Accessibility links
Community Changemakers Highlighting those making a difference.
Special Series

Community Changemakers

When her son died, a woman turned to gardening. Now, she feeds her entire community

Jenna Fournel and Leal Abbatiello, 14, pose for a portrait at their home in Alexandria, Va. on April 30, 2022. Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, Fournel and her son expanded their garden and began harvesting and giving away produce for free to their community. Eric Lee for NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Eric Lee for NPR

When her son died, a woman turned to gardening. Now, she feeds her entire community

Jenna Fournel lost her son in the fall of 2019. To keep his spirit alive, and connect with her community during the pandemic, she expanded her garden and shared the goods with neighbors for free.

When her son died, a woman turned to gardening. Now, she feeds her entire community

Listen · 3:01
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1097130625/1097342085" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
How a school bus driver in Illinois has brought joy to his community for decades

Alvin Carter, a school bus driver and custodian in Skokie, Ill., has become a reliable source of joy for the children he drives and his community. Helen Wei hide caption

toggle caption
Helen Wei

How a school bus driver in Illinois has brought joy to his community for decades

Alvin Carter has been a school bus driver at Elizabeth Meyer School since 1994. He has become a beloved figure in his community and helped spread joy to countless students.

How a school bus driver in Illinois has brought joy to his community for decades

Listen · 3:15
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1092826346/1093118630" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org