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.

Shaylee Kay

Everyone deserves good quality pictures. Not everyone can afford it. As photographers, we usually charge based on our experience level, how expensive our equipment is, and upkeep on all of our apps that help us create the beautiful images. The term “you get what you pay for” is very valid in my line of work. Read more>>

Leslie Gang

Hindi’s Libraries was created as a legacy of Dr. Hindi Krinsky who suddenly passed away. A devoted Mother and Wife, Hindi was a passionate advocate for literacy– sharing and spreading that love with all of the students she encountered. After starting with a small free library that grew into an international effort, we feel there is no better way to honor and support her legacy than to promote one of her greatest loves, books and literacy. Read more>>

Zellipah Githui

Gitzell Fairtrade works with Artisans in Africa. We carry a selection of home goods but mainly focusing on baskets. Weaving is a craft passed down to generations. The weavers are mainly from rural remote areas. They do not have ready access to markets for their baskets. When they get the baskets to the market, they face the challenges of transportation and price fluctuations. Read more>>

Priya Ray

My organization is DIYabled. It is an organization dedicated to empowering and supporting disabled individuals through creative expression. By fostering inclusivity and celebrating the unique abilities of all people, DIYabled aims to create a more equitable and accepting society. Read more>>

Kayla Castro

I became a special needs travel agent because I saw a need for this in my autistic community. My oldest son is autistic and it took a lot of research, trial and error to find resources, accommodations, and services that brands provided for guests with special needs. Read more>>

Grace VanBeek

One Thousand Schools (OTS), previously Students Helping Honduras, is an international organization working to alleviate extreme poverty and gang violence through youth education and empowerment. As the University of Michigan chapter of OTS, we work to support our school builds through fundraisers and social events. throughout the school year. Read more>>

Lonzaya Williams

Lc Consulting Bp’s main goal is to serve and spread awareness to underserved communities about credit health and business development. I have been studying in this field for about 8 years and every time I speak with potential clients or even family and friends, I learn something new about what communities need to be educated on when it comes to credit health especially. Read more>>