I cannot place myself in the shoes of a rape victim. I cannot begin to imagine the blinding fear that comes with walking the streets of Johannesburg, or the pangs of helplessness, hopelessness, and indiscriminate fury that rape victims attempt to deal with. I cannot relate to those who have felt like they have had their humanity violated, their decency trampled, and their norms of order and stability stripped down violently in an act of shameful cowardice. I would rather be angry. I would rather lash out at the societal hierarchy and cultures of violence that breed such despicable violence....

What does an affinity for Superman, Wolverine, and Captain America get ya? How about a full-time paid profession! Jose Cabrera, 36, graphic designer and comic book artist, grew up hoping his artistic skills might take him places, but decided at an early age that he would have to focus on a steady income apart from the superhero world. This led him into the fields of design and marketing, and fortunately with his success, Cabrera has been able to return to his childhood passion. Maintaining a booming career as a freelance graphic designer, he also publishes a syndicated comic strip, Crying Macho Man,...

With endless to-do lists at work, appointments and meetings to remember, and constant errands to run, there is high likelihood that you might forget some of your minor personal tasks. Enter Networkcar! The brainchild of Diego A. Borrego, Founder and Director of Product Engineering, Networkcar offers real-time wireless vehicle management for personal or business purposes. Simply put, this system includes GPS tracking, remote diagnostics, preventative maintenance alerts, reporting for fleet vehicles, and a stolen vehicle recovery program. It’s easy enough to use if you’re a parent looking to track your teen’s car use or, perhaps, a truck fleet owner working to reduce operating costs....

Providing reconstructive surgery for children with clefts, disabling burns and hand injuries as well as medical education partnerships with local doctors in 16 countries,Interplast is a vital global non-profit working for the betterment of underserved children and underfinanced medical professionals. In operation since 1969, this California-based agency has helped thousands of afflicted children with little to no access to care so that they may maintain normal functioning lives as would be impossible without surgery. Liliana Vazquez, 25, Communications and Technology Coordinator, tells us that in training host-country medical colleagues, Interplast leaves behind a legacy where thousands more children will be able to receive the...

Meet an Artist who will inspire you, make you laugh, share his insights, and help you love every moment of it. MeetRene Garcia Jr., age 34, of I Love This World. Taking the lead in pop culture creativity, Rene designs his work to be loud, brilliant, and garnering more attention than previously thought possible. Melding family time and work time, Rene thrives in an environment where he can sit in his home-based work station with colors, shapes, and ideas pouring from his fingertips, or run down the street to observe daily on-goings and absorb ideas for future projects. Rene launched ‘I Love This World’...

The Committee for Hispanic Children and Families, Inc. (CHCF) celebrates its 25th year in service to others offering educational and health programs for kids and adults, as well as policy advocacy work at the local, state, and national levels. This New York based agency works with individuals to enhance their self-sufficiency, with family groups to enrich the home environment, and with community leaders to eliminate social service disparities pervading many local institutions. Sandra Duque, age 30 and Policy Analyst, says there is never a dull moment at CHCF; from direct service programs to legislative endeavors, the staff here are client focused at all times and full...

Michael Cordero, age 24 and Brand Architect of 1 SOUL DESIGNS, sees people and community as his strongest assets before income or financial gain. Launching this independent t-shirt brand in 2004, Michael first turned his classroom hobby into a small business venture at the local flea market. Now three years later, he, and business partner Randy Quiles, works with vendors on both coasts and in the international market as well. His motivation lays in the youth and community around him and how his designs will contribute to their education and uplift. Creating a Youth Apprenticeship program in addition to creating phenomenal fashions, Michael takes time to...

HomeStart, Inc. is a non-profit organization working to end homelessness in the Greater Boston area. The agency’s first priority for every client is a stable housing situation. They then work with each client’s individual needs to provide services and support to make sure they are able to remain housed. By offering assistance in both English and Spanish, many homeless and formerly homeless individuals and families can depend on HomeStart in their search to obtain housing and their continued journey to maintain it. Elsa Lizarralde, 32, Bilingual Stabilization Advocate, works with the agency’s formerly homeless clients. Providing much needed access to other social...

When her artistic side bloomed by age five and when her professional career launched at age 10, her family knew there was something different, rare, and intriguing about her. Elizabeth Torres, age 19, has experienced a lifetime’s worth of international travel, speaking engagements, and art showings all highlighting her abilities to speak, create, and develop new motivational concepts. An average week for Elizabeth might include meeting with student groups, writing new poetry, speaking on a radio show, attending university classes, or engaging in discussion with the nation’s corporate leaders. Nothing is out of reach for this young woman! With professional accolades and the...

Directing the faith-based and university-focused educational organization Reality Changers, Cecelia Villegas (age 18) fills her days developing learning tutorials for teens, outreach projects, and speaking engagements. She works with inner city youth in and around San Diego, California, to build their academic and community service resumes and also to engage them in activities not associated with inner city life such as gang and drug involvement. Cecelia says that while her hours are filled either focusing on Reality Changers or on her full school schedule at Point Loma Nazarene University, there is absolutely no bad part to her day or her responsibilities as Site Director. In...