Community Builders Throughout History
Harriet Tubman (c. 1822–1913)
Identity & Origin: African American woman born into slavery in Maryland, USA.
Contributions: After escaping slavery, Tubman risked her life repeatedly to guide dozens of other enslaved people to freedom via the Underground Railroad . During the Civil War, she served the Union Army as a scout, spy, and nurse, helping liberate more people and tending the wounded . In later years, she was an activist for women’s suffrage and founded a home for the elderly poor, living out a spirit of communal care and faith-driven compassion. She became known as “Moses” for leading her people to freedom and exemplified radical courage and care for her community.
Notable Quote: “I was conductor of the Underground Railroad for eight years, and I can say what most conductors can’t say – I never ran my train off the track and I never lost a passenger.”
Sojourner Truth (c. 1797–1883)
Identity & Origin: African American woman born into slavery in New York (given name Isabella Baumfree).
Contributions: Sojourner Truth emancipated herself and became a traveling preacher (“sojourner”) devoted to abolition and women’s rights . Illiterate but deeply spiritual, she electrified audiences with her speeches that affirmed the equality of all people. During the 1850s she spoke at suffrage conventions and, during the Civil War, aided the Union by helping recruit Black troops and counseling freedpeople . She used her life story and voice to heal the rifts of racism and sexism, reminding America of its ideals.
Notable Quote: “If the first woman God ever made was strong enough to turn the world upside down all alone, these women together ought to be able to turn it back and get it right side up again!” – Sojourner urging unity at the 1851 Women’s Convention . (This speech is famously remembered for the refrain “Ain’t I a woman?” , challenging notions of racial and gender inferiority.)
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929–1968)
Identity & Origin: African American Baptist minister from Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
Contributions: Dr. King was a leader of the U.S. Civil Rights Movement, championing nonviolent resistance to end segregation and racial injustice . He inspired millions with his vision of the “Beloved Community” – a society of justice, equal opportunity, and love for one’s fellow human. From the 1955 Montgomery bus boycott to the 1963 March on Washington, his campaigns awakened the nation’s conscience and led to landmark civil rights legislation . A believer in radical compassion, he advocated love for enemies and discouraged hatred. King’s message of interconnectedness – that injustice to one is a threat to all – continues to uplift movements worldwide .
Notable Quote: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.” – Martin Luther King Jr., Letter from Birmingham Jail, 1963 . (He preached that whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly – we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality.)
Mahatma Gandhi (1869–1948)
Identity & Origin: Mohandas K. Gandhi, Indian anti-colonial nationalist, born in Gujarat, India (then British India).
Contributions: Gandhi led India’s freedom struggle against British rule through satyagraha, or nonviolent civil resistance . From organizing salt marches and boycotts to fasting in protest of violence, he mobilized millions with the ethics of courage, truth, and self-sacrifice . He also worked to heal social divisions – promoting Hindu-Muslim unity and fighting the oppression of the “untouchable” caste . Gandhi’s philosophy of ahimsa (non-harm) and belief in the power of love to transform society inspired countless future leaders in movements for civil rights and freedom . He showed that personal transformation (simplicity, humility) could fuel political transformation.
Notable Quote: “The weak can never forgive. Forgiveness is the attribute of the strong.” – Gandhi, 1931 . (He taught that conquering anger with love and practicing mercy are acts of strength that can heal broken communities.)
Bayard Rustin (1912–1987)
Identity & Origin: African American gay man, Quaker, born in Pennsylvania, USA.
Contributions: Bayard Rustin was the strategic brain behind much of the 1960s U.S. Civil Rights Movement – often working tirelessly behind the scenes because his open homosexuality made others wary. A pacifist and disciple of nonviolence, Rustin advised Dr. King and organized the 1963 March on Washington, which brought over 250,000 people together in a joyous demand for equality . He bridged communities – Black, white, Jewish, Christian – into an “angelic troublemaker” coalition for justice. In later years, he also spoke up for LGBTQ+ rights globally. Rustin’s life exemplified sacred resistance: prophetic action grounded in love, nonviolence, and a belief in the “beloved community” of all races and orientations .
Notable Quote: “We need, in every community, a group of angelic troublemakers.” – Bayard Rustin . (He believed that creative nonviolent protest – led by those with the courage to challenge injustice – could redeem the soul of a nation.)
Marsha P. Johnson (1945–1992)
Identity & Origin: Black transgender woman (she used the term drag queen), born in New Jersey, USA.
Contributions: Marsha “Pay It No Mind” Johnson was a beloved figure in the LGBTQ+ liberation movement. A veteran of the 1969 Stonewall uprising in New York City, she co-founded STAR (Street Transvestite Action Revolutionaries) to shelter and support homeless queer youth . Despite poverty and personal struggles, Marsha brought healing through her generosity, vibrant personality, and advocacy – feeding and housing those rejected by society. She was also an AIDS activist in the 1980s, spreading compassion during the crisis . Johnson’s tireless work created a sense of family and belonging for LGBTQ people who had been marginalized, living out the principle that none of us are free until all of us are.
Notable Quote: “No pride for some of us without liberation for all of us.” . Marsha P. Johnson’s enduring message reminds us that true communal belonging means everyone is included and cared for.
Rigoberta Menchú Tum (1959– )
Identity & Origin: Indigenous Maya K’iche’ woman from Guatemala.
Contributions: Rigoberta Menchú grew up in the midst of Guatemala’s brutal civil war, witnessing her family and people suffer persecution and massacre. Instead of succumbing to despair, she became a voice for indigenous rights and reconciliation. Her autobiography I, Rigoberta Menchú (1983) brought global attention to the oppression of Guatemala’s Indigenous communities and the memory of their trauma. Menchú worked for peace accords and justice, and in 1992 she was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for her “struggle for social justice and reconciliation based on respect for the rights of indigenous peoples” . She has since continued peacebuilding efforts, promoting intercultural dialogue and the principle that healing comes through remembering, truth-telling, and unity across ethnic divides .
Notable Quote: “I wish that a conscious sense of peace and a feeling of human solidarity would develop in all peoples, which would open new relationships of respect and equality…to be ruled by fraternity and not by cruel conflicts.” – Rigoberta Menchú, Nobel Lecture, 1992 . (Her life’s work echoes this hope for a world knit together by radical compassion and mutual respect.)
Malala Yousafzai (1997– )
Identity & Origin: Pakistani Pashtun woman from the Swat Valley, Pakistan.
Contributions: Malala Yousafzai is a fearless advocate for girls’ education. As a schoolgirl under Taliban rule, she defied edicts banning girls from school – even blogging about the ordeal – and narrowly survived an assassination attempt at age 15 . After her recovery, Malala did not retreat in fear. Instead, she stepped onto the world stage (addressing the UN on her 16th birthday) to champion education as a fundamental right for every child . Co-founder of the Malala Fund, she has funded schools and spoken out for girls from Syria to Nigeria, empowering young women to raise their voices. In 2014 she became the youngest Nobel Peace Prize laureate for “her struggle against the suppression of children and…for the right of all children to education” . Malala’s courage and conviction have sparked a global movement to uplift the next generation through knowledge and communal support.
Notable Quote: “One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” – Malala, UN Youth Assembly 2013 . (She reminds us that educating even one child ripples outward, transforming communities and breaking cycles of ignorance and violence.)
Thích Nhất Hạnh (1926–2022)
Identity & Origin: Vietnamese Thiền (Zen) Buddhist monk, teacher, and peace activist; born in Huế, Vietnam.
Contributions: Thích Nhất Hạnh – often called “Thầy” by students – was a pioneer of Engaged Buddhism, which applies mindfulness and compassion to social action . During the Vietnam War, he led humanitarian efforts (like founding the School of Youth for Social Services to aid villages) and spoke out for peace, refusing to take sides in the conflict . Exiled from Vietnam for his peacemaking, he continued his ministry abroad, founding the Plum Village mindfulness community in France where people from around the world learn interbeing – his term for deep interconnection . Thích Nhất Hạnh taught that personal transformation (through meditation, “deep listening,” and mindful living) is the basis for healing relationships and societies . His gentle presence and writings have helped millions practice compassion in daily life and work toward peace within and around themselves.
Notable Quote: “It is my conviction that there is no way to peace – peace is the way.” – Thích Nhất Hạnh . (He insisted that peace isn’t a distant goal but a practice; how we live each moment, treating each other with kindness, is itself the path to a peaceful world.)
Tenzin Gyatso, 14th Dalai Lama (1935– )
Identity & Origin: Tibetan Buddhist monk, the 14th Dalai Lama; born in Amdo, Tibet.
Contributions: Tenzin Gyatso is the spiritual leader of the Tibetan people. In 1959, after China’s suppression of Tibet’s uprising, he fled into exile in India, where he established a Tibetan government-in-exile and community in Dharamsala . For decades since, the Dalai Lama has been a tireless ambassador of peace, interreligious harmony, and universal responsibility. He advocates for the rights and dignity of the Tibetan people through strictly nonviolent means, earning the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for “constructive solutions…based on tolerance and mutual respect” (in the committee’s words) . Beyond Tibet, he has engaged the world on ethics and compassion – meeting global leaders, scientists, and ordinary people to promote understanding. He emphasizes care for the environment, education of the heart, and the idea that a “universal day of compassion” should be every day . His joyful demeanor and teachings on kindness have uplifted millions, continuing a legacy of sacred compassion in action.
Notable Quote: “My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness.” – The Dalai Lama. (Despite being a renowned religious figure, he often explains that at core, compassion is his only creed – a simple truth that can unite humanity.)
Helen Keller (1880–1968)
Identity & Origin: Deafblind American author, educator, and disability rights advocate; born in Alabama, USA.
Contributions: Left blind and deaf by illness in infancy, Helen Keller overcame isolation with the help of teacher Anne Sullivan. She not only learned to communicate, but eventually graduated college and became a world-famous speaker and writer. Keller devoted her life to uplifting others on the margins: she was an early advocate for people with disabilities, campaigning for braille literacy and founding organizations for the blind . She also championed women’s suffrage, labor rights, and pacifism – using her platform to speak against war and injustice. A true humanitarian, Keller turned personal tragedy into a story of empowerment and showed that no one is “hopeless” or voiceless in the human family. Her optimism and empathy continue to inspire those fighting for inclusivity and equal opportunity.
Notable Quote: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” . These words from Helen Keller underscore the power of collective support – she believed community and cooperation could overcome any obstacle, just as she did with the support of others.
Audre Lorde (1934–1992)
Identity & Origin: Black lesbian poet, essayist, and feminist; born in New York City to Caribbean immigrant parents.
Contributions: Audre Lorde described herself as a “Black, lesbian, mother, warrior, poet” , and through her life and art she fought to heal the wounds of racism, sexism, homophobia, and class inequality. Her searing poems and essays in the 1970s–80s (like “The Master’s Tools Will Not Dismantle the Master’s House”) challenged people to recognize intersecting oppressions and to honor each person’s unique identity and voice. Lorde co-founded Kitchen Table: Women of Color Press to amplify marginalized voices. By speaking her often “unspeakable” truths – including her battle with cancer – she empowered others to confront pain and transform it into power. Lorde fostered communal belonging by insisting that our differences (race, gender, sexuality, etc.) are a reason to unite and learn from one another, not to divide. She is remembered as a beacon of intersectional justice and compassionate solidarity.
Notable Quote: “I am not free while any woman is unfree, even when her shackles are very different from my own. And I am not free as long as one person of color remains chained.” – Audre Lorde . (She spotlights our interdependence – one person’s liberty is bound up with everyone’s liberty, a call to collective action rooted in love.)
Dorothy Day (1897–1980)
Identity & Origin: American Catholic social activist and journalist; born in New York City, USA.
Contributions: Dorothy Day was a radical convert to faith who believed in “building a new world in the shell of the old.” In 1933, in the midst of the Great Depression, she co-founded the Catholic Worker Movement – starting with a newspaper to critique injustice, and then creating “houses of hospitality” where the hungry, homeless, and weary could find food and community . A staunch pacifist, Day protested wars and nuclear weapons, even enduring jail for civil disobedience . She lived among the poor in solidarity, practicing what she preached by sharing meals, shelter, and hope. Day’s blend of sacred questioning (of social systems) and deep faith in human dignity helped revive the idea of personalism: that every person is precious and that love expressed in community is the only cure to societal ills. Today, over 200 Catholic Worker communities carry on her legacy of hospitality, communal belonging, and “holy troublemaking” on behalf of justice .
Notable Quote: “We have all known the long loneliness and we have learned that the only solution is love and that love comes with community.” – Dorothy Day, reflecting that human beings find meaning not in individual success but in belonging to each other.
Rábi’a al-Adawiyya (c. 713–801)
Identity & Origin: Arab Muslim woman, formerly enslaved, who became a renowned Sufi mystic in Basra (present-day Iraq).
Contributions: Rábi’a al-Adawiyya is revered as a pioneer of divine love mysticism in Islam. Born into poverty and sold into slavery, she gained her freedom and chose a life of prayer, asceticism, and service. At a time when few women were public religious teachers, Rábi’a’s piety and poetry drew disciples. She taught that God should be loved for God’s own sake – not out of fear of hell or desire for heaven – a revolutionary spiritual idea emphasizing pure, selfless love. Through her gentle sacred resistance to the transactional view of religion, she helped shift Sufi practice toward a focus on intimate, heartfelt connection with the Divine. Rábi’a’s sayings and legendary acts of devotion (like walking through Basra with a lamp and a bucket of water, to “burn Heaven and douse Hell” so only God’s love matters) have inspired centuries of mystics. Her life of simplicity, charity, and worship helped heal those around her, inviting them into an experience of interconnectedness with the Eternal that transcends sect and status.
Notable Quote: In a famous prayer, she said: “O God! If I worship Thee in fear of Hell, burn me in Hell; and if I worship Thee in hope of Paradise, exclude me from Paradise; but if I worship Thee for Thine own sake, withhold not Thine everlasting beauty.” . (Through such words, Rábi’a modeled radical sincerity in faith – a love-centered “belonging” with God that has consoled and connected spiritual seekers of all backgrounds.)
Wangari Maathai (1940–2011)
Identity & Origin: Kenyan environmentalist and female empowerment activist; born in Nyeri, Kenya.
Contributions: Professor Wangari Maathai was the first African woman to win the Nobel Peace Prize (2004) for her holistic approach to sustainable development, democracy, and peace. In 1977, she founded the Green Belt Movement, which mobilized rural women to plant trees to combat deforestation and erosion in Kenya. Under her leadership, over 50 million trees were planted, improving both the environment and women’s economic status. Maathai faced arrest and beatings for opposing land-grabbing and dictatorship, yet she persevered, using sacred questions about governance and ecology to hold leaders accountable . She emphasized the interconnectedness of humans and nature, memory of indigenous practices, and the need for “radical compassion” toward Earth. By bringing communities together to plant “trees of peace,” Maathai helped villages restore their land and their dignity. Her work linked healing of the land with healing of society – fostering communal unity, empowering the marginalized (especially women and the poor), and nurturing hope for future generations.
Notable Quote: “It’s the little things citizens do. That’s what will make the difference. My little thing is planting trees.” – Wangari Maathai. (With humility and wisdom, she highlighted how small collective actions can grow into a forest of change, illustrating the power of community action in the spirit of compassion and care.)
Each of these individuals, across different eras and identities, personifies the themes of the Weave – interconnectedness, memory, sacred questioning, communal belonging, and radical compassion. Their lives remind us that those who endure oppression can become profound healers. Their stories – from Tubman’s underground journeys by night to Maathai’s green belts of trees – all teach one enduring lesson: that even in the face of loneliness or injustice, the human spirit can reconnect and “turn the world right side up again” through acts of courage, love, and community.
Each name above is a thread in a larger tapestry of sacred resistance, woven across history. By remembering and sharing their stories – in classrooms, conversations, or even 60-second videos – we keep alive their dream of a world where no one is invisible, no one is forgotten, and no one is alone.