Desmond Tutu, Sohaila Abdulali and Jacob Lief

Yes, governments must step up. But so should we all. Why shouldn't rape be dinner table conversation? We talk about war, we talk about death, we discuss values with our children. But on the subject of sexual assault, we remain silent and squeamish.

Lisa Belkin

Senior Columnist on Life/Work/Family, The Huffington Post

In my nightmares, I can't get to my children. The parents of the Plaza Towers Elementary School in Moore, Oklahoma are living that nightmare.

John Starks

Former NBA All-Star, New York Knicks Alumni Relations and Fan Development Advisor

Growing up in Tulsa, my dream was to play in the NBA. I am fortunate to have been able to achieve my dream, and now helping other kids follow their dreams has proven to be just as impactful on my life as every minute that I played in the NBA.

Andrew Jenks

Award-winning filmmaker

I was a 25-year-old documentary filmmaker from New York working on a show for MTV. He was a 21-year-old dancer in East Oakland trying to move on with his life after the murder of his little brother. I spent a year embedded in his life, and got a front row seat to an American epidemic.

Kara Lawson

Guard, Connecticut Sun; Olympic gold medalist; ESPN analyst

I am proud to be part of organizations like the Connecticut Sun and the WNBA that put such emphasis on giving back to the communities and people that support them.

Neriel David Ponce

Revolutionizing Asian American Immigrant Stories on the East Coast

I've made strides in overcoming my depression through working as an activist and with the support of my friends, but I still worry that my dreams remain in jeopardy.

Richard Tate

Vice President of Communications & Marketing, HopeLab

Last month, in a waiting room at Lucile Packard Children's Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif., a small boy sat with a laptop, engrossed in a game. The game he played is Re-Mission 2: Nanobot's Revenge, one of a new collection of free online games for young cancer patients.

Deepak Chopra

Co-author, 'Brotherhood: Dharma, Destiny, and The American Dream'; Founder, The Chopra Foundation

As the uniting factor that sets us free, "consciousness" is a term that is repugnant to many scientists -- mostly from an older generation -- and mysterious to all. But that doesn't excuse blindness and neglect.

Christine Geiser

Half The Sky Movement community ambassador

One of the countless benefits I have received from yoga is feeling empowered to raise awareness about and money for communities that are suffering around the world.

Rob Schware

Executive Director, Give Back Yoga Foundation, President, Yoga Service Council

"Sharing the boundless gifts of yoga and meditation not only pays respect to the generosity of those who have diligently practiced and cared enough to teach others, but is also a valuable way of life, through which we can help others help themselves."

Manjula Dissanayake

Founding President, Educate Lanka Foundation

I personally believe that the U.S. still has the capacity and the aspiration to remain the nation of opportunity for generations to come.

James M. Gentile

Dean for the Natural & Applied Sciences, Hope College, Holland, MI

More important than just the money, however, is that private-sector foundations can afford to fund more high-risk, high-return research without the badgering and bickering that too often comes from Congress.

YingYing Shang

Teen Advisor, Girl Up

Trains, buses, and public transit in general played a vital role in the growth of America's cities and suburbs in the East and fueled migration out West. But I believe that public transit will be an integral part of our nation's future as well.

Anne Addison

Co-founder, the Unexpected Project

Part of the problem in the US is that we simply don't know exactly why women are dying, or even how many are. If we don't ask the question, how will we ever know the answer?

Wendy Kopp

CEO & Founder, Teach For America, and CEO & Co-founder, Teach For All

When I started Teach For America, I wasn't trying to come up with an idea that would change the world. I was trying to solve a problem much closer to home: I was a senior in college and I had no idea what I was going to do with my life! I'm sure that doesn't sound at all familiar.

Charles Radcliffe

Chief, Global Issues Section, New York Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, United Nations

The improvement in the human rights situation of LGBT people is real, but millions have yet to feel its touch. Extending the reach of progress and guaranteeing the rights of every LGBT individual, no matter where they live, is emerging as a vital, if contested, objective of human rights activism.

Jennifer Redner

Senior Program Officer, U.S. Foreign Policy and Advocacy, International Women's Health Coalition

As a key player in shaping global development priorities -- priorities that include education, health care, food security, economic empowerment and ending violence against women and girls -- the United States has an important role in ending early and forced marriage worldwide.