Featured readers
We recognize that many of our readers are already doing exciting things to benefit the world, and we want to honor them. Some of their projects have opportunities for involvement, so take a look.
Monalisa Okojie
Monalisa Okojie is the founder and president of Upward African Woman (UAW) to help eliminate the poverty, illiteracy, and hopelessness confronting women and children in Africa and within our own city of Los Angeles.
read moreJackie Behling
Jackie Behling is the founder and executive director of Global One Development Center. She had become aware of the problem of mental illness through people she knew in her personal life, and was looking for a way to help. She decided to provide housing for people with special needs, people who were homeless and who may also be suffering from mental illness as a contributing factor. Jackie started applying for grants, and received funding through HUD, the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development. However, one of the conditions of...
read moreSheila Laffey
Sheila Laffey, Ph.D. is an award-winning producer/director of documentaries and short dramatic films and Adjunct Professor of Film Studies at Santa Monica College. Laffey has been teaching at Santa Monica College for nearly 20 years; one of her courses is Green Screen: Films on the Environment and Transformation. She also teaches a film appreciation course at SMC’s Emeritus College. She has a Ph.D. in Cinema Studies from N.Y.U. and was Program Coordinator for the National Audubon Society in Hawaii. A chapter about her work appears...
read moreCameron Gharabiklou
Cameron Gharabikiou is the co-founder of Justice Law Group and current candidate for Lieutenant Governor of California. Cameron and his partner founded Justice Law Group in San Diego fifteen years ago to represent employees and individuals who have suffered from sexual harassment/assault, wage theft, negligence causing injuries, discrimination (race/gender/age/pregnancy), to name just a few areas. Cameron saw early in his career that the individual rarely received justice when fighting the large corporations or insurance companies. He wanted...
read moreCarol Rosenstein
Carol Rosenstein is the Executive Director and Co-Founder of MusicMendsMinds, Inc. Carol and her husband, Irwin, founded MusicMendsMinds, Inc. after their own success story with music and social support. Irwin, who practiced real estate law, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and early dementia in 2006. The Rosensteins felt their lives slipping away while dealing with the adversities of Parkinson’s Disease and early dementia. Hope and life came back into their home after Irwin’s passion for music was reignited from playing the piano...
read moreLila Silvern
Lila Silvern, pictured with her sons Drew and Eric, is the founder of the Drew Silvern affiliate, a non-profit chapter of Scholarship America, Dollars for Scholars. When Lila retired in 2002 from the Los Angeles Unified School District, she was honored with a gift and a request that it be used for a scholarship to honor her son, Drew, who died of brain cancer in 1997. Because of her work as the Director of an educational program for children of migrant workers and her son’s work as an education journalist, she wanted to grant the awards to...
read moreJuliet Béynon
Juliet Béynon serves as project director for K9 connection, a nonprofit program that re-shapes the lives of teens in at-risk situations and guarantees the placement of shelter dogs in permanent, loving homes. “Finding a job where I can help two groups I’ve always been passionate about, has been a dream come true.” “With approximately 11,821 dogs killed in LA City Animal Shelters last year, and thousands of young offenders serving time in juvenile correctional facilities, the proactive approach we offer through year around k9 connection...
read moreJay Grossman, DDS
Jay S, Grossman, DDS is the Founder and CEO of Homeless Not Toothless, a 501C(3) non profit program providing free dental care to the homeless and under-served. He has received wide recognition for his service, including awards from The Los Angeles Times, First Lady Michelle Obama, The U.S. Navy, United States Senators, California State Senators, and Los Angeles Mayors and City Council Members. Dr. Grossman has a practice specializing in Cosmetic & Implant Dentistry in Brentwood, CA. He is Clinical Assistant Professor at both UCLA...
read moreAmeeta Nanji
Ameeta is an artist living and working in Venice, CA. Born to Indian parents in Nairobi, Kenya, she studied art in London. She has exhibited her work in London, Los Angeles, and Venice. Ameeta worked in set decoration on the film Mississippi Masala, and she is co-author of three art books. Last year, Ameeta traveled to Greece to volunteer with Dirty Girls of Lesvos to help refugees by washing and recycling clothing, blankets, and sleeping bags. Here is what she says about her experience: Ninety-nine or probably 100% of us can trace our...
read moreJack Nordhaus
Jack Nordhaus, PhD has been a volunteer with Perfect Pet Rescue (www.perfectpetrescue.com), a West Los Angeles-based dog adoption service for nearly 20 years. He and his wife began their involvement with the program after walking dogs at the PPR boarding facility in Culver City. Today, Dr. Nordhaus spends Saturdays at the PPR mobile adoption location in Santa Monica — on the corner of 15th and Montana. He and his fellow volunteers set up pens for the dogs with toys and water bowls, sit with, walk, and cuddle them, present them to...
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