Changemakers: Inspiring Individuals Transforming the World
Meet the extraordinary individuals making a difference worldwide From supporting teens with incarcerated parents to providing healthcare in remote areas, these inspiring individuals are transforming lives Join us in celebrating these exceptional CNN Heroes of the year
Simple ideas have been transformed into impactful actions by this year's Top 10 CNN Heroes. Examples include converting vehicles into wash stations for homeless veterans, offering books to children at barbershops, and turning a passion for diving into a collective movement to preserve coral reefs. As a recognition of their extraordinary efforts, each hero will be awarded a $10,000 prize.
The journey commenced with nominations submitted by CNN's viewers. Now, you have the opportunity to cast your vote and contribute towards selecting the 2023 CNN Hero of the Year. The chosen hero will be bestowed with an extra $100,000 to further their worthy cause.
Additionally, all the honorees will receive a grant and benefit from organizational and capacity-building assistance provided by The Elevate Prize Foundation. Moreover, they will have the privilege to partake in the foundation's esteemed annual Make Good Famous Summit held in Miami.
CNN has partnered with GoFundMe to allow supporters to donate to this year's honorees and to learn more about their stories. Supporters can make direct online donations to the nonprofit organizations of the Top 10 CNN Heroes through CNNHeroes.com.
The live announcement of the CNN Hero of the Year will take place during "CNN Heroes: An All-Star Tribute," hosted by Anderson Cooper on Sunday, December 10, starting at 8 p.m. ET.
Read more about each of this years Top 10 CNN Heroes, below:
Yasmine Arrington: Helping teens with incarcerated parents
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CNN Heroes: Yasmine Arrington
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Yasmine Arrington grew up aware of the difficulties that accompany having a parent who is incarcerated.
"Throughout my entire life, my father has been in and out of jail and prison," she revealed. "As I delved into research, I discovered that there are numerous individuals around my age who are going through similar circumstances to mine."
At the age of 16, she established ScholarCHIPS, a nonprofit organization aimed at assisting youth in similar circumstances as herself, who have parents in prison. ScholarCHIPS offers scholarships, mentoring, and a support network to these young individuals. To date, the organization has granted over $450,000 in scholarships and provided assistance to over 80 scholars pursuing their college education. Each year, new scholars join the program.
Osei Boateng: Bringing health care to remote communities
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In rural Ghana, where hospitals could be hours away, this CNN Hero is delivering care to thousands using a converted van
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In numerous areas of Ghana, the proximity to a hospital is often so far that hours are required to reach one. Consequently, a significant number of individuals succumb to curable diseases. Osei Boateng had a firsthand encounter with this unfortunate reality when he tragically lost both his grandmother and aunt.
Feeling an urgent call to help, Boateng decided he would make it his lifes mission to bring health care to remote communities in Ghana.
"These people dont have the luxury of time," Boateng said.
Boateng initiated his nonprofit organization, OKB Hope Foundation. In 2021, he repurposed a van into a mobile doctors' office and commenced delivering medical assistance directly to the underprivileged.
The mobile clinic and its medical personnel make frequent journeys to distant regions in Ghana, ensuring free basic medical services to isolated communities.
Stacey Buckner: Meeting the needs of homeless veterans
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Off-Road Outreach: She's providing showers, laundry, meals, and more to homeless vets wherever they are
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In 2008, Stacey Buckner experienced a stroke and a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), almost losing her life. However, this life-threatening incident became the turning point that led her to embark on a remarkable journey of recovery, ultimately guiding her towards the fulfilling work of outreach which now defines her life's purpose.
With her initiative, Off-Road Outreach, Buckner has assisted over 1,000 veterans in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Making use of her personally equipped off-road vehicle - a Jeep equipped with amenities such as water, heating, and cooking facilities - Buckner delivers mobile showers, laundry services, and meals to homeless veterans.
Since 2015, Buckner embarks on weekly journeys to remote locations, seeking out and supporting veterans in need. Approaching them without judgment, Buckner inquires about ways she can provide assistance.
"There should be no homeless vets, period," Buckner said. "I am to a lot of them their only family."
Mike Goldberg: Rebuilding Floridas coral reefs
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CNN Heroes: Mike Goldberg
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Mike Goldberg left his job in Los Angeles in 1996 to pursue his passion for underwater diving. Later, he and his family relocated to Islamorada in the Florida Keys and founded Key Dives, a dive shop. As a passionate diver, Goldberg gained a deep admiration for the coral reefs and recognized their crucial role in the marine ecosystem. Presently, his nonprofit organization, I.CARE, is dedicated to revitalizing the coral reefs in the area.
Goldberg stated that the organization has successfully transplanted over 10,000 corals and has provided education to more than 2,000 individuals. The I.CARE team diligently oversees and preserves all of the transplanted coral, ensuring its flourishing.
Goldberg expressed that there is a significant amount of work ahead, emphasizing that they are only at the beginning stages.
Tescha Hawley: Helping her Native American community
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Using tribal traditions as a guide, she's providing a lifeline for her Native American community
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When Tescha Hawley received her breast cancer diagnosis at age 46, the lifesaving treatment she needed several times a month was at a hospital a three-hour drive away.
Hawley, a member of the Gros Ventre tribe, faced significant hurdles despite having two masters degrees in order to access the necessary care. As a single mother, she eventually had to take unpaid leave to undergo treatment.
"As Native American individuals, we have the highest incidence rates of various ailments such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Unfortunately, our access to quality healthcare remains inadequate," Hawley stated.
Alvin Irby: Providing access to books and a love of reading
Hawley established the Day Eagle Hope Project in 2017 following her personal encounter, and her organization has since broadened its scope to cater to various requirements of Native Americans within her locality.
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Fresh looks and new books: He's helping young boys hone their love of reading every time they go to the barbershop
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In 2008, Alvin Irby, a first-grade teacher, visited a barbershop in the Bronx after school for a haircut. Soon after, one of his students arrived, appearing quite disinterested. Reflecting on the situation, Irby realized that the student should be engaging in reading practice, but unfortunately, he did not have a book available at the time.
That experience remained ingrained in Irby's memory, prompting him to establish Barbershop Books five years later. Since 2013, this organization has successfully distributed over 50,000 complimentary children's books within over 200 barbershops situated primarily in Black communities nationwide. Irby's mission focuses on addressing lower literacy rates by fostering a love for independent reading among young boys.
"Our program is about getting kids to say three words: Im a reader," he said.
Adam Pearce: Healing brain injuries with yoga and community
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CNN Heroes: Adam Pearce
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Kevin Pearce reached the pinnacle of his snowboarding career and had his sights set on the Winter Olympics. However, tragedy struck when he collided with the halfpipe's edge during training, leading to a severe brain injury.
The incident forced him to undergo the arduous process of relearning basic skills like walking and speaking. Nevertheless, as he embarked on his journey of recovery, Kevin turned to yoga, and his family witnessed the remarkable transformation it brought about in him, instilling a newfound sense of hope.
"I recall ... leaving a class alongside him and being struck by the newfound expression on his face, as if he had transformed into a completely different individual," shared his brother, Adam Pearce.
Driven by their desire to offer solace and restoration to others via yoga and meditation, Adam and Kevin jointly established the LoveYourBrain Foundation. Their mission is to establish a secure environment and nurturing community where individuals with a traumatic brain injury (TBI) can embark on a journey of healing together.
EstefanÃa Rebellón: Classrooms for migrant children
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She transformed buses into mobile classrooms that have served thousands of migrant children living in limbo
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EstefanÃa Rebellón understands the fear and uncertainty felt by the more than 70 million migrant and forcibly displaced children around the world. She was a migrant child, too.
In 2018, her experience of volunteering in migrant camps in Tijuana, Mexico deeply touched her, causing her to temporarily pause her acting career.
"The absence of educational facilities and the sight of children wandering barefoot in the camps left a profound impact on me," she shared.
Rebellon and her partner utilized their savings to purchase tents and supplies, establishing an improvised school at the US-Mexico border. Additionally, they converted buses into mobile classrooms to extend their reach to more families.
Presently, Rebellon, through her non-profit organization called the Yes We Can World Foundation, offers educational opportunities for children residing in temporary shelters at the border. Rebellon asserts that since 2019, her group has provided assistance to over 3,100 migrant children.
Mama Shu: Transforming a neglected block into a village of beauty
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She spent 15 years transforming a derelict Detroit block into something beautiful. Now she's ready to transform the world
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Every parents worst nightmare is losing their child. Shamayim Harris has lived through that nightmare - twice.
In 2007, her son, who was only 2 years old, tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run incident in Highland Park, a suburb of Detroit. Several years later, her 23-year-old son was fatally shot while carrying out his duties as part of a neighborhood watch.
Expressing her determination, Harris, also known as Mama Shu, stated, "I felt compelled to transform grief into triumph and turn pain into empowerment."
In 2016, she established the Avalon Village, a nonprofit organization dedicated to cultivating a secure and supportive environment for the entire Highland Park community. Presently, she and her organization possess 45 lots of land spanning three blocks. Notably, their most significant endeavor involves comprehensively renovating an abandoned house into an after-school facility, catering to children.
Dr. Kwane Stewart: Caring for the pets of the homeless
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CNN Heroes: Dr. Kwane Stewart
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Dr. Kwane Stewart's outreach on the streets commenced over a decade ago when, on a spontaneous impulse, the veterinarian paused to examine the homeless man's dog outside a 7-11, where he routinely acquired his coffee.
Having successfully treated the dog's skin ailment, Stewart witnessed an astounding transformation in the animal. However, it was the heartfelt expression of gratitude from the man that truly resonated with Stewart, serving as a powerful catalyst for his subsequent endeavors.
Stewart's nonprofit organization, Project Street Vet, offers essential medical assistance to the pets belonging to individuals facing homelessness.
"No matter the circumstances, if I encounter a pet in distress, I see a compassionate individual who deeply cares for them and simply requires aid," expressed Stewart.
