CNN Heroes

Ron Davis Alvarez, Dream Orchestra – Gothenburg, Sweden After moving from his native Venezuela to Sweden in 2016, violinist and conductor Ron Davis Alvarez wanted to help the refugees who'd recently arrived there. Today, his Dream Orchestra gives hundreds of refugees, immigrants, and native Swedes the chance to learn an instrument, connect with others, and better their lives.

Stephen Knight, Dogs Matter – Dallas, Texas Stephen Knight's organization provides foster care for pets whose owners are seeking substance abuse treatment, covering animal expenses for the foster family and providing post-release services to help human participants succeed with their sobriety.

Payton McGriff, SHE (Style Her Empowered) – Moscow, Idaho & Nôtse, TogoIn Togo, where the cost of mandatory uniforms can keep girls out of school, Payto McGriff helped create a ‘uniform that grows' which has become a cornerstone of a movement that educates, employs, and empowers hundreds of girls and women. 

Rachel Rutter, Project Libertad – Phoenixville, Pennsylvania Immigration attorney Rachel Rutter and her nonprofit provide legal, social, and emotional support to help immigrant children heal from trauma and build new lives in the US.

Yamilée Toussaint, STEM From Dance – Brooklyn, New York Yamilée Toussaint was one of the only Black women in her engineering program at MIT. Now, she and her nonprofit are using dance to get girls of color excited about STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics).