America runs on volunteers: people who donate their time and energy to feed those who need food, to fight against racism, to foster community, to support the arts and artists, to save the environment, to care for the aged.
No one volunteers because they want recognition or acknowledgement; they volunteer because they care and because it feels good to give back. However, witnessing both individual and collective volunteerism can inspire and encourage others. And perhaps more importantly restore our faith in humankind and our confidence in the future. And so, along with generous and willing subjects, I’ve created this project: Volunteers of America.
My plans are to photograph many more volunteers across a wide variety of causes (anti-racism, income inequality, food insecurity, immigration, housing, environment, aging, the arts, animal protection, et. al.) and include their thoughts on motivation, optimism about the future, and the role or difference that one person can make, culled from their answers to the questions below. Ideally, the even more comprehensive body of work will portray the amazing power of what we can each do to make our communities safer, healthier, stronger.
(Note: Top row is a slide show of images and text as they will appear exhibited; scroll down to more easily read the text.)
It’s a very important privilege to be here, to exist in a place where we have access to resources, but we are challenged because our world displays so much power and resource inequality and segregation. I know this because I have been on the other side - marginalized, oppressed and exploited - and I know what it feels like to be powerless and invisible. No one should have to feel that way in a country and a city so rich as ours.
Racism is the root of most social problems that we have, something that divides us from one another, that creates an “other,” who is presumed to be different, and usually inferior.
Any time we see opportunity for more inclusiveness, where we get a glimpse of a kind heart in our leaders and our neighbors, we have to work to nurture it. If we look and listen we can see there is much encouragement for fighting to create good changes. Social justice is within our grasp.
One person can make a difference. Once you have the courage to come forward, you encourage others. Before you know it, there is a crowd that shows that your concern, your demand, is in fact a collective one felt and needed by many.
Natalicia Tracy / Former Volunteer and now Executive Director of the Brazilian Worker Center
I volunteer assisting eligible Massachusetts residents with booking their COVID vaccine appointments.
The vaccine symbolizes so much hope to so many people. But in Massachusetts many of those who are ready and eligible have been unable to access it. Knowing that this disorganized rollout is just another extension of institutionalized and medical racism has motivated me to help.
If there were one problem in America that I could solve, I’d start with capitalism.
Despite how I feel about our current state, I am optimistic about the future. As a mother, I have no other choice. If I don't believe that the seeds I'm planting, the children I'm raising, will bring about something good, then why am I doing it?
And yes, one person can make a difference. It may be invisible to some, it may be barely measurable on its own, but yes, the actions of one person matter.
Emily Piper / Vaccine Volunteer
I curate feminist and queer experiences as Director of Mass NOW, Chair of the Massachusetts Commission on LGBTQ Youth, and board member with the Transgender Emergency Fund, Trans Resistance & the National Organization for Women.
In my 10 years on Boston, I’ve seen wins: a rape crisis center and gender neutral housing at Boston University, the most comprehensive statewide pay equity legislation in the country, and (menstrual) period policy for the first time ever in Massachusetts. That progress keeps me motivated to continue organizing.
Still, we need more mothers in office, trans legislators, and millennial leadership. Most people aren’t interested in government because they don’t feel represented by the current leadership. We need a civic engagement renaissance at the local level so that people can realize the impact public policy can have on their lives and get involved to influence it.
I am optimistic about the future because I see young people being unapologetically who they are in ways I only dreamed of as a kid - which wasn’t even that long ago!
We all need to remember that one person definitely makes a difference. Boston City Councilor Mejia won by only one vote and New York just lost a congressional seat because of only 89 people uncounted in the census - I bet there's more people in Union Square right now.
Sasha Goodfriend (She/Her) / Community Organizer, LGBTQ Experiences
I have been delivering food since June. For me, it is an extension of the family council work that I have been doing for the past two years.
Americans are often self-centered and competitive. I feel like they have strong views and think in terms “winner vs loser,” “black and white” or “me vs you.” They talk about “I” instead of “We.”
I grew up in Japan where I learned to be respectful, kind, compassionate and empathetic. We took care of each other. This selfish attitude of “my way is my way” and not helping others is mind blowing to me. It is not that hard if you put your ego to the side.
There is a Japanese story. One monkey washes a sweet potato in sea water and not only learns that it washes sand off the potato, but that the salt makes the potato taste better. Soon, one by one, other monkeys change their behavior and adopt this new behavior. I hope we see the same effect on our society. It might be that one person is doing good work, but if that single person can influence another person or two, that is good progress.
Momo Shinzawa / Food Delivery Volunteer
I help distribute food at a food pantry. Before I came here, to the Epiphany School, I helped out at a different pantry. It was where I went for food when I needed help. So I wanted to give back and help others who were in the situation I was once in.
If I could solve one problem in America today it would be homelessness. I’m a veteran. Yet I was homeless for decades.
I am optimistic about the future. But that’s because things cannot possibly get worse than they are during this current worldwide crisis of Coviid.
Can one person make a difference? Sometimes. I’ve noticed that one person’s dynamism or tragedy can be a catalyst for an entire movement. Witness what happened with George Floyd.
Ernest C Hunter / Food Pantry Volunteer
I became civically engaged when my attempts to open a rock club in Allston were thwarted by the archaic bureaucracy of Boston. That became the catalyst for me to create change within the system and to encourage others within the community to find their voices, too.
We undervalue the arts. It's an industry that is constantly consumed, but few understand the expense at which art is created. Countries all over the world invest in artistic infrastructure but for some reason our government just doesn't follow suit. It's always too little too late, and America’s creative workforce pays the price time and time again.
My generation has been told our whole lives to trust in the system to rectify the larger issues of the world. But we just watched as that system failed, literally shutting down the world and ruining countless lives. My entire industry has been ground to a screeching halt with no sign of returning anytime soon.
One person, with an idea, an initiative, an action, can make a difference by inspiring others to work for change. That voice becomes amplified when it’s echoed by others.
Nick Grieco (He/Him) / Community Organizer / Boston Artist Impact
I volunteer as a community organizer and activist in the South Florida area. I recently moved to Boston for college and have tried to do the same here, fighting for issues that I care about.
What really has driven me to get involved with my community has been outrage over the injustice many communities in America are facing. I first got involved when 17 students at Parkland were murdered by a gunman in 2018. It was only a few miles away from my home. I remember the shock of knowing people inside the school and then the oncoming rage of feeling helpless about what I could do. The first step was believing that I could somehow make a difference. The second step was thinking that working together, other people my age could also make a difference.
If there were one problem I could solve in America it would be pessimism toward change. I hope that others will read and see how much of a difference everyday people can make and more importantly see themselves in these stories. I deeply believe that every single person has the power within them to impact someone’s life in a positive way.
We have to keep on believing that not just one person can make a difference, but see it in ourselves. We need to believe that we as individuals still hold the power and passion to make a difference no matter how small to make the world a more equitable, peaceful, and accepting place for us all.
Janet Hernandez (She/Hers/Ella) / Community Organizer and Activist
I run an initiative called Blue Crime Blue Dime. Our goal is to force people with badges to behave humanely by making sure they incur financial consequences for their actions. Right now, when police go to court over incidences of police brutality, it is taxpayers who end up fronting the bill.
I’m an empath. I can’t bear all the injustice and unnecessary violence that goes on, especially against children. It makes me sick. So I’m going to do what I can to stop it while I’m alive. I don’t know why the majority of the world is so complacent and lazy and apathetic.
If I could solve one problem, it would be to end capitalism. We should give Native Americans back the rights to their land, and give every African American their 40 acres. The capitalist system really is the root of all evil. In a capitalist society, people with no capital have no power.
I’m begrudgingly optimistic about the future because I know there are others who feel the same way I do. There’s a lot of fake activism, but there are also who actually care and are willing to do the work needed.
When one person shows a broken person a little kindness, it can change their whole world. By being yourself you can create something that wasn’t there before. So just live your life well and have love in your heart. With that, one person can single handedly change lots of lives.
Hadiya Flower (She/Her) / Human Rights Activist and Strategist
I have always volunteered for humanitarian causes. For the last few years I have been helping a Yazidi family whose child was seriously burned by an explosion in a refugee camp.
It is very important for me to give back to my community. I have been a recipient of kind, caring and concerned strangers and it is in my blood to give to those in need. I was brought up to learn that “if we save one life, it is as if we saved the world entirely." Giving back is the right thing to do. And it is the way in which we live a life of contentment while showing gratitude for all that we have received.
I wish all Americans were more accepting of each other’s differences and that they could learn to treat every individual -- regardless of their religion, colour, or size of wallet -- as a valuable human being.
I remain optimistic because I see a commitment from young people to work toward a kinder, better, safer and more just and equitable world. Then again, I may be an incurable optimist and romantic.
Even though one person cannot save the entire world, if we lift the pain of one individual, it could mean the world to them. And to the person giving.
Tatyana Goldwyn / Humanitarian Aid Volunteer
A few years ago, a fellow Town Meeting member called me a “communitician.” I like that. It fits. In all my volunteer projects, I create civic infrastructure, which makes it possible for people to transform themselves through dialogue, reflection, and common action. I tap into what makes people care and want to help.
The main problem I address -- as a community member, a Town Meeting member, and the founder of Inspo:Expo -- is “help insecurity.” Most people want to help; they just need to have a system in place so they know what the issues are and who they are helping. It starts with my lens as a group therapist. How do we get more people engaged in the conversation about our community’s conditions to take action?There is a power to being in a group, and I take that idea to figure out how I can connect people— not just on a clinical micro level, but also on a communal macro level. Community heals.
My daughter is my own motivation and force. In 2016, when she was seven, she asked me what I was going to do to fight Trump. I hope to teach her to “breathe fire” as a Jewish woman, to use our heritage and beliefs as guideposts to fight for what is just.
One person can make a difference. You can sit on your living room couch and knit a blanket or make masks for your neighbor.
Hadassah Margolis / Founder Inspo:Expo / “Communitician”
Boston has more arts groups per capita than any other city in the U.S. and, prior to the pandemic, four times the number of arts attendees than all our pro sports teams combined. Our vibrant arts and culture sector plays a huge role in connecting people and building communities. I wanted to be part of that effort.
I believe one of the biggest challenges facing America is the inability for many people to see the world from someone else’s perspective. That lack of understanding leads to a lack of empathy. And it can result in only caring about yourself – or others that match your experiences. The arts are an antidote to that. They challenge us to step out of our own lives, to see, hear, and feel other people’s stories. They’re a form of intellectual and emotional travel, giving us a broader perspective on the human experience. ArtsBoston encourages people to “take yourself to a new place.” The arts have the power to do that.
I’m optimistic. And, oddly, the pandemic has only heightened that. When the world ground to a halt, we were forced to think, act, and live in new ways. Many of us also woke up to the scope of crises like racism, economic disparity, and climate change. My hope is that the imagination and collaboration required to navigate the past year will continue. I don’t want to go back to the way things were. I want to go forward to something better.
John Wolfarth / ArtsBoston / Board Chair
I didn’t grow up tough but wanted to work in the civic and political arena so had to learn how. My first step was to join the local civics association in Allston. As one of only three young people involved I struggled to be understood by a much older homeowner population focused on preserving the neighborhood rather than contributing to its growth.
As I was trying to find my voice it was local songwriters who taught me to channel my anger into the right words and communicate more clearly., and a community of local artists and service workers who supported and encouraged me. Now that I am in a position to advocate for them -- the working people who get to their bus stop at 5:30 in the morning -- it means everything to me.
The problem I’d like to solve is protection for gig workers and renters. Financial security remains elusive to service workers and artists. Few policies protect them. Instead we support institutions and businesses but ignore the needs of individuals.
It’s easy to become cynical when you do advocacy work. But we have to maintain hope and believe in the promise that things can get better.
And if just one person makes an impassioned argument for why things need to change, the entire narrative can take a new arc.
Liz Torres (She/Her or They/Them) / Civic Advocate for Renters, Working Class and Artists
For years I’ve volunteered weekly with FriendshipWorks, an organization dedicated to ending the isolation endured by so many elders. They deserve kindness, respect and dignity. And they need human connection.
I was born into poverty in the projects, but knew then, like I know now, that no matter where you come from, or what you have or don't have, we all have the ability to give. And we all have something to give. I have time and love to share. So I share that.
The biggest problem in America right now are the beliefs and topics that divide us. In so many ways. But giving to your community can help. Listening, learning, and loving brings us together and makes us stronger.
I will always have hope for the future. I've seen some terrible things - but I've also seen enough wonderful things to know that in the end, love wins.
One person - one act of kindness can make a difference. It is not always the grand gestures that make the most impact. Who can say how far the rings will travel out from the drops of goodness we give? Just thinking about that makes me smile.
Annie Mazzola (She/Her) / Volunteer, Elder Support
I work at a volunteer-based non-profit, making meaningful connections and friendships between local volunteers and isolated elders.
I have worked and volunteered with different organizations that give back to the communities they serve and the one thing they all have in common is that they value individuals and love. I think those values are what make better people and communities. I want to derive greater purpose from the work I do and I feel there is no better way to do that than to contribute what I can to make someone’s life better. I know that something as simple as a phone call to check in with someone, can enhance their quality of life and mine.
We need more empathy in America if we are to care about each other and support one another’s needs. Social isolation, for instance, is a little known public health crisis that can be devastating to one’s physical and mental health yet can be solved with little compassion and companionship.
I am optimistic about the future, I see new people dedicating their time, love, and energy into different causes everyday. New community mutual aid groups have been popping up and neighbors are reaching out to help neighbors. I feel there is a growing sense of responsibility to help each other and our planet. That should bring positive change.
One person can absolutely make a difference. Everyone has something to offer, even if it's just their time sitting with someone who could use a friend.
Emily Waldron (She/Her) / Elder Services
I am a revolution stoker. Revolution is an ever going process in which people come together in order to accomplish what is best for humanity. I am inspired and motivated by the true force of any revolution, love.
Education is the first step towards revolution. It allows us to have the knowledge of what is wrong in society, why we need to fix what is wrong, and how to actually fix it.
We possess enough resources to end the world's poverty, illiteracy, hunger and lack of mental healthcare. A well- educated society will know how to re-distribute and reallocate those resources in order to create a more just and equitable world.
We also have the ability to influence the future by how we act in the present. If we fight for justice, if we fight for the environment, if we fight for equitable wealth distribution, if we fight to eradicate hunger, then I am optimistic.
The actions of one person, when well intentioned and ethical, can have a meaningful impact. One person, whether an artist, writer, leader, or revolutionary can influence the minds of a few or a few thousand. Even millions. And if they all act together, the difference will be significant.
Antuan Castro Del Rio / Activist / Revolution Stoker
For my entire life, I watched my mother who barely made minimum wage, always find a way to give to so many. Whether it was meals she cooked and distributed to people, or big bundles of clothing and necessities that she sent to Cape Verde, giving was part of our life. She taught us, her children, that this is the only way to be. As a kid I probably didn’t really understand it. But as an adult I now try to mirror her way of being. I have been very blessed and it gives me great happiness to do anything I can for others, whether it’s access to food, education, jobs, or assistance with bills.
Food insecurity is the big problem I care about. But also income inequality and homelessness. They’re all related. Fortunately, through my work as an educator, we can help with a lot.
I think you have to stay optimistic. Otherwise it would be too difficult to keep doing what we do every day.
If people didn’t believe that one person could make a difference then no one would do anything. I think it’s lots of ‘one persons’ doing whatever they can that helps build momentum and create collective movements.
Michelle Sanchez / Principal, Epiphany School / Food Access and Distribution Coordinator
I volunteer providing patient care at a medical facility. It is not a free clinic, but many of the patients come from marginalized communities and are in desperate need of care. The clinic provides some financial assistance and helps connect patients to other organizations that provide further assistance if needed.
My rationale for volunteering is that it is everyone's responsibility to contribute to the world in ways great or small to the best of their ability. As I tell my kids, you have to "leave the campsite better than you found it.” I have the skills and the opportunity to help others, and the privilege of being able to choose how to spend my professional time without worrying solely about my financial compensation.
I believe reproductive justice -- the human right to maintain personal bodily autonomy, have children, not have children, and parent the children we have in safe and sustainable communities -- is one of the most important elements needed to achieve true gender equality in any society and that patients seeking this important care deserve radical empathy and support.
One blood donation here, one volunteer shift there, one gesture of support to a stranger; each of those acts adds up to a better world, inspires others to follow suit, and it reminds us that we are all connected.
Bianca Passarelli / Volunteer Nurse
I remember my favorite book growing up it. It was called “Stone Soup.” The story was about a hungry stranger who comes across a small town and ends up convincing the people in this town to each share a small amount of their food in order to make a meal that everyone enjoys. The hungry stranger contributes a stone, another contributes some carrots, while another drops in some potatoes. By the end of the book. they have a pot of simmering soup that feeds everyone. It’s a story about the value of sharing.
I volunteer time, and donate to organizations, to contribute to the collective “pot” – in the hopes that the little bit that I am able to contribute can provide a sense of comfort for someone who may be struggling.
There’s a lot that needs fixing, but I think first and foremost we have to address the systemic racism and White Supremacy Culture that has embedded itself into every facet of society – and that starts with recognizing the ‘original sins’ of this country (slavery and the extermination of native people).
We can’t address topics like income inequality, inequalities in health care, voter suppression, disparities in education, or mass incarceration without first having an honest conversations about how we, as white people, benefit from being white (whether these benefits are realized or not) – and start to adopt anti-racist and equitable practices as individuals and institutions to move us towards a more racially just society.
Jason Desrosier (He/Him) / Volunteer / Global Citizen
I volunteer as a "community curator," seeking ways to bridge gaps between existing communities so people can be more unified.
I always wonder what made people so hateful towards each other. Humanity is pitted against one another fighting over scraps when we all belong at the table. Imagine people of all backgrounds coming together to celebrate and honor each other at a banquet. That’s the motivation behind my work on Stop Asian Hate.
If I could change one thing in America it would be to transform people’s hearts. Then we might all choose good over evil.
Anyone who fights hard for change has to cling to some sort of hope. I think of Abraham. In the same way Abraham knew that God would honor his promise, I believe that while I may not see the change I desire in my lifetime, I know there will be a Kingdom that comes in which sorrows will cease and tears will be wiped away.
A mentor once said, "One man's behavior is linked to a thousand people's destinies.” All it takes is one person to step up to the mantle he was called to, to become who he was meant to be, to follow his calling. His actions could become a blessing to those around him and for generations to come.
Manny Chong (He/Him) / Community Curator / Stop Asian Hate
At a very early age, I learned from my Abuelita (grandmother) that I needed to take some responsibility for the well-being of neighbors and other members of my community. That meant making sure the elderly had a clean house and food on their table. That younger kids were safe at home while parents were working. And that if someone got sick, we (neighbors), would find them the care and support that she/he needed whether they were family or not..
When I came to the USA, I learned that my new community and country were my responsibility. Here it is a choice or a virtue and it is called "volunteerism.”
Inequality is our greatest problem. Race inequality, income inequality, education inequality, gender inequality. All of them are intricate to one another. However, change will only come if we see the humanity in others regardless of how big their bank account is, how much academic knowledge they have, who they love, or the color of their skin. The day we stop trying to make others be who we want them to be and accept them for who we are, we’ll see change.
I am optimistic. I believe that we are awakening and the new generation will bring positive change.
One person can make a difference. Their actions don't have to be loud or grandiose to influence change. The big picture gets created from many small gestures.
Nicolasa Lopez (She/Her) / Anti-Racism and Food Volunteer
I build and install Ghost Bikes, roadside memorials for cyclists killed by road violence, in the hope of converting a location where tragedy occurred into a place of peace.
Every time an urban cyclist heads out on the road, they fear getting hit by a car. It is essential that we remember every rider who has been killed in order to highlight the continued need for better pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure throughout our cities.
The problem I would like to solve is road rage and the traffic violence that comes with it. Life is too short to fight over a couple of seconds because you have to wait for a cyclist. Slow down and share the road. Show respect for everyone, whether they are on four wheels or two.
I think that road rage and traffic violence keep increasing. We have a lot of work to do and it’s important work. Lives depend on it.
Ghost Bike ceremonies help. Each is different, but they all generate positive, emotional responses. From improved bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in the immediate area around the memorial, to help in healing for a rider’s friends, family and community.
Peter Cheung / Bicycle Advocate / Founder Ghost Bike Boston
I organize and lead volunteer and service opportunities for children and youth because I want every young person to have a chance to experience volunteering as more than just the 60 hours needed to graduate high school.
If kids have a chance to do meaningful work and form reciprocal relationships with the people they're serving it's transformative for them.
I led my first group about 20 years ago. We repaired and rebuilt houses. Some of those kids are almost 40 now, and they're stilI doing volunteer work, or running their own non-profit, or working at the policy level to address economic and racial inequality.
I like the direction young people are heading in. These kids are smart, woke, and powerful. And if they can keep the momentum and not be silenced, then I'd say I'm pretty optimistic about the future.
I never feel like I am just one person. Someone told me years ago that I was like the pebble thrown into the water that continues to create ripples that spread out for ages; I think that's true for all of us who do and receive this work. We make an individual impact, but we also create a lot of ripples.
Jessica Rubenstein / Youth Volunteer
I volunteer as a bag-packer at Brookline Thrives preparing bags of food for Brookline students to take home over the weekend to ensure they have enough to eat.
It’s a way to connect to the community. As a student, I’ve always felt a part of my school community. But this helps me feel a connection to the overarching Brookline community that I felt I was missing. In towns like ours it is often easy to forget the struggles of those who are less fortunate. I believe that most Brookline residents wear rose colored glasses. Volunteering has allowed me to shed that perspective and work to address the needs of those around me.
If there were one problem in America I could solve, it would be racism, specifically racially-fueled violence against Asian Americans as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The media’s response to the rise in hate crimes directed towards Asian Americans was a little too late. We need to do more in this country to improve the general public’s education and understanding of non-white cultures before we become a more accepting society.
When I’m volunteering or having in depth discussions with my classmates on current events, it is easy for me to feel hope. But if I’m drawn into the whirlpool of news and social media, I become less certain.
You need to believe that one person can make a difference, because without that belief, who would try? Who would be the first to act when facing a problem? One person can absolutely make a difference. We have to remember that.
Nina Rogers (She/Her) / Volunteer Food Pantry Bag-Packer
I do volunteer work for Black and Pink Massachusetts, which is working to abolish a criminal punishment system that disproportionately affects the LGBTQ and people of color. Through Black and Pink I became a pen pal with an incarcerated woman named Denise. Realizing that she had a passion for creating art and music, I offered to help promote her work, posting for her on Instagram and Twitter.
I believe that the desire to help others is innately human, and that by doing so we are actively loving our neighbors and promoting a better quality of life for all. I have grown to understand the extent of my privilege I have as a (trans) white male, so I believe that sharing my resources and using what power I have to help my communities benefits everyone.
The more I write to Denise (and other pen pals) the more I have learned about how cruel the prison industrial complex is on everyone, but especially people of color. Fighting to abolish our current criminal system has become important to me. We need new solutions to rehabilitate and support those who find themselves in difficult life positions. Getting America to dismantle its racist, classist system of capitalism would be a good place to start.
To anyone who wants to help others less fortunate, even if they are restricted by finances or time, know that you can change someone's whole life just by befriending them.
Elias Diestler (He/Him) / Volunteer for Prison Reform
I volunteer because it makes me feel good to know that I can help someone in need. And because I want the community I live in to thrive.
If I could solve one problem it would be hunger. People are struggling considerably with food insecurity right now and it breaks my heart to see someone in need unable to get the bare necessities. Yet in America we throw away 80 billion pounds of food every year. No one in the entire world should ever go hungry.
It only takes one person to change the world or make a difference in someone’s life. A simple good morning to a stranger could alter the trajectory of their day.
Tiffany Smyth / Community and Food Volunteer
I feel I have a moral obligation to do whatever I can to help people, whether hungry, homeless, or victim. I try to help out folk the same way I would like them to help me if I were in need.
People are forever going to be stupid/racist. But the one problem we can solve is poverty. There’s no reason that people in America should live in poverty.
I have heard my elders say they are optimistic about the future. These same folk have seen and experienced things worse than I can ever imagine. To hear them say they still have faith that things can be better drives me to believe and to put in the work needed to spark change.
Without a doubt, one person can make a difference. So what are y’all waiting for?
Ernst Jean-Jacques Jr. / Community Organizer
Recently I’ve been contributing my time and energy to the Boston arts community. Arts District Boston is a new organization dedicated to serving Boston arts and that’s what we’ve been doing. The ultimate goal is to promote and provide opportunities for local artists and open a space in Allston where the community can come together to create and showcase their talents.
Growth and progress is not a bad thing, but Allston is developing and leaving artists behind. Allston was once a hub for artists and musicians and anyone who has lived there in the past ten years can see a drastic change. Artists are being pushed out due to unreasonable rent and lack of opportunities. Arts District Boston wants to include artists in Allston’s growth by providing opportunities and affordable studio space.
Growing up has become synonymous with giving up in America. People are conditioned to throw away their passions just to survive and it is a problem. Art is everywhere but being an artist is an undervalued occupation. Artists deserve to be able to work and live.
It only takes one person to create an idea. Ideas are powerful. Everything that exists is because one person had one idea about how something could be done better or differently.
Jill Rosati (She/Hers) / Founder, Arts District Boston
I volunteer as an advocate for more affordable housing within the Allston-Brighton community. Everyone deserves safe and stable housing no matter where they come from or how much they can afford, and I've made it my mission to help advocate for that.
I struggled with the typical experience of any young 20-something living in Boston, moving apartment to apartment every year with new roommates. I wanted a place to call my own, but in Boston that comes at a high price. I was fortunate to find a place but it motivated me to get involved advocating for housing that people like me can actually afford.
The housing crisis needs to be solved. So many other physical and mental health problems derive from not having a safe and stable place to live. In Boston, countless people are burdened by rents that make it hard to afford other basic necessities like healthy groceries and medical care. And they certainly can’t afford vacations, hobbies or activities that help keep you healthy.
I am cautiously optimistic about the future. I see some local and federal policies starting to tackle this problem. But we just can't wait much longer.
In a way, one person can make a difference, because you inspire others. I've learned so much from other people in my life. If you can combine all the energy and education of individuals in a community you can start a movement.
Christine Varriale (She/Her) / Affordable Housing Advocate
I volunteer as part of an organization that prepares and delivers food to families in need.
Since retiring from a medical career, I still enjoy and take pride in contributing directly to the health and well being of my community.
The most obvious problem In America is income inequality. It’s an inexcusable situation to be in when we live in such a wealthy country. Food insecurity is a direct result of the disparity. As a result we’ve seen the emergence of numerous local food pantries. They are indispensable if we’re to address the problem.
I think that recent political, social and cultural events have all combined to raise awareness of America’s problems. Hopefully it will be the motivation we need to find long overdue solutions.
A single person can make a difference. One person, with vision and energy, can motivate many others to take action.
Anita Fiedler / Food Distribution Volunteer
We provide basic home goods to allow people to live with dignity. We do not require paperwork or ask anything other than basic questions that allow us to provide the appropriate home goods. The number of goods available seems limitless and unfortunately, the need for them is limitless. We are the conduit in the middle.
My father was a child refugee from Nazi Germany and has always felt grateful for having landed with his family in the United States. My mother moved to Boston with my father when he got a job here and she found Boston emotionally cold, and inhospitable to newcomers. I think I have internalized both life experiences and it has heightened my sensitivity to what it would be like to come here, maybe not speak English, face a New England winter, all without basic bedding and kitchen goods.
If I could solve one problem in America it would be for every person to have clean bedding and the ability to make themselves a simple meal and be able to eat it on a plate with a knife and a fork. I wouldn't make the person who doesn't have these items document why they don't have them, or what their journey has been to this moment. I would just provide them.
Yes, one person can make a difference and I hope every one of us tries.
Julie Plaut Mahoney (She/Hers) / Executive Director and Founder, Welcome Home
Food delivery has given me a chance to provide help to the folks who have been most affected by this pandemic. It’s also a way for me to stay active when we are all stuck at home.
If we were all more conscientious and empathetic, we could would begin to tackle problems like food access, climate change, discrimination and intolerance. We seem to only think about what we as individuals want, and don’t seem interested in doing what’s necessary to benefit the larger, cultural “we.” Yet we benefit the most when all of us can enjoy basic human rights and find a path to success and fulfillment.
I think it’s important to maintain some optimism and believe that we can collectively be better off than we are right now. And I’ve witnessed a lot of progress hidden inside the tragedy and anger of recent years. We have a long way to go, but there is always potential.
There are institutions established to solve problems like systemic racism, climate change, the wealth gap, and access to affordable health care. But changes don’t happen overnight. In the meantime, individuals, working for mutual aid organizations can help people deal with their day to day problems.
Eric Lemaire / Bicyclist Food Delivery / Common Wheels
I used to volunteer at a nursing home, until Covid. A lot of those people died. Now I organize service projects with the National Honor Society at my school. We just finished a big blanket drive. I also do a lot of volunteer work at my church. We set up a micro-pantry a year ago there and we also deliver coats and socks to people in Boston who are homeless.
Volunteering makes me feel happy. I don't have money or a job or anything like that but I can do a lot with the time I have. I made a lot of friends in the nursing home and painted their nails and read to them and played games with them. They were really happy to have me as a friend, too. I'm so sad that a lot of them died this year. I can't wait until I'm older and can volunteer at more places. I wish people understood my age doesn't mean I can't do a great job.
I think a lot of our society's issues stem from patriarchy, which turns into power "over". I'm interested in sharing power and using power cooperatively to help as many people live as well as they can.
I'm absolutely optimistic about the future. I think there are a lot of young people now who are really trying to change things for the better. We want to make sure our kids have a healthy planet and a more just world to live in.
One person can make a difference because kindness spreads to other people. It's like a virus - but the good kind.
Greta Rubenstein / Food, Homeless, Aging Volunteer
I created a grassroots community called Women on Wheels in order to advocate for women and empower them to cycle. We organize mass bike rides and run educational programming. Amid the male-dominated Boston bike scene, it’s a welcoming social environment that encourages more women to ride and to gain confidence in cycling in the city.
My motivation is simply to build a more diverse and inclusive biking community in Boston and to bring camaraderie joy to women who want to ride.
If I could solve one problem it would be to end racism and discrimination. For as long as I live, I will stand against racial discrimination, social division and injustices in our communities of color. I will continue amplifying their voices by organizing and raising awareness in hopes to live and witness a more just and equitable society.
I am optimistic about the future because I see it in young people, who are a more racially diverse generation. Children are not born with hate in their hearts or with a desire to discriminate against others simply because of the color of their skin, this is taught behavior and unfortunately passed on by generations.
One person can definitely make a difference by becoming a leader and mobilizing for change to raise awareness about the issues marginalized communities face.
Yari DeJesus (She/Hers) / Founder, Women on Wheels
I am a clinical social worker. But I feel passionate about expanding the scope of what I can do by making sure that neglected individuals and communities have access to health and social services. Social work has roots in white supremacy and saviorship that, if left unchecked, perpetuate the same problems my profession aspires to treat or solve. I believe firmly that radical social work means working overtime to create conditions that would make the field itself obsolete.
There is so much creativity in activist communities, but it is really rare to see that translated into policy-making. So many Americans are stuck in a false narrative that the institutions and policies that exist now are irreversible or irreplaceable, when the reality is that these institutions and policies were created by people. Queer BIPOC activists nationwide are creating communities that run on mutual aid, transformative justice, and other alternatives to capitalist and policing-centered American norms. These communities serve as microcosms of what our larger society could be, if we only used the same creativity, trust, interdependency, and openness in our larger-scale policy-making.
Pessimism and complacency will not beget change. The fact is that we all have a choice. And if we choose to be optimistic––while also staying realistic and grounding ourselves in the generations of experience and knowledge from marginalized and oppressed communities––we can inspire and challenge ourselves and one another to create sustainable, macro-level change.
We should never underestimate the power that each of us has as an individual. And we should also never underestimate the power that we have as a community when we work together. The forest wouldn't be the forest without the trees.
Caitríona O’Grady / Marshall / De-Escalator / Healthcare Advocate
I volunteer as a shift leader packing weekend food for school kids.
It gets upsetting to listen to the news and hear about the world’s enormous problems, many of which seem too big to tackle. When I volunteer it helps me feel like I can do some good in the midst of chaos.
I usually choose to work locally and at places where I can see changes happening within my own community. It’s easier to think small and try to address one problem at a time. Everyone will need help at some point in their lives and when we are able, it’s our responsibility to do whatever we can to help.
If I could solve one problem in America it would be food insecurity. It’s a big problem, and often hidden in affluent communities. Yes, it’s part of a much larger picture that includes unemployment, race, housing costs, education, and healthcare. They all need to be addressed. But it’s painful to think of anyone, especially a child, going hungry in a country where we have such abundance.
One good thing that has come from this year of COVID is that more people see the need to help, and thankfully many have stepped up to provide. The more we do, a little bit at a time, the closer we can come to solving the bigger problems.
Margaret DeBruin (She/Her) / Brookline Thrives
At the beginning of the pandemic last year, I made a couple of masks for myself and my family. Shortly after, someone approached me and asked for a dozen masks for their family. Selling them didn't really feel right because I knew that a lot of people had lost their jobs and couldn't pay.
If I could solve one problem, it would be healthcare. The system we currently have is incredibly unfair and punishes people for getting sick. Before returning to school, I worked in a doctor's office helping people with their health insurance. I saw firsthand the devastating effect that illness could have on a patient’s financial security.
If there is one good thing to come out of this pandemic, I hope it is an understanding that tying healthcare to employment is a terrible idea; healthcare is a human right, not a privilege.
I am cautiously optimistic about the future. I think that President Biden is an improvement over Trump, but I think there is still a lot of work to be done.
One person can make a difference, even if it's only a small one. If you can recruit other people to work for your cause, you can make an even bigger difference. Last spring, when mask-making supplies had run out or were delayed, I asked my community for cotton sheets or pillow cases that they didn't want anymore. Dozens of people left donations of sheets on my porch and I was able to keep making masks.
Louisa Jenness / Mask Maker
Long ago a friend introduced me to the phrase "serial volunteer," which is an accurate label for me. I can’t stop myself from pitching in when asked or when I see there is a need. The outcome of the 2016 Presidential election spurred me to volunteer with the Brookline Food Pantry and to start Thrives, but I've been, I hope, giving back in some way for a long time.
I wish the majority of well-off people understood that giving more to those who are struggling does not put them at risk of not having enough. Paying more in taxes will not financially harm those with financial wealth, but it will lift those who have less financial stability through aid and services. There are so many gaps that seem to be widening. We need a mindset shift. It's not us versus them, capitalism versus socialism. It is the need for a common understanding that the individual can still succeed but has the responsibility to share and help others, and that the "I" can only survive if the "we" is strong.
To be optimistic is not to be certain everything will be better, but it is to believe that something can be better, and in that is hope. For all our differences and negativities, my experience is that people by and large have the capacity to be good and kind. We have the power to choose. Over time, I believe the choices for good will outweigh and outlive the bad choices. I am raising two amazing children, both now young adults, to be thoughtful of the world and their place in it. That makes me optimistic for the future.
Kim Kushner / Food Pantry Shift Leader
I am the product of many patient mentors and I feel the need to give back in the same ways they shared their time and compassion with me.
The distribution of wealth in this country is absurd. And the structure of our society currently rewards those at the top for growing their wealth by exploiting the less wealthy. Smarter people than me have identified this at the nature of capitalism. So many problems could be solved if everyone took a vested interest in caring for their neighbors and community.
I'm too preoccupied with the present to think about the future. But I am hopeful that there will come a time when the present feels less suffocating.
One person makes a difference by inspiring and caring for others, no matter the scale. We move forward together.
Nate Lamkin (He/Him) / Organizer / Noise Maker / Photographer
I volunteer as a food packer at Food for Free, among other things and other places.
I have been an avid volunteer throughout my life. There are many causes/organizations in need of support to fulfill their missions, and I am blessed with time to give. As part of a community, I like to do my part to serve that community-- even if the difference that I make is small.
I would like to address the growing economic inequality in our country. And that is partly because I'd like to think that if we could solve this, we'd be able to solve other big issues, too. Problems like homelessness, food insecurity, etc. But more importantly, I believe everyone should be able to have their basic needs met.
I see people doing work that makes me optimistic all the time - at places like Food For Free. And I am lucky to know many people who have committed their careers, their free time, and their personal resources to building a better future. They give me hope.
You asked if one person can make a difference? Absolutely.
Anonymous
I help sort and store donations for Welcome Home. We provide home goods to people who need them.
II believe that reusing and recycling are vital to our effort towards a sustainable future. There is simply no way that we can continue to neglect the environment, which is why reducing our consumption of goods and reusing as much material as possible is so important. The charity I volunteer for encourages patrons to donate household goods and then redistributes them.
In America, the one percent reaps the benefits of record-breaking economic growth while most of our population hasn’t seen a wage increase in years - despite the dollar growing weaker with inflation. In recent decades, rural Americans have had many of their jobs eliminated through outsourcing, leaving many towns and midwestern cities a shell of their past selves. Finding a way to redistribute wealth would help the rural population, help fund education, and ultimately make America a much more attractive, prosperous, and equitable place to live.
I am optimistic. Despite Trump and the recent radicalization of the right, there is a social trend toward progressivism. that becomes visible over time. When my stepfather immigrated to Pittsburgh in the 70s, the concept of recycling was an outlandish nuisance, yet today it is a widely accepted practice.
Although one person can’t do much themselves, they can influence others to join their cause and help them. Eventually, when enough people are involved the difference can be monumental.
Gabe Burdan / Volunteer, Home Goods Re-Distribution
