community
One organization in Austin, TX attributes homelessness to a ‘catastrophic loss of community,’ so they set out to build one.
By Jim Tuttle
A pandemic, extreme weather, and new city mandates create a perfect storm for thousands of people without a place to call home.
By Camille Wheeler
Photos by Camille Wheeler
Karen Evans discusses youth empowerment in New Orleans’ movement toward a ‘healing-centered’ city.
By Cecily Sailer and Kelly West
Photo by Kelly West
Rappahannock Food Pantry in Virginia helps low-income residents survive the rising costs of living.
By Cecily Sailer
Photos by Kelly West
A network in Western New York is helping residents overcome barriers to connect to resources
By Jim McKeever
Photos by Michelle Gabel
Grand Family Coalition in Loveland, CO, provides support and resources for grandparents caring for younger generations.
By Cecily Sailer
Photos by Kelly West
Indigenous Mayan community broadcast overcomes language barrier critical to addressing COVID-19 pandemic.
By Martin do Nascimento
A food security initiative in Austin is feeding the city’s most vulnerable and keeping restaurants open.
By Katie Friel and Kelly West
Photos by Kelly West
Home visiting programs for parents of young children in Colorado are even more critical during the pandemic.
Story and photos by Kelly West
Using her skills as a trapeze artist, Erin Carey became a wildland firefighter to give back to her community.
By Nic Coury
Bikers Against Child Abuse offers empowerment and solidarity for children who’ve experienced abuse.
By Cecily Sailer and Jim Tuttle
Homies Empowerment store provides food and home goods to East Oakland residents hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Martin do Nascimento
An innovative program is helping Colorado’s marginalized populations find their voice.
By Katie Friel and Kelly West
A network of partners in Pueblo, CO provides computers and wifi where online access is hard to come by.
By Cecily Sailer
Ofelia Alonso is fighting for youth voices to be counted in the Rio Grande Valley.
By Kelly West
University High School in Austin, TX, offers teens in recovery an education, a community, and the tools for sobriety.
By Cecily Sailer
Every week for the past eight years, Janet Matzen has been cooking as a form of service and activism.
By Cecily Sailer and Kelly West
FreedHearts helps conservative Christian parents of LGBTQ children reconcile love and faith.
By Cecily Sailer
A nonprofit in rural Pennsylvania uses outdoor activities to help wounded veterans in their transition to civilian life.
By Jim Tuttle
For too long, state and local governments have improperly equated public safety with law enforcement.
By Abena Subira Mackall
Relationships prove powerful as food organizations in Charlotte coordinate to meet rising demand.
By Kelly West
‘Crazy Pills’ and Jesus weren’t enough to cure the stigma of mental health issues in Appalachia, so these women took action.
By Taylor Sisk
With buildings closed, the Austin Public Library shifts resources to maintain public service.
By Cecily Sailer
Hurricane Harvey prepared Coastal Bend Food Bank and other emergency assistance organizations to better respond during the pandemic.
By Kelly West
Rebuilding his life after addiction and homelessness, Richard Barber turns to service for his neighbors.
By Cecily Sailer
The East Oakland Collective activates its city-wide network to support at-risk and underserved communities through the pandemic.
By Martin do Nascimento and Cecily Sailer
An Austin nursing home caregiver joins her first organized protest as thousands rally for racial equality across the country.
By Cecily Sailer
Graffiti artist Sloke One finds and creates inspiration during quarantine.
By Kelly West
Senior police officer Kat Ratcliff responds to more calls, more restrictions, and more risk as she serves her community during the pandemic.
By Kelly West
Oakland at Risk matches high-risk residents with neighbors who are ready to offer support.
By Martin do Nascimento and Austin Price
Hospice chaplains are finding creative ways to connect with clients and provide comfort despite social distancing.
By Jim Tuttle and Cecily Sailer
Dining room managers for Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa are still serving meals, but miss gathering around a table.
By Martin do Nascimento and Cecily Sailer
White Pony Express is adapting every aspect of its operations to fight the growing food insecurity crisis in Contra Costa, California.
By Martin do Nascimento and Austin Price
Amy Price is fundraising for Austin’s homeless in an altered landscape, and from a distance.
By Cecily Sailer
Austin Doerr is trying to hold on to his family’s small business in the wake of stay-at-home orders.
By Kelly West
A conversation with Serita Cox of iFoster on overcoming the digital divide between foster youth and their peers amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
By Martin do Nascimento
For the president and CEO of Samaritan House, protecting at-risk residents during the COVID-19 crisis requires vigilance and hope.
By Cecily Sailer
A grassroots effort in New Orleans is feeding front line hospital workers and helping local restaurants stay in business.
By Kelly West
For many Texans concerned during the COVID-19 crisis, the 211 hotline offers verified information, reassurance, resources, and compassion.
By Cecily Sailer
For Oakland’s unhoused population, survival during the COVID-19 crisis becomes harder by the day, but advocate Derrick Soo isn’t slowing down.
By Cecily Sailer and Martin do Nascimento
While Austin shelters in place during the COVID-19 crisis, Mutchler finds new appreciation for his job at a local grocery store.
By Cecily Sailer
Mutual aid organizations are forming across the country to fill in the gaps for their communities affected by COVID-19
By Kelly West
Hernandez continues to visit her in-home care clients during the COVID-19 crisis — she says they need her now more than ever.
By Kelly West and Cecily Sailer
Groups addressing food insecurity are scrambling to stock clients’ pantries with food during a sudden pandemic.
By the Stories Team
Two mental and spiritual wellness experts share insights on caring for ourselves and others as we enter a new phase of separation.
By Cecily Sailer
One small Austin food pantry is on a mighty mission to end food insecurity and waste.
By Kelly West and Katie Friel
At Dig Deep Farms in Ashland, California, formerly incarcerated people like Philip Bonds and Kimberly Thomas are welcomed to learn, work and contribute to their community through paid reentry internships aimed at reducing recidivism.
By Martin do Nascimento and Katie Friel
“You guys are like heroes for the city,” Austin Mayor Steve Adler says when he addresses the group set to take an annual census of people experiencing homelessness.
By Omar L. Gallaga and Kelly West
Not Your Typical Culinary Academy trains young adults with developmental disabilities. “It’s amazing when somebody gets a chance and has the right support, what they’re capable of accomplishing in life.”
By Jim Tuttle
Asociación Mayab was founded in 2003 to promote Mayan cultural events, but the San Francisco-based group soon began receiving requests for interpretation services.
By Martin do Nascimento and Omar L. Gallaga