Innovators Changing the South

Brandon Ballard is an elementary school teacher with a secret mission: to get America back to our national parks. His website, Road Trip Dad, has in-depth information about traveling with kids and planning great vacations around hectic schedules and tight budgets. He outlines basics like “Eating on the Road,” “Gathering Gear,” and “Day Hiking 101,” and he’s working on step-by-step instructions for getting the best out of each individual park visit—with over 26 national parks under his belt (and counting), he’s committed to creating a community that loves to get outside. roadtripdad.net; Instagram; Facebook

You’d think, once you’d achieved global success as a singer and actress, become a living legend, and inspired an entire theme park, it would be time to settle down—but that’s just not our Dolly. She continues to inspire us in new ways all the time. We still love her Imagination Library, a project that brings books to kids who may not be able to afford them, and we were excited to curl up at Christmastime and watch her first biographical TV movie, Coat of Many Colors. It was a hit, and we’re eager to see the follow-up, Jolene, her next special in development. dollyparton.com

Words matter, and Cornelia Walker Bailey is determined to make hers count. Through storytelling, oral history, and a lot of hard work, she’s preserving the Gullah culture of her home, Sapelo Island. Sapelo is the last of the South’s barrier islands that still retains certain distinctive qualities, including the Geechee dialect historically spoken by its African American residents, and Bailey is stalwart in her fight against anyone who pushes her community to sacrifice culture in the name of progress. gacoast.com/geecheetours

Sometimes those most in need of help are the most likely to fall through the cracks of the criminal justice system. Bryan Stevenson not only defends those marginalized people but empowers others to do the same through Montgomery, Alabama’s Equal Justice Initiative and through his bestselling memoir, Just Mercy, a moving account of his own journey fighting for the powerless. eji.org; Facebook; Twitter

Chris Bennett is changing the South literally from the ground up. He’s a lover of the earth’s bounty, but where most farmers stop, Chris begins: He’s a forager, meaning he hunts and scavenges for things like berries, mushrooms, and shrubs that have big flavor even though they’re often overlooked. Chris is a favorite of some of the South’s finest chefs, but he’s not all about the white tablecloth. His book, Southeast Foraging, makes foraging accessible to everyone, and his Instagram account, where he continually posts discoveries in South Carolina’s Lowcountry, is fascinating not only to foragers but to anyone who loves the undiscovered beauty of the South. Twitter; Instagram

Aaron Brazelton traveled to Serbia for the first time as a 15-year-old; now a junior at The University of Alabama, he’s creating a way for other students to have the same transformative exposure to other cultures. He founded The Serbia Fellowship Experience, which acts as a mediator between students in Serbia and their counterparts in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, with the aim of helping young people learn the value of experiencing new cultural experiences. alumni.state.gov/alumni-story/american-belgrade; uaheritagepanel.wordpress.com

Ben Burkett is the kind of man you can find in a room with the chairman of the Federal Reserve Bank one day and selling melons at a famers’ market the next, then in Zimbabwe speaking about farm co-ops the next—that is to say, there isn’t another man like Ben Burkett. He’s a seemingly tireless supporter of small farms and cooperatives and a frequent speaker about the struggles farmers face. He’s a farmer himself in Mississippi, and he changes the world by traveling and talking about what he knows best.

There’s a lot of talk about how school lunches and access to healthy food affects kids, but Deanna Hoelscher does more than talk—she puts her findings into action. Through initiatives like Lunch is in the Bag, which helps parents pack healthier meals, and multiple projects studying nutrition and activity in children, Hoelscher helps make schools in the South a little healthier through her work at The University of Texas School of Public Health in Austin. sph.uth.edu

Aziz Ansari, one of our favorite comedians, has been everywhere lately. We marathon-watched his Netflix series Master of None—the main character attended South Carolina’s School for Science and Math, just like Ansari himself did—but we were most surprised by his excellent book, Modern Romance. Written with sociologist Eric Klinenberg, it’s a funny yet surprisingly serious and insightful take on dating and relationships in the age of the Internet. azizansari.com; Twitter; Instagram

Lots of people tell us to live without fear, but Brené Brown teaches us to thrive in the face of it. With three New York Times bestsellers (Rising Strong, Daring Greatly, and The Gifts of Imperfection), a popular TED talk, and a host of online courses and speaking engagements, this researcher and very Texan storyteller helps us become people capable of changing our own communities, families, and selves for the better. brenebrown.com; Twitter; Instagram

Jones took over management of Thomasville, Georgia’s bookshop The Bookshelf in 2013. Since then, we’ve been continually impressed with her entrepreneurial spirit, creative inspiration, and rock-solid daily reading picks available through her blog, on social media and by listening to From the Front Porch, her podcast. With fun in-store events like a letter-writing club and an adult coloring book night, plus frequent author visits and collaborations with her local library and community organizations, Jones exemplifies the best of small-town shopkeeping and Southern charm. bookshelfthomasville.com; Twitter; Instagram

The sounds of Muscle Shoals are the stuff of legends, but Dylan LeBlanc’s new album shows that, although he owes a lot to his legacy, he has a style and sound that’s all his own. Judge him by his collaborators—Emmylou Harris, or Ben Tanner, or Zack Cockrell of Alabama Shakes—or judge him by his unique sound, but LeBlanc has the kind of potential that makes us stand back and take notice. His January release of Cautionary Tale is already getting major rotation on our personal playlists. dylanleblanc.com; Twitter; Instagram

Donna Ladd is an old-fashioned muckraking journalist with a sharp modern voice. She helped create Mississippi’s The Jackson Free Press, and her columns and reporting make national news as she takes bold stances that contrast typical Southern stereotypes. In addition to being a writer, she’s a speaker and a teacher with particular focus on children in vulnerable situations, race relations, and police reform. donnaladd.com; Twitter; Instagram

Many women in the U.S. survive trafficking, addiction, prostitution, and abuse just to find new battles against poverty, lack of education, and public mistrust. Thistle Farms, founded by Becca Stevens, is fighting to change that, providing work, therapy, and more to around 700 women each year. Stevens, an Episcopal priest, is continually pushing through boundaries to help more and more women. Thistle Farms now includes residential services, bath and beauty products, a café, retail artists, and global outreach—and they don’t seem to be stopping any time soon. thistlefarms.org; Twitter; Instagram

Chandler Nutik’s vision for Community Works is simple: Kids learn better if they’re inspired by things that don’t seem like schoolwork, so why not put programs in place that help them learn in ways that feel creative and fun? Not only does Community Works rigorously evaluate which teachers and programs will benefit kids, but also they help with every step of making those programs reality. They assist with grant writing, gathering funding, and evaluating the effectiveness of programs once they’ve been implemented. communityworksla.org; Facebook

Dennis Calvert creates lush, intricate photographs that are one part Southern gothic and one part science fiction and fantasy. But these images aren’t just beautiful, they’re also made without any digital manipulation. All the intricacies of Calvert’s photographs come from using simple light sources—think LEDs or Christmas tree lights—combined with long exposure times to create gorgeous, glowing images. He calls them light paintings; we call them magical. Facebook; dennis-calvert.deviantart.com

Affordable housing programs can help families get on their feet, but the challenge is how to facilitate further success. This is where Mississippi’s Aisha Nyandoro steps in. As Executive Director and co-founder of Springboard to Opportunity, Nyandoro helps community members with practical problems like improving educational opportunities for children and setting long-term goals. More than a helping hand, they act as a springboard not just for making ends meet but for reaching real goals for the future. springboardto.org/index.php/beta; Twitter; Instagram

Entrepreneur Bill Smith chose to launch his new on-demand grocery delivery app not in New York City or Chicago, but in the heart of Alabama. When defending his choice, Smith paints his hometown of Birmingham as being poised on the edge of growth, and with Shipt now in over 20 cities nationwide (mostly in the Southeast), his choice of headquarters is looking rather inspired. Shipt partners with existing grocery stores to provide quick, inexpensive delivery, and its popularity is growing fast. shipt.com; Twitter; Instagram

In the South, our sports heroes usually play with pigskin, but Morgan Brian is kicking preconceptions to pieces. Soccer is her game, and she’s owning it: She’s a midfielder for the Houston Dash, played in the 2015 FIFA Women’s World Cup, and is the youngest player on the U.S. Women’s Soccer Team. But Brian isn’t done yet, and she’s not limiting herself. She helped open a training camp for kids interested in soccer where she teaches the next generation how to become winners. morganbrian.com; Twitter; Instagram

Jessamyn Stanley teaches yoga out of Durham, North Carolina. But when her students walk out of the studio, her teaching has just begun. As a writer and social media powerhouse (she has over 155,000 Instagram followers and counting), Stanley stands out because of her unflagging honesty and commitment to challenging our ideas of beauty, of yoga, of the “perfect” body, and even of what it means to be Southern. She’s intense, inspiring, and incredibly beautiful. jessamynstanley.com; Twitter; Instagram

Baltimore Ravens player Benjamin Watson doesn’t leave his fight on the football field—this former Georgia Bulldog is actively using his platform as an athlete and social media commentator to talk about race and how it affects the South and the nation every day. His book, Under Our Skin, explores the topic with empathy and understanding, and his One More foundation meets needs in Louisiana and beyond. thebenjaminwatson.com; Twitter; Instagram

Her stories aren’t just set in the South; they’re deeply personal works that delve into the issues that mold our lives. Ward won the 2011 National Book Award for her book Salvage the Bones, and her most recent book, Men We Reaped, mined her own past and tapped into a deep national conversation at the same time. In addition to weaving fiction, Ward teaches it: She’s an associate professor at Tulane. jesmimi.blogspot.com; Twitter

Documentary filmmaker Joe York’s short films show Southern food at its most raw and mouth-wateringly delicious. More importantly, his storytelling highlights incredible characters and unsung cooks who inspire us to incorporate passion not just into cooking but into our entire lives. York continually pushes boundaries with form as well as content, and we can’t wait to see what he’s doing next. Find his films at the Southern Foodways Alliance, or check out his longer films: Sorry We’re Open and Mississippi Innocence. Twitter; Instagram; Vimeo

Writing might be something done alone, but the business of writing benefits from support—and that’s where Javacia Harris Bowser comes in. In 2011, she launched See Jane Write, a Birmingham, Alabama-based network for female bloggers and writers. Since then, See Jane Write has grown, providing constant support through blogs, workshops, guest speakers, an active Facebook group, and frequent Periscopes. By encouraging women to blog and write, See Jane Write has activated an army of female voices in the South. javacia.com; Twitter; Instagram

To hear Jessica B. Harris talk about food is to understand how a meal can tell a story, how a glass of wine can hold heritage, and how community is built while bread is broken. She’s been a researcher, writer, cookbook author, and journalist for years, and her work in the field of African diaspora and African-influenced culture, food, and art is truly amazing. We’re huge fans of her books (High on the Hog and Rum Drinks are favorites) and of her podcast My Welcome Table on the Heritage Radio Network. africooks.com; Twitter; Instagram

Atlanta’s Little Five Points neighborhood is a haven for quirky independent businesses, and Eric Levin is a big part of that success. His record store, Criminal Records, has been in business for 25 years, and he shares his success with shops around the country as a co-founder of Record Store Day, one of the country’s most successful buy-local movements, and as president of the Alliance of Independent Media Stores. criminalatl.com; Twitter; Instagram

Young Adult literature has been having a renaissance with the success of franchises like The Hunger Games and Twilight and hits like John Green’s The Fault in Our Stars, and Jonathan Sanchez has brought our favorite YA storytellers together in a two-day festival in Charleston, South Carolina, YALLFest. It celebrates Young Adult literature and authors, bringing some of the biggest names in the business to the Lowcountry. yallfest.org; Twitter; Instagram

The Shakes are proving that Southern-rooted music, the kind that speaks to our landscape and culture, still has a very important place in American life. In 2016, the band won three Grammy awards for its second album, Sound and Color. (It also received a fourth award, for best-engineered album.) Singer Brittany Howard is taking her place in a long line of powerful female musicians from Etta James to Tina Turner. High praise? Sure, but she is poised to not only fill their shoes but strut around in them, owning every stage she sets foot on. alabamashakes.com; Twitter; Instagram

Jonathan Green’s paintings are vibrant, bright, and gorgeous. He depicts the South Carolina of his childhood, determined to connect the Lowcountry of today with its complicated roots. In capturing and preserving the culture so important to him, he’s also creating it: Green is loved and heralded by art critics, and his work is used to connect us to our history, to celebrate our recent past and our present, and to teach us about beauty and ourselves. We can see Green’s influence in many young artists—his style inspires paintings, music, and even a ballet based on his work. jonathangreenstudios.com

Specialty coffee is the norm in the Northeast and Northwest, but when Josh Owen started his coffee company, Revelator, he saw opportunity in the overlooked South. Revelator Coffee may be a Southern company, but it rejects Southern stereotypes—these sleek and modern shops do not have cozy front porches. Revelator represents a different kind of Southerner, and in less than two years, it’s opened high-end coffee shops in Birmingham, New Orleans, Atlanta, Nashville, and Chattanooga; plans are in the works to open a Charleston store soon. revelatorcoffee.com; Facebook; Instagram

Edwin Marty literally wrote the book on Urban Farming with his 2012 release Breaking Through Concrete, and now he’s set his sights on Austin as the city’s first-ever Food Policy Manager. He’s working to bring all relevant city agencies together with community members to create a sustainable agriculture movement in the city, complete with healthier food, better government policy, and new community organizations that help people eat more locally and more organically. austintexas.gov/page/edwin-marty-food-policy-manager

Jon Batiste is a true Louisiana musician—he grew up in Kenner, close to New Orleans, and comes from the musical family HBO’s Treme was based on—but he’s also an incredibly modern composer. After training at Juilliard, he became a champion of great music as Co-Artistic Director of the National Jazz Museum, and now we’re lucky enough to see him perform five nights a week with his band Stay Human on the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. jonbatiste.com; Twitter; Facebook

Artists Greg Gandy and Krista Shows know all too well how difficult it is for artists not only to create but also to reach an audience with their work. Their art collective, Mississippi Modern, helps artists get the resources they need while reaching community through events and publications like Mississippi Modern Catalog and Mississippi Modern Free Press. They also have a documentary in the works, and they even run an art-focused team of cyclists who compete in bike races. ms-modern.com; Facebook; Twitter

Can a sewing circle change the world? Lillis Taylor makes us believe it can. She helps run Bib & Tucker Sew-Op, an Alabama co-op that brings seamstresses of all ages and levels of ability together to create, quilt, stitch, and dream of ways to put their skills to work. Taylor’s helped win grants and recognition for the Sew-Op already (from REV Birmingham and the University of Alabama at Birmingham's Community Health Innovation Awards), but her dreams are even bigger—to teach math and language to children through quilting, and to revive the textile industry in Alabama and the South by developing the talent of expert seamstresses. bibandtuckersewop.org; Facebook

Kim Mahan’s Twitter bio reads, “I invest in people and make lots of things, including mistakes.” At MAXX Potential, a technology trade school of sorts, Mahan makes room for happy accidents, and she makes them profitable too. Virginia-based MAXX Potential takes tech job candidates and gives them more than training; it also gives them jobs so students can make money while they’re learning. As a self-taught programmer and mother of three, Mahan knows it’s important to make a living while learning new skills, and she’s made a way for her students to do just that. maxxpotential.com

A Liz Lambert hotel isn’t just a place to lay your head. It’s a way to connect with people, a way to enjoy gorgeous art and design, and a way to understand where you’re traveling just a little bit better. From the vintage tents, tepees, and trailers of her commune-like El Cosmico in West Texas to the Hotel Havana in San Antonio that feels like a Cuban interpretation of a Wes Anderson movie, each of Lambert’s hotels is an explosion of color and style, a brilliant take on Texas culture, and a traveler’s almost-too-good-to-be-true dream. ahotellife.com/liz-lambert; Twitter; Instagram

Music teacher Sarah Mason and violinist Jeanette Brabston Hightower know how music shapes and changes lives. They also know that, as school funding for the arts is slashed and cost of care for kids with developmental disabilities rises, some of the children who could benefit most from music don’t have access to instruments and lessons. Through Mason Music Foundation, they’re setting out to change that, giving kids with challenges ranging from poverty to autism to underfunded schools the chance to love and learn through music. masonmusicfoundation.org