One of the most important ways to have a large impact in life is by focusing on communities that are ignored and overlooked. These communities are often the ones most in need of help, tools, and services but for a variety of reasons the largest players in most industries chose not to work on serving them. We’ve been so touched by the thousands of members of our community who are working on serving the underserved from tackling food deserts to building empowering solutions for the neurodiverse. Each week, you’ll find us highlighting folks serving underserved communities.

Jamilah Espinosa

As an immigration attorney, I have the privilege to serve the underserved by representing asylum seekers who often face nearly insurmountable barriers to finding safety and justice. My clients have left everything familiar, fleeing persecution, violence, or oppressive regimes in their home countries. They arrive here without resources, sometimes without family, and usually without any understanding of the U.S. immigration system. The legal process they face is daunting and complex, and without support, many would struggle to advocate for themselves. By guiding them through each step, providing legal representation, and standing with them in court, I help ensure their voices are heard and their rights protected. It’s meaningful work, knowing that my efforts help these individuals and families achieve stability and safety they might not otherwise attain. Read more>>

Marlene Godsey

I am a cultural inclusivity trainer. I work with public and private professionals, and I teach them how to master the art of creating relationships with culturally diverse communities and organizations. This work is so important because without professionals learning how to adapt and adjust to do this work. They will avoid this work altogether, and in turn, culturally diverse communities will be left out of program’s events, community society in general. Read more>>

Rach Brosman

Support Women DJs was founded to uplift a critical but often overlooked part of the electronic music industry: femme-identifying and nonbinary DJs. Despite EDM’s reputation for being inclusive, the reality is that festival lineups, club residencies, and bookings are still dominated by male artists. According to a 2022 study by InChorus, only 6% of headliners at global electronic music festivals were women, and the barriers are even higher for trans and nonbinary artists. This imbalance isn’t just about numbers—it’s about visibility, opportunity, and respect. Read more>>

Sabella Neal

Yes, Breaking Chains Foundation Inc. serves an underserved community—survivors of human trafficking and child exploitation. These individuals are often overlooked, marginalized, and silenced in society, which perpetuates their trauma and limits their access to healing and justice. One particular story that highlights the underserved nature of this community involves a 32-year-old trafficking victim in the New York City area. She had been through unimaginable circumstances, separated from her 17-month-old child, who was placed in foster care. Her experiences reflect a larger systemic issue where survivors, even when they escape their traffickers, face numerous barriers to reintegration, including a lack of trauma-informed services, inadequate legal advocacy, and minimal access to safe housing and rehabilitation programs. Read more>>