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.

Walter Mendenhall

Transforming Lives in Underserved Communities: The Stories of Keith and Jeremiah
In the heart of Chicago—where the challenges of gun violence, underemployment, and economic disparity often drown out hope—there’s a beacon of resilience and transformation: the Male Mogul Initiative (MMI). This is not just an organization; it’s a lifeline for young Black men navigating a city where opportunity too often feels out of reach. Read more>>

Jeff Zalles

Much of the work I do is on a pro-bono basis for non-profits. It’s not that the community is underserved, it is that charitable organizations are often underfunded. Contributing my skills means the money they save can go instead to helping others. Read more>>

Althea Douvlos

D&A Elite Media serves a vast amount of very talented individuals that well deserve a spotlight. We provide interviews on D&A Live, The DJ Enjetic Show, highlight them on www.power1049li.com or on www.daradio937.com and on all of our affiliated radio stations around the U.S. and abroad, which are also played 24/7 on iheartradio app, and can be viewed on Roku, AppleTV etc., We provide outlets for these talented artists to shine. These artists may not have the outlet, or connections to do so, and that is where we come in. We do not stop with artists we have grown to admire and who have an undiscovered talent. We have placed ourselves with a great responsibility, and that is serving those who deserve to be served with life’s greatest rewards. We work with those with an undeniable talent, work ethic and determination in an industry that does not always work with such and instead opt for fads and plants. Read more>>

Raymont Johnson

My business serves an underserved community in a number of ways. What makes my community underserved is that we serve a community which has a 73% poverty rate. A median income of $18000 per year. My city, Alliance Ohio, is about 90% white, so it’s not about color, it’s about poverty. I serve the community as an entrepreneur and a social entrepreneur. Read more>>

Dominique Samarco

I am an Artist and Educator in Philadelphia. I create Artwork that represents my vision of growing up in Philadelphia in hopes that they create connection to our community. This is seen in my most recent body of work, Philly Dreamin’ & Becoming. Growing up in Philadelphia—the poorest major city in America—dreams often serve as a beacon of hope, a means of escaping hardship and achieving stability. My paintings are a visual narrative of my past, present, and future—interwoven with my hopes, challenges, and growth. Read more>>

Prentice Butler

As Executive Director of The Neighborhood Bridge, I lead an organization committed to walking alongside families on Chicago’s West Side—especially in the Austin community—as they navigate barriers to housing, education, health care, and economic stability. Read more>>

Jody Hatch

At AlpacaBIZSOS, we support a deeply underserved community—small-scale alpaca farmers and rural entrepreneurs—many of whom stepped into this lifestyle for its promise of freedom, connection to the land, and family-centered living. These individuals are often isolated in their efforts, lacking access to clear business guidance, financial structure, and peer support that traditional industries take for granted. Read more>>

Nicolette Sweeney

It’s always been very important to me to serve the underserved. I didn’t necessarily grow up with a lot of money but I was lucky enough to be born an American citizen with a roof over my head, a loving family, and all the opportunity in the world at my fingertips. I was lucky enough to pursue a dream and know that it could be, potentially, in reach. Read more>>

Shannon Allbright

I teach hand sewing and embroidery as after school enrichment. We teach over 50 classes a week, sometimes 500 students are on our rosters. I volunteer in under served communities here in Los Angeles. I made a film where I rode my motorcycle to Selma, Alabama to teach a sewing class at the school where I learned how to read and write. Read more>>