They Risked Their Lives To Bring Music Back

Ahmed Albasheer is an Iraqi journalist who uses a combination of humor and grassroots organizing to teach youth in Iraq and across the world about their government's corruption with his show, "The Albasheer Show.” He has been compared to Jon Stewart in how his weekly series airing on YouTube and satellite television engages young people through his comedic timing and straight-forward manner of speaking. As a result, protests have erupted, and the government has killed protesters in response, but Albasheer continues to boost morale and amplify their voices in solidarity.

Recognizing a pervasive sense of powerlessness in the US, Eric Liu authored "You’re More Powerful Than You Think: A Citizen’s Guide to Making Change Happen.” By connecting stories of various groups across the political spectrum exercising their civic muscles, he lays out concrete ways that power can be reclaimed by the seemingly powerless citizen.

In 1986, the city of Baltimore battled the Reagan administration over its local anti-apartheid ordinances—and won. How they prevailed may have important lessons for cities trying to resist Trump today; from his policies regarding immigration to climate change.

The Center for Applied Nonviolent Action and Strategies provides a "blueprint" for peaceful and democratic revolution, busting myths about the process of nonviolent revolt and helping dissidents in countries around the world to accomplish political goals, such as fighting corruption or protecting the environment.

The Friends of Coyote Hills led a 30-year community campaign that successfully protected 24 acres of threatened habitat from development. Alongside voter mobilization, strategic fundraising, and federal wildlife protections, they secured $70 million toward the purchase of land.

Finland’s approach to national security focuses on creating a comprehensive culture, emphasizing the idea that defending the country is a shared responsibility. Regular citizens can take volunteer courses in everything from using firearms and recognizing disinformation to surviving in the wild and interpreting maps, and the country’s men are conscripted at 18 for military or community service.

The Advocacy for Alleged Witches organization is fighting against the violent practice of witch-hunting in Benue, Nigeria. It offers medical treatment, legal advocacy, and financial assistance for those who are falsely accused while pushing for policy to combat the issue.

The Grandmother's Battalion is an initiative organized by the organization Care for the Elderly in Ukraine. Retired volunteers sew and distribute items such as pillows, work gloves, underwear, socks, and other needed clothing to Ukrainian soldiers fighting on the front lines.

Morena New York Committee 1 offers programs and events that aim to engage members of the Mexican Diaspora living in the United States and encourage them to participate in Mexican elections. The organization recently mounted three processions in New York City to demonstrate support for the country's sitting president.

Artolution provides art education and supplies to Rohingya Survivors in Bangladesh refugee camps, all of whom experienced severe trauma, to create life-affirming and informative murals. Topics range from safe hygiene practices to the dangers of domestic violence. The group trains artists to become muralists and teachers and pays them an annual stipend. The murals help artists heal, provide important public health information to the community, and amplify the cultural traditions they had to hide for so long. The nearly 200 murals are on almost all surfaces of the refugee camp from latrines to “monsoon walls.”