changemakers
Creators who speak up and speak out. They advocate for others. They stand for something. From educating their followers, advocating for change or covering news, these creators push themselves and others every day to learn something new and to do better for the world.
Alexis Nikole Nelson is putting fun where there typically has been none: botany! She sings and cooks her way through teaching her audience about wild edible plants, their history, and their cultural significance. She’s encouraging her followers to find whimsy in the outdoors, and challenging the idea of what being an “outdoorsy” person looks like.
“It means so much to be nominated as a Changemaker! It means the opportunity to reach more people with the joy of the outdoors. The TikTok community pushes me to constantly try new things, and inspires me to laugh more! Both are vital!”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Learning should be fun!”
Describe yourself in three words: “Loud, Enthusiastic, Nerdy.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Shirley Raines founded Beauty 2 The Streetz, a nonprofit organization whose aim is to bring essential services and beauty to the streets of Skid Row in Los Angeles. The team provides food, makeovers, beauty services, and hygiene services to the homeless, all with a personal touch. Shirley documents their work on social media in hopes of changing the perception of what it means to be homeless in America. Shirley is no stranger to hardship, but after the loss of her eldest son, she struggled to find a way out of her depression. She discovered a familial-like connection to the unhoused people she met while volunteering with another organization and decided that serving the homeless was the purpose for her pain.
“Being a Changemaker on The Discover List means that my mission to shed a light on the homeless crisis is being seen and supported. This recognition has inspired me to share more content as we serve the community.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Hurt people can do better.”
Describe yourself in three words: “Broken, Loud, Strong.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Joel Bervell
“It feels amazing to know that the content I’m creating is having an impact on people’s lives.”
Joel Bervell is a third year Ghanaian-American medical student at Washington State University, Elson S. Floyd College of Medicine. In 2017, Joel graduated from Yale University, where he earned a degree in Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology. He is committed to fighting health disparities in medicine through education and regularly shares insights on racial disparities and biases in healthcare on his TikTok.
“It feels amazing to know that the content I’m creating is having an impact on people’s lives. To see other people also sharing my same desire to learn more about the biases that impact the medical system is incredibly humbling. I’ve been so in awe of the TikTok community. I’ve created incredible friendships and met people who are truly curious about the world. Every time I open TikTok, I learn something new that makes me see the world just a little differently and understand perspectives separate from my own.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom.” – Viktor Frankl
Describe yourself in three words: “Driven, Inquisitive, Extroverted.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Jesús Morales is a first generation Mexican immigrant who uses TikTok to crowdfund money for street vendors in Southern California. With the help of his followers, Jesús surprises random vendors with $1,000 cash tips. In the span of one year he has been able to raise and distribute over $131,000 in donations through his platform.
“It’s truly an honor to be nominated as a Changemaker. I made a goal in 2020 to be able to help as many people as possible and I was able to do that with the help of TikTok. There are so many creators who are doing amazing things on this app so I am humbled and incredibly thankful to be nominated. TikTok and its creators inspire me. If it wasn’t for them and this app, I don’t think I would be where I’m at today.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “The man who says he can and the man who says he can’t are both correct.” – Confucius
Describe yourself in three words: “Ambitious, Driven, Humble.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
James Jones
“Seeing indigenous peoples in these spaces is very important for progression in society.”
James Jones is a Cree dancer from Tall Cree First Nations and a popular TikTok creator. James is also a full time youth worker who does social work through cultural arts. James uses his platform to spread awareness about indigenous communities while also sharing his culture with everyone.
“It means a lot to me to be recognized as a Changemaker. Seeing indigenous peoples in these spaces is very important for progression in society. The TikTok community teaches me something new every day – whether it’s about my culture, what’s going on in the world or in other BIPOC communities – which is inspiring.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Don’t let success go to your head, and don’t let failure go to your heart.” – Anonymous
Describe yourself in three words: “Motivated, Respectful, Honest.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Remi Bader
“The community I’ve built on TikTok has given me so much happiness and confidence.”
Remi Bader is a 26-year-old curve model whose realistic clothing hauls have taken TikTok by storm. In these viral videos, she reviews popular fashion brands, often copying models’ poses and exposing the size discrepancies seen across brands. Remi challenges major brands to address size inclusivity within their product offerings and marketing campaigns. Having struggled with body-positivity and mental health her entire life, Remi resonates with an audience that relates to her struggles. She uses quick wit, humor and heartfelt honesty to normalize feelings of self-doubt and promote self-love for all shapes and sizes.
“Nothing makes me happier than being recognized for making an actual difference in the TikTok community. TikTok has changed my life and is something I’m super passionate about. The community I’ve built on TikTok has given me so much happiness and confidence and something I want to forever keep building on.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Everything happens for a reason.” – Anonymous
Describe yourself in three words: “Authentic, Relatable, Funny.”
Photographed by Justin Patterson
Scarlet May is a deaf influencer who has gained a huge following on TikTok, initially from her “deaf Kardashian series” which took off in July of 2020. From there, she started making funny and educational skits, ASL covers, and more. She loves making funny content that’s different, all while educating others about the deaf community. Her goal is to one day perform on stage with artists and translate songs.
“The TikTok community has inspired me to step out of my comfort zone. I wasn’t ever into social media before TikTok, but my followers have made me more confident and comfortable with putting myself out there on a hearing platform. It’s great to witness so many people being open to learning about our deaf world. I love TikTok and am thankful for everyone who supports me and I can’t wait to see where life takes me next.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Life is like a hand of cards, you have to play the hand you’re dealt.” – Anonymous
Describe yourself in three words: “Intelligent, Perseverant, Kind.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Taylor Cassidy
“My peers’ creativity and drive pushes me to challenge myself and think outside the box.”
Taylor Cassidy is a content creator on TikTok teaching millions about unsung Black history figures accompanied by her quick wit and strong passion. As seen in her series “Fast Black History” and “Black Girl Magic Minute,” she uses her platform to advocate for inclusion, representation, and love for one’s culture. Generous with sharing motivation and finding her creative voice, she is passionate about encouraging others to dream bigger for themselves.
“To be nominated as a Changemaker means that all of the time I’ve spent investing in ideas, being consistent in videos, and connecting with my audience has made a difference. It not only feels validating, but like a breath of relief that my hopes of creating impact are being recognized. The TikTok community inspires me endlessly and it’s what keeps me creating so fervently. On top of my audience, my peers’ creativity and drive pushes me to challenge myself and think outside the box.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Don’t shrink yourself to accommodate someone else’s comfort.” – Anonymous
Describe yourself in three words: “Intentional, Attentive, Driven.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Ebony & Denise
“We are honored that our work to normalize LGBTQ+ parenting does not go unnoticed.”
Ebony and Denise are a two-mom family with three children who create engaging TikTok videos for people across the globe. What started as a way for them to connect and inspire the youth of the LGBTQ+ community has evolved into a platform covering all things parenting, lifestyle, fashion, and relationships.
“We are honored that our work to normalize LGBTQ+ parenting does not go unnoticed and that TikTok supports our community. The TikTok community has inspired us by seeing so many creators use their platform for social good, seeing the ample amount of creativity, and people just being their authentic selves.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou
Describe yourself in three words: “Authentic, Genuine, Humbled.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
Zach & Pat
“We are making a difference in the disability and Down Syndrome community which is near and dear to us.”
Zachary and Patrick Valentine, known as Zach and Pat on TikTok, strive to educate and entertain with their positive, comedic, and wholesome skits and dance videos. Food is their love language, which is an integral part of their Latin culture. If they are not busy creating content, you can find them enjoying some of their favorite foods like pizza and tacos. This brother duo advocates for the Down Syndrome community and others with disabilities through messages of kindness, hope, and love.
“This opportunity to be a Changemaker means the world to us. It shows us that this platform acknowledges not only our dedication and hard work, but more importantly, encourages us to inspire others to share their stories. We are making a difference in the disability and Down Syndrome community which is near and dear to us and we couldn’t do it without the outpour of love we have received from our followers and TikTok. The TikTok community is full of talented people who are excited to do what they love, and inspire others to do the same.”
Favorite quote that you live by: “Changing perspectives one heart at a time.”
Describe yourself in three words: “Dedicated, Protective, Loyal.”
Photographed by Yaw Asiedu
#changemakers TikTok facts.
#MakeBlackHistory (22,600 videos created)
#DeafTikTok (19,990 videos created
#WeAreAPI (8,463 videos created)
#FreetoBe (2,037 videos created)