On a Search for Local Heroes

When I was younger and hooked on the idea of writing a great American novel, my father used to advise me to take a look at the lives of ordinary people.  People who go through their days, happily and purposefully, but without much attention or celebration.  Look at these people, he said, and the extraordinary will start to reveal itself. And, of course, it did. I started noticing people who had made great sacrifices for the future of their children, their communities, even for strangers. In essence, my father taught me to seekout the unsung heroes in our society. 

For the next four weeks, SpeakUnited will be taking on a search of its own.  We will be looking for local heroes, individuals who have made a significant difference in the lives of the people and communities around them. 

United Way of America has partnered with CNN for a similar project on a national level. (Their voting ends tomorrow so stop by and read their nominees today.)  SpeakUnited's search will be more locally focused:  We want to recognize the heroes who walk among us in the neighborhoods where we live and work.

You can help us, by nominating someone who you believe should be recognized for their efforts to advance the common good in the comment box below.  We'll publish all comments about local heroes, but if the hero has a story related to one of the following broad topic areas:

• Helping Children Succeed
• Increasing Youth Opportunities
• Housing and Homelessness
• Employment / Financial Stability
• Providing Basic Needs to People in Crisis

Then we'll feature it on the blog.  Please include your email address (won't be shared) and let us know if it's ok to email you for more details.  Thanks and happy searching!!!