Tolerance Challenge

Mattie Stepanek: For Our World Mattie's poems of peace and hope have touched millions of lives

John Wallach helps young people learn to make friends of enemies.

Ron Kovic has worked for peace for over four decades.

Dr. Jeni Stepanek is interviewed by MY HERO's Slater Jewell-Kemker.

Funkor Child Art Center works with many national and international organizations around the world to provide children with art and books.

Kiki Vo suffered terrible burns and experienced bullying in school but has accomplished so much and forgiven so many.

Friends Without Borders is building peace through children's heartfelt letters to one another in India and Pakistan.

Janet Miller is a teacher who stepped up to prevent bullying of LGBT students.

Eboo Patel: Helping young people champion religious tolerance founded the Interfaith Youth Core to defend religious diversity.

Barry Kramer empowers students to ask questions and find answers through Learning Circles, a telecollaborative learning experience.

Dr. Ed Gragert works towards peace and global education.

Art Miles Mural Project uses art to create a more peaceful global community.

The Art Miles Mural Project Joanne Tawfilis teaches respect and understanding through art.

Atsuko Shiwaku set up the International Intercultural Mural Exchange Project to promote peaceful coexistence.

Peter Copen is the founder of iEARN (International Education and Resource Network).

Dalai Lama is the religious leader of Tibet and an emblem of Tibet's hopes for freedom.

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Congressman John Lewis talks about how Martin Luther King, Jr. inspired him as a young man during the Civil Rights Movement

Nelson Mandela was a peacemaker and a freedom hero.

Elie Wiesel is a Holocaust survivor and author, whose work spreads a message of peace.

Azim Khamisa founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation to encourage forgiveness.

Hugo Grotius was a scholar who advocated for peace between nations based on natural law and reason.

The Everest Peace Project promotes peace, teamwork, and cultural understanding.

Sarah Winnemucca was an advocate for Paiute rights and the first Native American woman to publish a book.

Coalition of Women for Peace aims to make women a key part of the peace process in the Middle East.

Daniel Pearl was a Wall Street Journal reporter who reported the news with courage, integrity, and intelligence.

Abigail Disney is a philanthropist and documentary filmmaker who focuses on social issues.

Dr. Hawa Abdi is a Somali doctor, human rights activist and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Rosa Parks made history when she refused to sit in the back of the bus.

The Little Rock Nine bravely fought discrimination to attend an all white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.

The Greensboro Four protested segregation with a sit-in at Woolworth's lunch counter.

Ruby Bridges bravely led the way to desegregation of schools as a child.

Fannie Lou Hamer was a civil rights leader and voting rights advocate.

Mary McLeod Bethune used education to help in the fight for racial and gender equality.

Gerson Andres Florez Perez was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize at age 16.

Kimmie Weeks survived the war in Liberia and now works to rebuild communities in war-torn countries.

Josephine Baker was a popular African American dancer in France, fought for civil rights and freedom against the Nazis.

Effa Manley was an activist and pioneer in breaking down baseball's racial barriers.

Youth sports program in Mexico fights obesity through fun and games.

Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in major league baseball.

Wilma Rudolph was the first American woman to win 3 Olympic gold medals.

Willie O'Ree was the NHL's first black hockey player.

Bella Abzug was a New York Congresswoman who fought for women's rights.

Susan B. Anthony led the early Women's Suffrage Movement.

Frances Ellen Watkins was a prolific author and poet who devoted her life to speaking out against slavery.

Susie King Taylor was a pioneer in the struggle for African American women's rights.

Raden Adjeng Kartini championed education and civil rights for women in Indonesia.

Aletta Jacobs was a Dutch doctor, a feminist, a pacifist, and a human rights activist.

RAWA promotes women's rights through non-violent action.

Waris Dirie works to protect the rights of women.

Joel Burns reached out to GLBT teens with a personal story and a message of hope.

Attorney Fay Clayton has spent much of her 26-year career championing society’s victims.

Ellen Degeneres, born January 26, 1958, is an actress, comedian, and a talk show host.

Harvey Milk was the first openly gay politician and worked to gain equal rights for the LGBT community.

Helen Zia is an Asian American journalist, scholar and activist for human rights.

Helen Suzman bravely stood up against apartheid and was the first female South African Minister of Parliament.

"We cannot seek achievement for ourselves and forget about progress and prosperity for our community...
Our ambitions must be broad enough to include the aspirations and needs of others, for their sakes and for our own. "

Iqbal Masih was a child laborer who tried to save others like himself.

Michael Franti sends a message of peace and tolerance through his music.

Chico Mendes gave the ultimate sacrifice in defending rainforests.

The power of music, media, performance and collaboration to bridge divides and inspire appreciation for diverse communities.

An exploration of the importance of diversity.

Featuring the Taft High School Choral Ensemble, Orchestra, Band, Guitar Ensemble, shot by the Taft Film making class, choreographed by student Jahla. We live this song! TAFT HIGH SCHOOL - LA

SuperBowl XL MVP Hines Ward, who has experienced prejudice and bullying in his own life, works with a similarly challenged young man and inspires him to achieve his dreams.

Janet Miller leads her students to stand up for their LGBT peers.

Kiki Vo is an extraordinary Sacramento student who, through her perserverance, strong character, and ability to Forgive, has been able to celebrate life, finding happiness and success

The Lesbian & Gay Peace Officers Association sends a message to LGBTQ youth that it does get better.

Since 1993, Seeds of Peace has set the standard in international peace-building by providing exceptional young people and educators from regions of conflict with an otherwise impossible opportunity to meet their historic enemies face-to-face at our International Camp in Maine.

Sometimes, what works in a video game will not work in real life.

Rosalind Russell helps women of Nepal by giving them goats!

These amazing kids have developed a strong sense of empathy at an early age.

A simple prayer for peace with beautiful illustrations.

This film promotes the education of the girl child in Afghanistan and Pakistan through Mural Art.

A Senegalese activist fights for the rights of women in Africa.

Creative Visions is a media organization that seeks to enable individuals to think globally and to act locally, or not so locally, to unite in making positive change for the planet and Her people.

"Women For Women" is about the Center for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Women and Children, in Prishtina, Kosovo.

Starting Small is about Teaching Tolerance in Preschool and the Early Grades.

A look at queer culture in San Francisco. BAYCAT VIDEO

Students at the Top of the World Elementary school in Laguna Beach participate in Rachel's Challenge - a project that promotes kindness.

What does diversity mean? THURSTON MIDDLE SCHOOL

Jimi Solanke, or "Big Uncle," is a Nigerian musician and actor who inspires others through storytelling. This is a tribute inspired by Big Uncle.

Playing for Change | Peace through Music

This important documentary sheds light on the "Womens Peace Movement of Liberia," and celebrates these unsung heroes. (excerpt)

A portrait of Rashid Peters, a peace activist and music hero from Sierra Leone.

Produced by Charles McMahon, David Maekawa & Clayton Sakoda - UCSB and The Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara - a video portriat of survival - Stan Ostern.

Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, who won the Peace Prize in 1984, shares his inspiration with us.

John Lewis, U.S. Congressman, speaks about the importance of being a good citizen.

"This is our cry, this is our prayer; peace in the world."

” All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.” - Abraham Lincoln

Fauzia creates sparks of happiness in so many people's lives! Joanne Tawfilis

Please enjoy this reading of our MY HERO story Rosa Parks by Francisca Stewart

Inspired by her hero, Janusz Korczak, Ruty Hotzen is one of those unique individuals whose life and work is an outstanding example of someone who lives - and works - "as if."

Please enjoy this BBC Interview of Ron Kovic