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Upstanders

Choosing to Participate asks us, “How can I make a positive difference in the world?”

We invite you to explore these inspirational stories of friends, neighbors, civic leaders, and others who have taken up the challenge to speak out, do the right thing, and make decisions that help create positive change in our world. The people featured here serve as a small sample of the extraordinary Upstanders who are making a difference everyday around the globe. Some acts were big and some were little, but none were too small to notice.

Upstander: An individual, group, or institution that chooses to take a positive stand and act on behalf of themselves and others.


Name City, State Country
Sara and Mazher AhmedSara and Mazher AhmedDaughter and MotherChicago and Batavia, Illinois“Humanity gives you faith and perspective.”For the Ahmeds, the commitment to building and teaching... Chicago, Illinois United States
Chiye TomihiroChiye Tomihiro“It was unconstitutional.”Though born in the USA, Chiye and her family were placed in the Mindoka Relocation Center in Idaho in 1942, along with... Chicago, Illinois United States
Henry HendersonHenry HendersonNatural Resources Defense Council Midwest“Environmental law has citizenship at its heart.”Henry came to environmental law through St. Augustine and... Chicago, Illinois United States
Howard Rossman and Adar CohenHoward Rossman and Adar CohenCivic Leadership Foundation“Unless you do something, you don’t risk anything.”An after-school mobile music production studio. A school greenhouse. A... Glencoe, Illinois United States
Nikki JarvisNikki JarvisLoyola University“It’s important for us to be allies together and walk together.”Confronting race and privilege is not easy—though for Nikki, it was... Chicago, Illinois United States
Scheherezade and Salamishah TilletScheherezade and Salamishah Tillet A Long Walk Home“Activism was a part of the healing process.”A multi-faceted program for victims of sexual violence, “A Long Walk Home” is a phrase... Chicago, Illinois United States
Diamond Lenoir, Jacques Agbobly, and Elizabeth AdebiyiDiamond Lenoir, Jacques Agbobly, and Elizabeth Adebiyi Stockton Elementary School“You should treat others the way you want to be treated.”Diamond, Jacques, and Elizabeth were the backbone of an entire... Chicago, Illinois United States
Tiffany ChildressTiffany ChildressNorth Lawndale College Prep High School“Students are leaders of today, not just tomorrow.”The non-violent conflict resolution practiced by Dr. Martin... Chicago, Illinois United States
Tony WasilewskiTony Wasilewski“My eyes were opened.”Tony paid little attention to America’s immigration debate until May 2007, when his wife Janina was deported back to Poland,... Schiller Park, Illinois United States
Zio PerezZio PerezNettelhorst School “How can we make a faraway country concrete for children so young?”Zio knows she was meant to be a teacher. “What I love doing is... Chicago, Illinois United States