Meet Atlanta's Everyday Heroes

For the past eight years, the officers have organized the iCan Bike summer camp. The camp teaches 40 special needs individuals how to ride a two-wheeled bicycle without the need for adaptive devices.

The two Gwinnett County high school students know what it's like to navigate a new country as immigrants. They started a translation service to reduce language barriers in underserved communities and connect people with different backgrounds.

Trish left her public health job with the CDC Foundation to help ensure every Black child learns how to swim. She created SwemKids, which provides free swimming and water safety classes in elementary schools in underserved neighborhoods of Atlanta.

When the pandemic hit, Jennifer immediately thought of the families she knew would be out of work and kids who would miss their school lunches. She opened Solidarity Sandy Springs, a neighborhood grocery store with free food for anyone in need.

Rita, who is legally blind, wanted to help others who had lost their eyesight regain their independance and enjoy life. She created a nonprofit support group, Living Life Team, to help visually impaired adults navigate life independently.

The three sisters have turned their mother's cancer battle into help for those fighting breast cancer. Since 2017, their annual Strides for Survivors Walk has raised over $60K for TurningPoint Breast Cancer Rehabillitation in Atlanta.

Brandon, a music artist and production assistant, built a wooden shelter for a homeless man he befriended.

Joan runs a nonprofit out of her home that helps people with lympedema. She's had the painful condition for decades and knew others needed resources and support. Since her diagnosis, she's spent nearly 30 years trying to raise awareness and help others.

Anna and Ryan Teal had their lives turned upside down when Ryan was struck with Aphasia. Anna created a series of books designed to help aphasia patients.

Maria, a restauranteur, has raised over $3 million on her own for pancreatic cancer research through her non-profit Purple Pansies, Inc.

Ariel Fristoe, a professor at Emory, considers her work to be part of the ongoing civil rights movement. As the founder and artistic director of Out of Hand Theater, she pairs her artistic identity with her passion for social justice.

DeMicha, a Georgia Southern grad, created the Urban Advocate. The small, grassroots organization aims to identifiy gaps and barriers to develop layered approaches on solving challenges impacting Black communities.

E.R. is the Executive Director of Charis Circle, a non-profit programming arm of Charis Books - the South's oldest independent feminist bookstore. He works with artists, authors, and activists around the world to bring innovative, thoughtful, and life-changing programming and events to feminist communities.

Dr. Hussen is an associate professor at Emory University. She pairs her commitment to research with her practice as a physician, mixing advocacy with activism in real time to assist in combating the disease and providing authentic care and support for young Black men living with HIV.

Lama Rod Owens, a Black and queer man, is a Buddhist minister, author, activist and yoga instructor. He's renowned for his approach to self-care and commitment to freedom, especially in the Black community.

Mia Orino is co-founder of Kamayan ATL, a Filipino fusion restuarant mostly known for their Kamayan style feasts. Along with being an emerging chef, she carves out time to provide guidance for young Filpino entrepreneurs and hopes her new restaurant will act as a community gathering place.

As an immigrant to Georgia from Vietnam at a young age, Cam is the dominant face and voice of Georgia’s AAPI politics.

Alesa is a hospice worker who goes the extra mile for her patients and homeless veterans. She collects umbrellas and turns them into door decorations along with flower donations from local florists.

Pia is a pillar in her community, as she organizes fundraisers for both local and international relief. She also coordinates cultural celebrations, and works to educate the Filipino community on health issues.

Caleb Guy, who has Down syndrome, will compete in the 2023 Special Olympics World Games in Berlin. He is one of only three Georgia residents selected to represent Team USA.

Heather created The Compassion Project to help spread awareness of homeless children in local schools. She collects basic needs like underwear, socks, toiletries and school supplies.

Dantes co-founded the Atlanta Music Project, which offers high-quality music education to underprivileged and underserved kids.

Tomer has transformed the Atlanta Opera in his 10 years here from a sleepy company to one that performs cutting edge works. He has been an inspiring figure during the pandemic, purchasing a circus tent and becoming the only North American opera company to fully stage productions during the first year of COVID.

Joe has become a celebrated jazz pianist. His work with Neranenah (formerly the Atlanta Jewish Music Festival) has become a focus to acknowledge artistic contributions of the Jewish people. He also acts as a mentor to the upcoming generation of jazz pianists.

Najee Dorsey, an established artist, opened Black Art in America Gallery and Sculpture Garden in East Point. The grand opening brought collectors and art lovers from around the country and featured panel discussions, artist talks and lectures.

Robin works at the Clayton County Humane Society in Jonesboro. She, along with other volunteers, has kept the no-kill shelter afloat despite the hard times.

Keisha runs a nonprofit organization called Tied Together. She hosts events that bring students, local fire/police/elected officials together - including men in the community to help boys learn how to tie ties. She also raises money for school supplies and pays off school lunch balances.

Muddessar came to the U.S. from Pakistan with $2,200. After working at a factory in Baltimore, he and his partners opened a gas station in Conyers which grew to 19 locations around the state.

Rebekah left the corporate world to create the nonprofit Jambos, which is dedicated to helping foster children by soliciting donations of new pajamas.

Angela founded Dance Canvas in 2008 to foster dancers and choreographers who come from underserved areas of the city. Harris has used her own experiences as the lone Black female ballerina in a South Carolina ballet company to mentor dozens of rising Black female dancers through the past decade.

Caleb was a ball boy for Atlanta United just a few years ago, with the dream of playing professional one day. Now, at 17 years old, he signed his first professional contract with the club six weeks ago after coming up through its academy.

Carmen and her family immigrated from Cuba when she was a little girl. Now, as a children's author, she reflects on her own personal story as a refugee in her latest book "Wombat Said Come In.

Chantelle used her love for Mardi Gras to create the Krewe of the Grateful Gluttons. Together, her team organized the Atlanta Beltline Lantern Parade which now attracts thousands of participants.

After their son passed away at daycare, Stephanie and Eric started Charlie's Army. It's a nonprofit that's dedicated to providing young children a voice and empowering parents to create safe environments. They have donated multiple swaddles and pamphlets to new parents across the metro area.

Erin and Naveen are co-presidents of Farmers Market Friends, a UGA club that partners with Athens farmers to provide seasonal produce to students each week and help bridge the gap in food insecurity.

Through her role as executive director of The Backpack Project of Athens, a student-led nonprofit with more than 450 student volunteers, Esther distributes backpacks with snacks and essential items to local homeless encampments.

Inspired by the booming growth of Latino communities, Peruvian-born Gigi created the Latino Community Fund to pool resources and disperse them to various organizations.

Atlanta native Jon Thompson John is co-founder of Comunidad Connect, a nonprofit organization working to alleviate poverty and create sustainable change in Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic.

Guiomar Obregón is the co-founder of Precision 2000, a construction company focused on governmental civil engineering projects. She also helped create the Georgia Hispanic Construction Association to promote mentorship, support and advocacy.

Haylene, a self-proclaimed 'garden queen,' manages two community gardens. Over the years, she’s become a matriarch of the urban agriculture movement in Atlanta.

Quianah created a space for healing through her flower shop in South Atlanta, Nourish Botanica. Her store, and future cafe, are focused on contributing to food and economic justice organizations.

Taylor III is the co-founder of the Black Male Initiative Georgia Fund, a nonprofit aimed to empower Black men financially and civically.

Paula, a licensed nurse practitioner, used her life savings to fund a mobile van and provide free rapid COVID-19 tests to residents in metro Atlanta.

Claire leads the Fresh Express, a student-led organization created to help combat food insecurity. The free market provides fresh produce and non-perishables to UGA students.

Rachel is the co-president of the Period Project at UGA. The organization makes menstrual hygiene kits to be distributed to those in need.

Shelli and Arlene spend much of their free time driving around metro Atlanta to distribute care packages and supplies for people without shelter or basic necessities.

Jackie is the owner and operator of Lucky's Place, a wildlife rehabilitation center, which she runs from her home.