Mattie Stepanek:
For Our World
Mattie's poems of peace and hope have touched millions of lives
John Wallach
By: Susannah Abbey
John Wallach
helps young people learn to make friends of enemies.
Ron Kovic
By: Nathaniel Moss
Ron Kovic
has worked for peace for over four decades.
Dr. Jeni Stepanek
By: Slater Jewell-Kemker
Dr. Jeni Stepanek
is interviewed by MY HERO's Slater Jewell-Kemker.
Funkor Child Art Center
By: Amanda Molinaro from Irvine
Funkor Child Art Center
works with many national and international organizations around the world to provide children with art and books.
Kiki Vo
By: Rebecca Miller
Kiki Vo
suffered terrible burns and experienced bullying in school but has accomplished so much and forgiven so many.
Friends Without Borders
By: Amanda Molinaro from Irvine
Friends Without Borders
is building peace through children's heartfelt letters to one another in India and Pakistan.
Janet Miller
By: David from The MY HERO Project
Janet Miller
is a teacher who stepped up to prevent bullying of LGBT students.
Eboo Patel: Helping young people champion religious tolerance
By: Amanda Paulson <br> Contributor of The Christian Science Monitor<br> <h5>Per...
Eboo Patel: Helping young people champion religious tolerance
founded the Interfaith Youth Core to defend religious diversity.
Erin Gruwell
By: Jerrilyn Jacobs
Barry Kramer
By: David Kemker
Barry Kramer
empowers students to ask questions and find answers through Learning Circles, a telecollaborative learning experience.
Dr. Ed Gragert
By: Wendy Jewell
Dr. Ed Gragert
works towards peace and global education.
Art Miles Mural Project
By: Kevin Metz<br> <i>Hero Magazine</i> Staff Writer
Art Miles Mural Project
uses art to create a more peaceful global community.
The Art Miles Mural Project Joanne Tawfilis
By: Slater
The Art Miles Mural Project
Joanne Tawfilis
teaches respect and understanding through art.
Atsuko Shiwaku
By: David Kemker
Atsuko Shiwaku
set up the International Intercultural Mural Exchange Project to promote peaceful coexistence.
Peter Copen
By: David Kemker
Peter Copen
is the founder of iEARN (International Education and Resource Network).
Dalai Lama
By: Jeff Trussell
Dalai Lama
is the religious leader of Tibet and an emblem of Tibet's hopes for freedom.
Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
By: John Lewis
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
By: Jeff Trussell
Nelson Mandela
was a peacemaker and a freedom hero.
Elie Wiesel
By: Mindy from Millersville
Elie Wiesel
is a Holocaust survivor and author, whose work spreads a message of peace.
Azim Khamisa
By: Monica Olson
Azim Khamisa
founded the Tariq Khamisa Foundation to encourage forgiveness.
Hugo Grotius
By: Rebecca Miller
Hugo Grotius
was a scholar who advocated for peace between nations based on natural law and reason.
The Everest Peace Project
By: Lance Trumbull
The Everest Peace Project
promotes peace, teamwork, and cultural understanding.
Sarah Winnemucca
By: Isabelle from Wallingford
Sarah Winnemucca
was an advocate for Paiute rights and the first Native American woman to publish a book.
Coalition of Women for Peace
Coalition of Women
for Peace
aims to make women a key part of the peace process in the Middle East.
Daniel Pearl
By: Geeta Malik and Kathy Crockett
Daniel Pearl
was a Wall Street Journal reporter who reported the news with courage, integrity, and intelligence.
Abigail Disney
By: Jane Wallace
Abigail Disney
is a philanthropist and documentary filmmaker who focuses on social issues.
Dr. Hawa Abdi
By: Jane Wallace
Dr. Hawa Abdi
is a Somali doctor, human rights activist and nominee for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Rosa Parks
By: Francisca Stewart
Rosa Parks
made history when she refused to sit in the back of the bus.
The Little Rock Nine
By: Natasha from New Haven
The Little Rock Nine
bravely fought discrimination to attend an all white high school in Little Rock, Arkansas.
The Greensboro Four
By: Maranda from Spokane
The Greensboro Four
protested segregation with a sit-in at Woolworth's lunch counter.
Ruby Bridges
By: Susannah Abbey
Ruby Bridges
bravely led the way to desegregation of schools as a child.
Fannie Lou Hamer
By: Nina Mariotti
Fannie Lou Hamer
was a civil rights leader and voting rights advocate.
Mary McLeod Bethune
By: Audrey from Mount Joy
Mary McLeod Bethune
used education to help in the fight for racial and gender equality.
Gerson Andres Florez Perez
By: Cecily Miller
Gerson Andres Florez Perez
was nominated
for the Nobel Peace
Prize at age 16.
Kimmie Weeks
By: My Hero Staff
Kimmie Weeks
survived the war in Liberia and now works to rebuild communities in war-torn countries.
Josephine Baker
By: Amélie from Lyon
Josephine Baker
was a popular African American dancer in France, fought for civil rights and freedom against the Nazis.
Effa Manley
By: Diane from New Haven
Effa Manley
was an activist and pioneer in breaking down baseball's racial barriers.
Sports to Share and Dina Buchbinder teach teamwork, fair play, and tolerance
By: Leora Fridman<br> Dowser.org <br> <h5>Permission to use this material<br> wa...
Youth sports program in Mexico fights obesity through fun and games.
Jackie Robinson
By: Brandon from Selden, New York
Jackie Robinson
broke the color barrier in major league baseball.
Wilma Rudolph
By: Nancy Nickerson
Wilma Rudolph
was the first American woman to win 3 Olympic gold medals.
Willie O'Ree
By: Alex from Toronto, Canada
Willie O'Ree
was the NHL's first black hockey player.
Bella Abzug
By: Kruti from New Jersey
Bella Abzug
was a New York Congresswoman who fought for women's rights.
Susan B. Anthony
By: Julie Odano
Susan B. Anthony
led the early Women's Suffrage Movement.
Frances Ellen Watkins
By: Geeta Malik
Frances Ellen Watkins
was a prolific author and poet who devoted her life to speaking out against slavery.
Susie King Taylor
By: Heather from Gilbert, Arizona
Susie King Taylor
was a pioneer in the struggle for African American women's rights.
Raden Ajeng Kartini
By: Ines from Jakarta
Raden Adjeng Kartini
championed education and civil rights for women in Indonesia.
Aletta Jacobs
By: Claudia Hudson
Aletta Jacobs
was a Dutch doctor, a feminist, a pacifist, and a human rights activist.
RAWA
By: Wendy Jewell
RAWA
promotes women's rights through non-violent action.
Waris Dirie
By: Jackie from Sydney
Waris Dirie
works to protect the rights of women.
Joel Burns
By: Wendy Jewell
Joel Burns
reached out to GLBT teens with a personal story and a message of hope.
Fay Clayton
By: Jennifer Beck
Attorney Fay Clayton has spent much of her 26-year career championing society’s victims.
Ellen Lee DeGeneres
By: Joseph from Blue Sky
Ellen Degeneres, born January 26, 1958, is an actress, comedian, and a talk show host.
Harvey Milk
By: Tammy Chen from San Diego
Harvey Milk
was the first openly gay politician and worked to gain equal rights for the LGBT community.
Helen Zia
By: Hannah from San Diego
Helen Zia
is an Asian American journalist, scholar and activist for human rights.
Helen Suzman
By: Wyatt, Ryan, and Emily of North Eugene High School
Helen Suzman
bravely stood up against apartheid and was the first female South African Minister of Parliament.
Cesar Chavez
By: Mariel from Houston
"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
By: Kelly Frost from North Carolina
Iqbal Masih was a child laborer who tried to save others like himself.
Michael Franti
By: Brianne from Woodland Hills
Michael Franti
sends a message of peace and tolerance through his music.
Chico Mendes
By: Jeff Trussell
Chico Mendes
gave the ultimate sacrifice in defending rainforests.
Art
Waging Peace
By: Thomas England
This photo by Thomas England for The Carter Center 25th Anniversary, https://www.cartercenter.org/, is a perfect global image of peace
Kindness Letters Combat Bullying
Martin Luther King, Jr. By Robert Shetterly, AWTT
By: Robert Shetterly
Portrait of Civil Rights Leader MLK Jr by Robert Shetterly, Americans Who Tell the Truth.org
Peace
PEACE IN HEART IS PEACE ON EARTH
Frederick Douglass by Robert Shetterly, AWTT.org
By: Robert Shetterly
Portrait of Civil War era African American hero Frederick Douglass by Robert Shetterly, Americans Who Tell the Truth
Rosa Parks by Robert Shetterly, AWTT.org
By: Robert Shetterly
Portrait of civil rights hero Rosa Parks by Robert Shetterly, Americans Who Tell the Truth.org
Alice Paul
By: Robert Shetterly
Robert Shetterly depicts Alice paul, crusader for equal rights for women
Thurgood Marshall - Reigning Supreme
By: Michael Mahue Moore
I've been with you from the beginning
Helen Suzman
By: Hayden, BlackMichel, Bells
Helen Suzman, a white leader in overcoming apartheid, layered over Nelson Mandela, the most important black leader in overcoming apartheid, together, these two help end the plague of suffering over Africa.
Peace in Unity
Meena, Heroine of Afghanistan (1956 - 1987)
Betty Burkes
Fight Aids Not People With Aids
By: iusy.org
A Little Girl With Flowers
From the "Mitzpor Shalom" or "Vista of Peace" Sculpture Garden
Mahatma Gandhi
By: Balaji from India
Film
SFU Public Square ONE VOICE Music Project
By: SFU Public Square/Sarah Van Borek from CANADA
The power of music, media, performance and collaboration to bridge divides and inspire appreciation for diverse communities.
Taft High version of Ingrid Michaelsons Blood Brothers
By: Jerrilyn Jacobs
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
NFL Characters Unite [excerpt]
By: Charlie Ebersol & Justin Hochberg
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
By: The Working Group
Janet Miller leads her students to stand up for their LGBT peers.
Kiki Vo
Produced by:The Working Group
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
Austin Police Department & LGPOA: It Gets Better
By: Steven McCormick/Shawn Northcutt
The Lesbian & Gay Peace Officers Association sends a message to LGBTQ youth that it does get better.
Seeds Of Peace
By: Eric Kapenga
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.
Get Involved With Force
Produced by:Henning Ricke
Sometimes, what works in a video game will not work in real life.
Women Helping Women
By: Rosalind Russell
Rosalind Russell helps women of Nepal by giving them goats!
Portraits of Empathy
By: Anson Schloat / John G. Young
These amazing kids have developed a strong sense of empathy at an early age.
Let them Bloom
Produced by:Fauzia Minallah from PAKISTAN
A simple prayer for peace with beautiful illustrations.
Iqra - Read (A Prayer for the Girls of Afghanistan and Pakistan)
By: Fauzia Minallah
This film promotes the education of the girl child in Afghanistan and Pakistan through Mural Art.
Jigueen's Best
By: Cheikh Seck from SENEGAL
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
By: Yllkë Paçarizi, Ben Apolloni and Malsor Ajeti
"Women For Women" is about the Center for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Women and Children, in Prishtina, Kosovo.
Starting Small - Teaching Tolerance in Preschool and the Early Grades
Produced by:Southern Poverty Law Center
Starting Small is about Teaching Tolerance in Preschool and the Early Grades.
Finding Your Voice
By: Luz Rioja, Carlean Savea, Gabriela Portillo
A look at queer culture in San Francisco.
BAYCAT VIDEO
Kindness Counts at T.O.W.
By: TOW Students/Lynda Davis - TOP OF THE WORLD ELEMENTARY SCHOOL - LAGUNA BEACH
Students at the Top of the World Elementary school in Laguna Beach participate in Rachel's Challenge - a project that promotes kindness.
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
By: Mark Johnson & Jonathan Walls
Playing for Change | Peace through Music
Pray the Devil Back to Hell - excerpt
By: Abigail Disney (Producer) and Gini Reticker (Director)
This important documentary sheds light on the "Womens Peace Movement
of Liberia," and celebrates these unsung heroes.
(excerpt)
Rashid Peters: Peace Activist & Music Hero
By: Jeanne and Tony
A portrait of Rashid Peters, a peace activist and music hero from Sierra Leone.
Stan Ostern
By: by Charles McMahon, David Maekawa & Clayton Sakoda
Produced by Charles McMahon, David Maekawa & Clayton Sakoda - UCSB and The Jewish Federation of Greater Santa Barbara - a video portriat of survival - Stan Ostern.
Nobelity: Desmond Tutu
By: Turk Pipkin
Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, who won the Peace Prize in 1984, shares his inspiration with us.
Citizenship
Produced by:Anson Schloat and John G. Young
John Lewis, U.S. Congressman, speaks about the importance of being a good citizen.
Audio Stories
Writer Hero: Anne Frank
Please enjoy this reading of the MY HERO story Anne Frank by Jessica from Vermont read by Susan Gabriel Bunn.
Angel Hero: Sadako Sasaki
By: The MY HERO Project
"This is our cry, this is our prayer; peace in the world."
Angel Hero: Jeni Stepanek
By: Claudia Hudson
” All that I am or ever hope to be, I owe to my angel Mother.” - Abraham Lincoln
Artist Hero: Fauzia Minallah
By: Joanne Tawfilis
Fauzia creates sparks of happiness in so many people's lives! Joanne Tawfilis
Freedom Hero: Rosa Parks
By: The MY HERO Project
Please enjoy this reading of our MY HERO story Rosa Parks by Francisca Stewart
Teacher Hero: Ruty Hotzen
By: Reverend Charles F. Harper
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."
Legacy & Lessons of the Civil Rights Movement