Martha Melman, of Winnetka, comes by her passion for Metropolitan Family Services honestly. She believes in the power of family and knows that a better world can be built one family at a time. “I don’t focus on the forest, I have more of a ‘save one tree at a time’ kind of philosophy,” Melman […]
Sure, it helps to have a good idea. But Highland Park High School student Mishika Narula proves that the success of any nonprofit venture is only as good as the passion and innovation behind it. In her own words, it’s simply the “Power of Pops.” Like many kids her age, Mishika had been looking for a […]
When JJ Hanley realized that people with disabilities often have great difficulty living and working in their communities, she didn’t just sit still. She founded JJ’s List, a non-profit organization that trains people with disabilities in technology, professional and social communication skills, with a goal of employment and community interaction. With the help of volunteers, […]
Want proof that following your heart leads to a most interesting and fulfilling life? Spend time with Marian Leonard Tompson or read her book, “Passionate Journey – My Unexpected Life.” Tompson of Evanston, was a shy mother of seven who never intended to start an international movement that promoted better health for mothers and babies […]
That Father Jack Wall is mission driven—to lift up as many lives as possible through his faith—helped him develop an influential following in Chicago and across the country. He expresses that mission through his work at Old Saint Patrick’s Church, the Catholic Extension and elsewhere. That Wall is charismatic, smart, strategic, kind to every person he […]
Ekpedeme “Pamay” Bassey didn’t set out to become the foremost authority on religion. And she isn’t. But this Northwestern University graduate and Chicago resident does have a story to tell. Her spiritual journey, told in “My 52 Weeks of Worship: Lessons from a Global, Spiritual, Interfaith Journey,” is gripping. “I think a lot of people […]
The landscape of Wilmette is dominated by the Bahá’í Temple on Sheridan Road. The sparkling white temple framed against a blue sky is a powerful symbol of the faith of believers adopting a new religion and working to ensure the faith’s growth and survival. Two Wilmette women who found the Bahá’í faith as young adults […]
When people hear that Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington has more than 24,000 worshippers on an average weekend, they’re impressed at the number. What founder and Senior Pastor Bill Hybels would like you to know is that they are way more excited about their ministries than their size. “Don’t come here to warm a bench,” […]
When she was growing up in suburban Detroit, it never occurred to Debra Newman Kamin that she would one day become a Rabbi. That was largely because at that time, the job of conservative rabbi was exclusively a male role. But in 1985, after she had graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in […]
Eboo Patel, founder of the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC), believes that the best path to a better world is through education about religious differences and fostering interfaith cooperation through service. That’s why this author, who was born in Glen Ellyn and is a practicing Muslim and a Rhodes Scholar, founded IFYC ten years ago. “The Core’s […]
