✯ ✯ ✯ A+E Networks Presents ✯ ✯ ✯Voices Magnified

Voices Magnified: Planet FWD

Julia Collins, Founder and CEO of Planet FWD, discusses the tech startup's work to fight climate change as the leading decarbonization platform for the food industry.

Voices Magnified: Queer Brown Vegan

Isaias Hernandez, Founder of Queer Brown Vegan, discusses their mission to make environmental education accessible for younger generations through social media.

Voices Magnified: Childhelp

Michael Medoro, Chief of Staff at Childhelp, discusses evidence-based programs and services that enable advocacy, intervention, treatment, and prevention of child abuse worldwide.

Voices Magnified: Juneteenth of Palm Beach County

Brittany McAfee, Sukeenah Kelly, & Kenesha Hemmings, Executive Board members of Juneteenth of Palm Beach County, explain their mission to empower Black voices by celebrating Juneteenth and commemorating Black history.

Voices Magnified: Soar Over Hate

Kenji Jones and Michelle Tran, Co-Founders of Soar Over Hate, discuss the organization's work to uplift and support the AAPI community against Anti-Asian violence and racism.

Voices Magnified: Reentry Rocks

Sharon Richardson, Founder of Reentry Rocks, discusses the organization's work to help prepare formerly incarcerated women overcome any obstacles they may face after returning home from prison.

Voices Magnified: American Heart Association on Health Equity

Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association, discusses AHA's actions to remove socioeconomic barriers in order to provide equal opportunity access to health and wellbeing.

Voices Magnified: VEST

Tanya Brownrigg, founder of VEST, developed VEST to work with victims of domestic violence to provide education, advocacy, and support.

Voices Magnified: Veterans Rebuilding Life

Dre Popow and Christian Zamora, the co-founders of Veterans Rebuilding Life, discuss how their organization provides support for veterans, helping them find healing and community through giving back to others in need.

Voices Magnified: VOID

Jaime Puerta, President of VOID, discusses the work of the organization to educate youth about the danger of sudden deaths associated with fentanyl poisoning.

Voices Magnified: Hispanic Voices

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Voices Magnified's featured Hispanic voices making change in their communities.

Voices Magnified: Beat the Streets

Jon Guevara of Beat the Streets discusses the non-profit's mission to empower underserved children in America through the sport of wrestling.

Opal Lee, Juneteenth Activist

Ninety-four-year-old activist Opal Lee, "the Grandmother of Juneteenth," talks about her mission to make June 19th a national holiday celebrating of the true abolition of slavery.

Christian Parker, Executive Director, Gay and Sober

Christian talks about Gay and Sober's mission to create safe, fun and enriching experiences for the LGBTQ+ recovery community.

Twiggy Pucci Garçon, Artist, Advocate and Producer, True Colors United

Artist and activist Twiggy Pucci Garçon talks about their work with True Colors United to end homelessness for LGBTQ youth, and create space for them to flourish.

Jim McDonough, Executive Director, Headstrong

Executive Director Jim McDonough discusses Headstrong's mission to offer no-cost mental health treatment for service members, veterans and their families.

Dior St. Hillaire and Nora Tjossem, BK ROT

BK ROT co-directors Dior St. Hillaire and Nora Tjossem discuss how NYC's first community-supported, bike-powered waste hauling and composting service helps young people understand that they have the power to create change.

Dr. Beverly Wright, Founder, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice

Dr. Beverly Wright discusses how the Deep South Center for Environmental Justice exposes environmental racism and helps communities defeat policies and regulations that impact their quality of life.

Martice Sutton, Founder, Girls Going Global

Martice Sutton explains how Girls Going Global empowers girls of color through travel, cultural exchange, and global leadership programming.

Michele Byrd-McPhee, Founder, Ladies of Hip Hop

Michele Byrd-McPhee discusses how Ladies of Hip Hop creates opportunities for women to teach and share hip hop culture with the next generation of female leaders.

Sarah Adams Cornell and Kendra Wilson Clements

The Matriarch founders discuss their work to help end the crisis of murdered and missing Indigenous women, and their mission to provide space for Indigenous people to heal and be empowered.

Angeline Hartmann, Director of Communications, NCMEC

Angeline Hartmann discusses her work with the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children to fight against child abduction, abuse, and exploitation.

Major Jas Boothe, Founder/President Final Salute Inc.

Jas Boothe talks about how her life experiences inspired her work to support homeless women veterans and their children.

Terry Grace Sears, Executive Director, Tuesday's Children

Terry Grace Sears talks about how Tuesday's Children, formed in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks, has grown to provide support and bring community to children of first responders and children impacted by mass violence, terrorism, and post 9/11 military service.

Mónica Ramírez, Founder and President of Justice for Migrant Women

Mónica Ramírez discusses the "Healing Voices" project which focuses on supporting mental health among essential workers, especially in farmworker communities.

Dr. Cathy Trimble, Principal, Francis Marion School

Dr. Cathy Trimble, Principal of the Francis Marion School in Marion, Alabama, talks about her fight to close the digital divide by bringing broadband access to rural America.

Ashton Mota (he/him), Advocate and Author, The GenderCool Project

Author and advocate Ashton Mota (he/him) talks about his mission to increase visibility for transgender and non-binary people through his book, "A Kids Book About Being Inclusive," and his work with The GenderCool Project.

Melissa Stockwell, Co-Founder Dare2tri

Melissa Stockwell is a two-time Paralympic triathlete, swimmer, and former U.S. Army officer who co-founded Dare2tri, a nonprofit organization serving youth and adults with physical disabilities to get them into the sport of triathlon. She discusses how her work helps to create a much-needed community and shows people that they can still be competitive in whatever sport they choose.

Stacey Hengsterman, President and CEO of Special Olympics New York

Stacey Hengsterman discusses using the power of sports to start an inclusion revolution that will change the way people think about people with intellectual disabilities.

Anh Vu Sawyer, Executive Director Southeast Asian Coalition of Central Massachusetts

In 1975, 18-year-old Anh Vu Sawyer left Vietnam during the Fall of Saigon. Now, as executive director of SEACMA, she helps fellow immigrants and refugees build lives in America.

Dig Deeper: Anh Vu Sawyer on the Strength and Sacrifice of Immigrants

Sawyer, who is also an author and entrepreneur, discusses her own experience as a refugee and why she believes mental health care is especially important for immigrants.

Mitch Maki, President & CEO Go for Broke National Education Center

Mitchell T. Maki works to honor and preserve the legacy of Japanese American World War II veterans. He discusses why he believes it's important their story be told and how it can offer us important lessons for the present day.

Dig Deeper: Dr. Mitchell T. Maki on Preserving the Legacy of Japanese American WWII Soldiers

Dr. Maki discusses why he believes all Americans should know the story of the Nisei soldiers—and how it speaks to the heart of what being an American really is.

Tessa Xuan, Statewide Co-Director Ohio Progressive Asian Women's Leadership

As the co-director of OPAWL, Tessa Xuan is focused on building AAPI feminist leadership and combating anti-Asian racism. She discusses how she first got involved in her community, her political upbringing and how everyone can be an ally for the AAPI community.

Dig Deeper: Tessa Xuan on How to Be an Ally Against AAPI Hate

Tessa Xuan speaks about her political upbringing, finding her identity as an Asian American person and how to be a good bystander and ally for the AAPI community.

Imam Khalid Latif, Executive Director & Chaplain The Islamic Center at NYU

Imam Khalid Latif witnessed the rise in Islamophobia in New York City firsthand after the September 11 terrorist attacks. In the years following, Latif dedicated himself to cross interfaith and cultural lines, eventually becoming the youngest chaplain in the history of the NYPD.

Dig Deeper: Khalid Latif on the True Meaning of Giving

Imam Khalid Latif on what the spirit of giving truly means and ways that people can incorporate the principles of Ramadan into their daily lives.

Sarah Eagle Heart, CEO Return to the Heart Foundation

Lakota activist, author and producer Sarah Eagle Heart uses storytelling to help enact social and environmental justice—especially for Native communities. She discusses organizing through the Lakota worldview and why she believes in the power of narrative change.

Dig Deeper: Sarah Eagle Heart on How to Support Native Communities

Sarah discusses ways non-Indigenous people can practice good allyship and help support Native communities.

Jess Leslie, Director, National Sexual Assault Hotline

Jess Leslie has focused her career on creating systems and structures to support victims of gender-based violence and sexual abuse. Leslie and her staff provide a place for people to go when they need someone to talk to and provide them with the tools to help them take the next step toward healing.

Dig Deeper: Jess Leslie on How We Can Support Victims of Sexual Violence

Leslie explains how growing up in an immigrant family made her aware of suffering at a young age, and what people can do to be advocates for victims of sexual violence.

Ebonie Riley, National Action Network

As the Washington, D.C. Bureau Chief for the NAN, Ebonie Riley educates lawmakers on the opportunities and challenges faced by underrepresented communities. Riley explains why she believes it's important she comes from the same community she advocates for.

Dig Deeper: Ebonie Riley on Bringing Civil Rights Into the 21st Century

Ebonie Riley works to translate demonstration into legislation. She discusses making moral appeals, staying hopeful and carrying the torch of her heroes.

Stephane Dunn: Filmmaker

In her career as the director and co-founder of Morehouse College's film school, filmmaker, professor and author Stephane Dunn aims to highlight powerful Black stories and nurture the next generation of storytellers that will change the future of media.

Dig Deeper: Stephane Dunn on Why It's Essential to Tell Diverse Stories

Stephane Dunn explains the positive impact storytelling can have on a person—and the negative consequences when you don't see yourself reflected in a narrative.

Jonathan Greenblatt: Anti-Defamation League

As the National Director for the Anti-Defamation League, Jonathan Greenblatt fights against anti-Semitism, racism, and all forms of hate across America. The grandson of a Holocaust survivor, Greenblatt explains why he believes eliminating anti-Semitism is tied to eliminating hate in general and why it is crucial for there to be systemic changes to policing.

Dig Deeper: Jonathan Greenblatt on Fighting Hate

Greenblatt discusses joining forces with civil rights leader John Lewis, how being the grandson of a Holocaust survivor guides his work and why the next generation gives him hope.

J. Scott Thomson: Police Chief (Retired), Camden County PD

For 11 years, J. Scott Thomson was the Camden, New Jersey police chief—during which time he experienced a profound shift in his philosophy of policing. He eventually rebuilt his entire force from the ground up. He talks about what prompted this change, and what other cities can learn from it.

Dig Deeper: J. Scott Thomson on Building a New Police Department from Scratch

In 2013, retired police chief J. Scott Thomson took a drastic step: overseeing the abolition of his own police force. Thomson discusses why he thinks what happened in Camden can be replicated elsewhere.

Ange Branca: The Muhibbah Dinner Series

The Muhibbah Dinner Series was founded by chef Ange Branca in 2017. The dinners bring together emerging and established chefs from various cultural, religious and ethnic backgrounds to make and serve a communal meal. Branca discusses how food can be used to bring people together in ways that extend far beyond the table.

Dig Deeper: Ange Branca on Building Cultural Bridges

Chef Ange Branca discusses her background in food, how she came up with the idea for a dinner series and the most memorable meal she's eaten.

Derek Auguste: The Mission Continues

When Derek Auguste left the Army after 15 years of service, he found the transition back to civilian life difficult. He talks about how he rebuilt his identity, the impact of The Mission Continues and the importance of selfless service.

Dig Deeper: Regaining a Sense of Purpose Through Service

Army veteran Derek Auguste talks about how The Mission Continues helped him rebuild his relationship with his family, the challenges of transitioning to civilian life and how selfless service can help communities come together.

Faith Roessel: Navajo Lawyer and Educator

A member of the Navajo Nation, Faith Roessel works to educate non-Natives about her people and her culture. As a Navajo woman, lawyer and educator, Faith and her sons started a program to authentically share who the Navajo people are.

Dig Deeper: Why People Should Learn About Navajo Culture

Navajo lawyer and educator Faith Roessel talks about some of the misconceptions people have about American Indians, her hopes for the next generation of Navajo people and her vision for an ideal future.

Seantell Campbell: Co-Founder of The Barrio Fridge

Knowing the struggle of people in her community who don't have access to fresh produce, Seantell strives to alleviate the stress of buying fresh fruits and vegetables for her neighborhood.

Darrielle Carter: Co-Founder of The Barrio Fridge

Darrielle Carter helps provide food for her neighborhood using an app that she created. A self-taught coder, Darrielle hopes to provide the necessary tools for other community fridges to be successful—because she believes that healthy food is not a privilege; it's a human right.

Dig Deeper: The Barrio Fridge Co-Founders on Feeding Their Community

Seantell Campbell and Darrielle Carter discuss growing up in East Harlem, their own experiences with lacking access to enough healthy food and why they wanted to give back to their community through mutual aid.

Diana Colin: Political Director for The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights

Diana Colin grew up undocumented and unaware of opportunities afforded to her as a California resident. Now working as an advocate for immigrant rights, Colin talks about the program she runs that reaches out to Latino and immigrant voters to increase voting participation.

Judith Browne Dianis: Executive Director, Advancement Project

Judith Browne Dianis is a Queens-raised civil rights advocate and lawyer who is focused on dismantling the school-to-prison pipeline, which disproportionally impacts Black and brown children. She talks about her vision for schools to use restorative justice where students can take responsibility for their actions, but also receive support from adults and not miss out on educational opportunities.

Dig Deeper: What Makes Civil Rights Lawyer and Activist Judith Browne Dianis Hopeful

Dianis explains how her parents ignited her interest in social justice at a young age, the highs and lows of her career so far and what makes her hopeful about the future.

Dr. Yusef Salaam: Author and 'Exonerated Five' Member

As a member of the "Central Park Five"—now known as the "Exonerated Five"—Dr. Yusef Salaam spent six years in prison for a crime he did not commit. He talks about how he turned his anger over what happened to him into action, and the work he's doing with the Innocence Project to make the criminal justice system fairer for everyone.

Dig Deeper: Dr. Yusef Salaam on Fixing the Criminal 'Injustice' System

Dr. Salaam discusses why he believes the criminal justice system in the United States is stacked against people of color—and how that can be fixed.

Jalen Thompson: Teen Activist

On the heels of his high school graduation, 17-year-old Missouri native Jalen Thompson organized a rally in his hometown to protest police brutality. 2,000 people—including members of the local police force—participated. The teenage activist talks about how important it is for people to listen to each other, especially when they disagree.

Dan Brite: Wellness Coordinator

After a shootout in the line of duty left him paralyzed, Colorado detective Dan Brite struggled with depression. Recognizing the need for a change in the culture surrounding police mental health, Brite became a Wellness Coordinator for his department, helping officers and their families overcome the trauma of the profession. He talks about fighting against bias and the role mental health plays in creating a more just police force.

Voices Magnified: Policing in America

Resources for Change