AnnMaura Connolly, 07/31/12

President, Voices for National Service; Chief Strategy Officer and Executive Vice President, City Year, Inc.

Two new reports released by Voices for National Service detail the vital role national service plays in providing cost-effective solutions to improve local communities and strengthen the American workforce and economy at large.

Dan Cardinali, 07/31/12

President, Communities In Schools, Inc.

With 22 % of the nation's children now living in poverty and a persistently high unemployment rate, public education must reframe how it educates students to realize its purpose.

Marie C. Johns, 07/31/12

Deputy Administrator, U.S. Small Business Administration

American service members manage assets and equipment worth millions of dollars with unparalleled diligence, pride and discipline. Their skills and experience make them natural leaders and a large percent later become entrepreneurs.

Women & Co, 07/31/12

Personal finance source for women

A growing number of high-end hotels are offering travel packages that give back. Hotel owners and operators help out a good cause, give guests a lavish adventure and improve the lives of individuals and entire communities all at the same time.

A C Wharton, Jr., 07/30/12

Mayor, City of Memphis

As crews remove abandoned tires from vacant lots or demolish dilapidated homes, residents come out of their houses to cut their own grass, sweep their own sidewalks, and trim their own hedges. 25 Square re-invigorates the pride our citizens feel for their communities.

Jason Hayes, 07/30/12

Student Fellow, Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

How exactly you tip the scales is an extremely complicated matter. In the fields and rice paddies when people need to use the bathroom, they just go. By the river, when people are thirsty in this heat that makes your breath draw like gel, they just have a drink.

Lopez Lomong, 07/30/12

Olympic Runner, Team USA

Yes, I think of winning Olympic gold, representing the USA and expressing my appreciation for all that this country has given to me in blessing upon overwhelming blessing.

Matthew Hutson, 07/30/12

Science writer; author, 'The 7 Laws of Magical Thinking'

In general, if you're nice to people, good things come your way, but if you're jagoff, look out. These expectations make sense in social situations, where people can retaliate or return favors, and where reputation matters. But we expect the universe to play by the same rules -- to manifest karma.

First Lt. Jake Everett Murphy, 07/30/12

First Lt., U.S. Army

In April, I had the opportunity to cycle for the first time in Wounded Warrior Project's Soldier Ride, a cycling event that takes place around the U.S. to help veterans like me recover from our physical injuries, as well as the invisible ones.

Anna Stork, 07/30/12

Co-founder of LuminAID Lab

When we consider our most basic human needs, we often think of food, water, and shelter. As we brainstormed what we could design that could make a difference, we turned our attention to another critical need: light.

Cecilia Attias, 07/30/12

President and Founder of the Cecilia Attias Foundation for Women

What would the world look like without HIV? 34 million people would live freer, healthier lives. Communities that are currently affected would be thriving. Mothers would live to see their children grow up.

Rob Schware, 07/30/12

Executive Director, Give Back Yoga Foundation

Debbie Cohen started teaching yoga in 1996 and began working with children in schools in 2002. She later went on to found the Core Yoga in Schools Program to serve Boston public schools.

Margaret Aguirre, 07/30/12

Director of Global Communications for International Medical Corps

As our six-seater closes in on the small outpost of Walgak, South Sudan, the thing we feared most -- short of a plane crash -- happens. It starts to rain.

Caleb Dembélé, 07/30/12

West Africa Acting Regional Representative, Trickle Up

By capitalizing on the universal appeal and excitement that sports can bring, people with disabilities in Mali were able to transform themselves from dependent and voiceless individuals into advocates for themselves and their communities.

Neil Parmar, 07/30/12

Journalist and Hult Global Case Challenge winner

The longevity of Tilani's business model hinged on attracting enough consumers, but just as importantly, creating a robust network of companies willing to advertise via the CareZone app.

Ali Noorani, 07/30/12

Executive Director, National Immigration Forum

We've seen enough barriers from Congress. The administration's temporary action should inspire a bipartisan effort to create a permanent immigration process that adheres to our values of equality and hard work. Our economy deserves nothing less.

Pat LaMarche, 07/30/12

Broadcaster, The Pulse Morning Show

The story of poverty in this country is a story of people who work but don't earn enough to provide for themselves and their families, as well as the story of disadvantaged people who cannot work and others who cannot find jobs.