Giraffe Heroes Database
Letter "J"
Entries beginning with "J"
Brian Jackson of San Francisco CA had to work two jobs to pay for his college studies, but he gave up his weekends and most of his other free time to coach 60 neighborhood kids in sports. Aware that the children in the Visitacion Valley housing projects have few male role models, Jackson started trying to fill that gap when he was in high school.
Home when commended: North America, US, California Home now: North America, US, California Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Ruth Jackson of San Francisco CA takes in kids in trouble, runs a daycare center, and donated the money to buy a van that takes kids to games and cultural activities. Jackson and her son Brian, who is also a Giraffe, refuse to flee the inner city, saying people must solve the problems of their neighborhoods. She founded Visitacion Valley Parents for Youth to expand horizons and opportunities for young people there.
Home when commended: North America, US, California Home now: North America, US, California Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Charles Jacobs of Boston MA quit his job as a successful management consultant to co-found, then lead the American Anti-Slavery Group, the only organization in the US devoted solely to the elimination of slavery world-wide. Jacobs persevered despite years of being turned away by potential allies who didn't want to deal with the fact that slavery still exists. He has now convinced major forces in US society to help end this scourge.
Home when commended: North America, US, Massachusetts Home now: North America, US, Massachusetts Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Professor Robert Jahn of Princeton NJ upheld the principle of scientific inquiry by insisting on a student's right to study paranormal phenomena; no other faculty member considered the subject appropriate for scientific inquiry. In supervising the student's work, Jahn became intrigued and went on to do his own investigations, despite fellow academics' derision.
Home when commended: North America, US, New Jersey Home now: North America, US, New Jersey Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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John Jeavons of Willits CA has devoted his life to developing and teaching farming methods that yield maximum produce from minimal land and water. His work is influencing food production in countries across the globe.
Home when commended: North America, US, California Home now: North America, US, California Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Dawn Jecs and Marsha Henkel of Gig Harbor WA, professional dog trainers, devoted endless volunteer hours teaching inmates in a women's prison to train dogs rescued from the euthanasia room of the pound as assistants to the disabled.
Home when commended: North America, US, Washington Home now: North America, US, Washington Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Carl Jensen of Cotati CA, concerned that important news doesn't always get to the public, founded "Project Censored," which publishes an annual list of the 10 most newsworthy but under-reported stories. Jensen funds Profect Censored completely out of his own pocket, withstanding boycotts and even death threats to keep it going.
Home when commended: North America, US, California Home now: North America, US, California Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Judith Jenya's Global Children's Organization brings the joys of childhood summer camp to kids in Los Angeles, Northern Ireland and Croatia who are growing up in environments of violence and hatred.
Home when commended: North America, US, California Home now: North America, US, California Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Geologist Gay Jervey discovered that the state government was quietly (and illegally) reactivating a potentially dangerous rock quarry and asphalt plant in her hometown, Mosier OR. Knowing the dangers, she catalyzed opposition, withstanding threats and harassment and risking her financial security. After stopping the reactivation, she started a dozen projects to restore the environment and transform the town, becoming Mosier's Woman of the Year.
Home when commended: North America, US, Oregon Home now: North America, US, Oregon Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Katherine Jeter of Spartanburg SC has been working for decades to make incontinence a subject of research, good product development, and proper medical attention, rather than a cause for laughter. Her nonprofit has gotten the tabu subject out in the open, and helped hundreds of thousands of distraught people.
Home when commended: North America, US, South Carolina Home now: North America, US, South Carolina Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Jefferey Jiminez, one of five leaders of South San Antonio High School’s Science Club, has braved jeers and teasing from other students to pioneer environmental responsibility in their school and in their city. These young people led massive recycling drives, raised money to plant drought-resistant plants and trees on the school grounds, then planted fruit and nut trees for needy families. (See also Patricia Arambula, Michael Reyes, Louis Rubio and Iris Ybarra.)
Home when commended: North America, US, Texas Home now: North America, US, Texas Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Bill Johnson of Bloomfield CT is a member of Vietnam Revisited, a crew of Marine veterans intent on rebuilding the country where they once fought. They began by removing land mines they laid 25 years ago, and went on to help supply Vietnamese medical facilities with desperately needed equipment. (See also Gene Spanos, Nate Genna, Frank Noe, Robert Dalton, Mike Wallace.)
Home when commended: North America, US, Connecticut Home now: North America, US, Connecticut Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Banning classic literature in Tallahassee's high school libraries and classes is wrong says Claudia Johnson, who thinks teachers must be free to have their students read great cultural works. Her challenges to censorship by school boards brought her personal threats, court battles and the suspicious burning of her home.
Home when commended: North America, US, Florida Home now: North America, Canada, Nova Scotia Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Cora Lee Johnson of Soperton GA, a former field hand and factory worker, overcame her lack of schooling, money and personal health to champion her county's poor, teaching them skills from sewing to lobbying, and helping them get low-cost housing. Johnson herself lives in a leaking shack, determined to maintain her independence as an activist.
Home when commended: North America, US, Georgia Home now: North America, US, Georgia Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Ed and Linda Johnson of Bellingham WA poured all their time and money into their "Youth Ambassadors International,” an exchange program for young Americans and Soviets that included homestays, conflict-resolution skills training and leadership camp.
Home when commended: North America, US, Washington Home now: North America, US, Texas Gender: M (male) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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Irene Johnson of Chicago IL worked as a full time volunteer for years to make Le Clair Courts the first public housing project in Chicago to be tenant-managed. When Johnson became President and CEO of the 3,000-tenant complex, rent collections went up, service got better, and the buildings were repaired, inspiring other housing projects to follow Johnson's lead. Johnson went on to establish a media training center for Le Clair’s 14-25 year olds.
Home when commended: North America, US, Illinois Home now: North America, US, Illinois Gender: F (female) For more information, click on the Giraffe's name.
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