Lisa Russell

Emmy-winning Filmmaker, MDGFive.com co-founder

"Yeah, but he was shot in the back of the head in a playground in Brooklyn back in 2011. You didn't know?" That was how my involvement with the 2013 Envision Film program began this past April.

Alan G. Kraut

Executive director, Association for Psychological Science in Washington, D.C.

PE, CPT and similar treatment programs are relatively short-term, and have proven effective in a variety of settings. And studies suggest that providing these treatments for PTSD result in reduced health-care costs. So why aren't they being commonly delivered to the people who need them?

Stacy Stafford

Campaigns for the rights of disabled children in Scotland

Aaron spent two happy years at the school and settled in well. He thrived in its challenging environment, made lots of new friends and formed bonds with his teachers. Then, in the middle of 2012, the Council told me that they wanted to take Aaron out of his school.

Victoria Jackson

Author of Saving Each Other

If you've been hungry lately for some soul-charging inspiration -- or for a cookbook by a true Master Chef -- I highly recommend Christine Ha's Recipes from My Home Kitchen.

Liane Kupferberg Carter

Columnist for Autism After 16

So why does this myth that autistic people lack empathy persist? The reasons are complicated -- a convergence of media, popular culture, and ignorance.

William Laney

Author, 'Homeless Isn't Hopeless'

Lebron James is now generally acknowledged as the greatest basketball player in the game today. He is also arguably one of the greatest of all time. Here's looking to a future that always has his basketball greatness matched by moral greatness.

Brenda Ray

Half the Sky Movement crew member

Edna Adan not only trains mid-wives so they can return to their rural environment and provide pre-natal and birthing support, but also teaches them to carry with them the message that genital mutilation of any girl or woman does not serve them.

Jarrod S. Chlapowski

Writer, teacher, veteran and recovering lobbyist, very much in that order

A few weeks ago I was invited to watch the taping of a video for the International Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia in Seoul. More and more Koreans are stepping forward in support of LGBT rights, and over 100 Koreans (some gay, most straight) were involved in this production.

WINGS

Family planning education and reproductive health services in Guatemala

Guatemala is ranked a dismally low 116 out of 135 countries for gender equality. We strongly believe that family planning is crucial to supporting the gender equality of Guatemalan women.

Jeff Hensley

Leadership Fellow, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

The vast majority of these are worthy and noble endeavors, showing veterans their service is appreciated. And yet, far too many veterans struggle with the transition to civilian life. With all these organizations offering help, how can this be?

Jeremy Hockenstein

CEO & Co-Founder, Digital Divide Data

In my 12 years of experience leading a social enterprise that creates jobs for some of the most disadvantaged people on the planet, I've learned that just giving people work is not enough. If we truly want to empower people to emerge from poverty, we must do more.

Michael Hoevel

Deputy Director, Agriculture for Impact

The challenges are great, but the window of opportunity is greater. Science-based solutions for African agriculture have the potential to achieve synergistic outcomes for a more prosperous and resilient Africa.

Hong Mei Pang

Member of RAISE (Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast)

I finally understood -- that the core of the American Dream exceeds the cliché of pulling oneself up by the bootstrap; it requires that we forge a multi-faceted community that reaches out to those in need.

Iram Ganju

President, IKG Global Consultants, LLC

Heck, I was born and raised in Pakistan. To some, that's reason enough to be afraid, but I accept that in a post 9/11 America, my country conjures up all kinds of misconceptions and contradictions. To be fair though, what country is without them?

Asa Craig

Research and policy analyst, Laura and John Arnold Foundation

How do we expect our communities and economies to thrive when our young boys and girls are not receiving the education and training that is needed to enter the workforce?

Kim Doyle Wille

Advocate and activist

I'm a hunger-fighter, seeing the escalation in need and here to ring the bell and call for all hands on deck!

Karin Kamp

Director of Digital Media, The Story Exchange

When Roya Mahboob found out she was on Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, she thought it was a mistake.