750291a2/t/5f910da61ed0c934c744261b/1603341740976/beaches_leader_article.pdf
https://www.booksforkids.org/newyork
He is fighting to bring attention to environmental issues, corruption & technology to make the world a better place for future generations.
www.facebook.com/mitchbrownlie
He is a founding member of the company FieldMicro; which is saving precious natural resources by developing high-tech farming hardware & software.
He has made serval large donations to install water-bores in more than 20 African villages. https://www.google.com/search?client=firefox-b-d&q=site%3Athewaterproject.org+%22Mitch+Brownlie%22
He has been a member of delegations traveling to countries such as North Korea & Antarctica to learn about the clear & present dangers facing this planet. He has been to 80 other countries to study a wide range of government & civilian issues.
He is a widely heard advocate of the environment, the rising cost of living & education within a number of party policy committees.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mitch-brownlie?originalSubdomain=au
For the last few months, he has been leading a development project in Cambodia to introduce ‘pyrolysis systems’ to convert ocean plastic into fuel for the communities there. www.instagram.com/mitchbrownlie
Jenn is an active community leader and a positive role model for girls and women. She works hard as the President of the ETFO Waterloo Region Designated Early Childhood Educators Local (WRDECE Local), is self-employed with Playing It Safe and volunteers with Girl Guides of Canada.
Jenn is an inspiration to our youth with Girl Guides of Canada. She is a positive role model and allows for the girls voices to be heard, encouraging them to be leaders and not be fearful. Jenn strives to offer rich and meaningful activities, trips and camps that foster the girl’s creativity skills and confidence. She ensures an environment that is inclusive to all and a safe space for the youth to achieve their best, form friendships and have fun!
Through her work in ETFO Jenn is a strong advocate for members and their rights. She continually works towards improving the working conditions of all DECEs, and is also a member of the Association of Early Childhood Educators Ontario (AECEO). Jenn is determined to ensure equity and inclusiveness in the workplace and is proactive in seeking equality for all Early Childhood Educators in Ontario. She volunteers her time to speak up at forums and town halls, trying to help improve the lives of others. She cares deeply and it shows.
Jenn is a true leader and a pillar of her community, whether it be her work community, Guiding community or home community. She is a natural leader, mentor and an amazing role model to women everywhere.
Yvenson Joseph is an exceptional leader…
I’m sure there are great people out there that do all of this, but they’re not from a town like ours. Trenton is ranked 50 out of all 50 Capital Cities in the United States and has a death rate past NYC and our town is just 7.5 sq miles. Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, our town had an unemployment rate double the size of the nations average. Crystal have away over 200 pair of sneakers to youth in need, and has been helping feed the homeless community here and was as look for permanent solutions to such issues in town.
And she did all of it while being a single mother. She’s the true definition of a super mom, and an engaged citizen.
Pain Management has been one of the biggest concerns during Pandemic. While everyone considers sheltering-in-place and social distancing vital during COVID-19, these necessary measures have had severe consequences for patients with chronic pain.
While following the protocols laid by the province, despite having to alter and reduce the operations of Kerala Ayurveda Pain Clinic and Rehab Centre, Mr. Binoy Chacko has been helping the community tirelessly to fight chronic pain.
He has played a vital role in triaging patients including seniors and the vulnerable in order to provide immediate care and relief. He has provided safe and timely treatment to the patients thereby reducing future effects of increased pain, worsening mental health and overdose of substance use. Thanks to his continues efforts in easing pain in the Mississauga and Malton community.
But that’s just a part of his role as a valued leader in our community. He also has served in a variety of roles and is regularly engaged in public life in systematically vital ways. In particular, the moment that inspired me to nominate him was when civic unrest turned into large scale protests, he saw the discriminatory practices used to limit free speech. So he dusted off his law degree and agreed to represent anyone who needed an attorney to ensure the protection of their civil rights. This shows the kind of true leader that he is.
His work on Election Protection has helped create a far more engaged and knowledgeable state that has ensured that our election statutes are properly followed. His leadership in creating a broad coalition ensured the most extensive data set in the nation on election accessibility for people with disabilities. This, in turn, helped to provide our elected officials with valuable information that ensured Nebraska passed the most disability-friendly election statutes in the United States.
Then he took his passion for access to healthcare for people with chronic conditions and helped to lead the ballot initiative to legalize medical marijuana. His role as a unique thought leader and work in communities helped to ensure surprising levels of participation even faced with the limitations of a pandemic.
If that wasn’t enough when civic unrest turned into large scale protests, he saw the discriminatory practices used to limit free speech. So he dusted off his law degree and agreed to represent anyone who needed an attorney to ensure the protection of their civil rights.
When floods devastated the community earlier this year, she jumped into action and played a vital role in supporting affected residents and coordinating others to help. She also helped organise a concert that not only raised a significant amount of money for flood victims but also brought joy and hope to them.
When Covid then hit, she was the first to volunteer and offer support. Nothing is ever too
much trouble for her, and she is always generous in giving her time to supporting others.
She runs so many different groups from her church and is also one of the main leaders of Pontypridd Community Choir.
Pontypridd is close to her heart and she gives her all to the town and its people. It would be a much poorer place without her vitality and dedication.