As a boy, Troy Williams sought refuge in X-Men comics. The X-Men are outlaw heroes whose unusual powers manifest at puberty. The world persecutes them because they are different. Yet, despite being ostracized, X- Men do their best to protect a world that is hostile to them. “That premise became a metaphor, not just of my emerging sexuality but also of my life that I would … [Read more...] about Creating Common Ground: The Uncanny Ability of Activist Troy Williams
Nonprofit
Project Read: Changing Lives Through Literacy
In 1984, Project Read Utah launched with the goal of providing one-on-one tutoring services to adults with low-level literacy skills, thereby strengthening families, improving communities, and breaking the generational cycle of illiteracy. Operating out of the Provo City Library, the organization envisions a literate Utah County where everyone has access to learning … [Read more...] about Project Read: Changing Lives Through Literacy
Special Olympics Utah: Creating a Community of Champions
Special Olympics Utah provides year-round sports training and competition for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Through sports, these athletes discover new strengths and abilities, develop greater skills and confidence, and experience added joy and fulfillment. Special Olympics Utah is all about empowerment. And special events manager Haley Nall says that … [Read more...] about Special Olympics Utah: Creating a Community of Champions
Caring for Traditional Native Elders: One Nonprofit’s Inspiring Mission
What started out as an inspiration from the award-winning documentary Broken Rainbow has now turned into a bridge of hope between the Navajo people and other cultures around the world. The documentary examines many injustices that the government was forcing upon the Navajo nation during the 1980s, and Linda Myers just couldn’t stand idly by and do nothing about it. Myers … [Read more...] about Caring for Traditional Native Elders: One Nonprofit’s Inspiring Mission
Operation Combat Boots: Helping Veterans Get Physically and Mentally Fit
A medical discharge from the army was not what Justin Johnson had in mind. His plan was to spend his life serving his country, but life didn’t turn out the way he wanted. Coming home early was devastating. “I never dreamt of leaving the military,” he explains. He had served his country honorably for 14 years with three combat deployments, first in 2003–2004 in Afghanistan … [Read more...] about Operation Combat Boots: Helping Veterans Get Physically and Mentally Fit
