These Inspiring Stories Are What You Need To Hear Today

We are shedding light on the stories of four hardworking people who are making positive changes in the world. Check out the full videos to see the surprise Zelle® has in store for them!

BuzzFeed and Zelle® partnered up to give back to four amazing people who are doing great things in their communities. Here are the inspiring stories we have the honor of sharing:

1. Aiyanna and her family are preserving the endangered language of their Kommema Kalapuya tribe.

BuzzFeed

Kommema Kalapuya is an Indigenous tribe in Yoncalla, Oregon, whose native language was believed to be dead. Aiyanna’s family members are the only living speakers of the language left in the entire world. With the help of a local linguist and a whole lot of hard work, Aiyanna and her family are on their way to reviving the language and constructing a dictionary.

This dictionary would not only save the Kalapuya language but it would also help educate the world on a sacred and vibrant culture.

BuzzFeed

Watch the full video to hear more of Aiyanna's story.

2. Cheyenne beat all the odds as a foster youth and is now attending law school so she can support and represent families in the foster care system.

BuzzFeed

Cheyenne grew up in foster care and was a single teen mother, but despite her difficult childhood, she was able to remain resilient and determined. She gave her all to her education and at 26 is currently working toward her law degree at UConn School of Law.

Being a mother gave Cheyenne the drive to go back to school in order to create a joyful and stable upbringing for her daughter that she wasn’t able to have herself.

BuzzFeed

Living through foster care, Cheyenne and her siblings had most of their childhood determined by lawyers. Her goal is to become a lawyer who can better advocate for children in the foster care system because she knows firsthand what that experience is like. Keep up the great work, Cheyenne! 

Watch the full video to hear more of Cheyenne's story.

3. Meymuna is the founder of a restaurant in Southern California that hires former refugee women as chefs.

BuzzFeed

Meymuna’s parents are refugees from Ethiopia and Meymuna herself was born in a refugee camp. In order to support other former refugees and immigrants in Los Angeles, Meymuna founded the restaurant Flavors From Afar in Little Ethiopia. Their mission is to hire women who have been displaced and give them a space to share their culture’s cuisine, hone their individual talents, and teach them culinary and entrepreneurial skills they can take out into the world. 

Meymuna has created the unique and powerful opportunity for former refugees to connect with the LA community while celebrating their homeland.

BuzzFeed

Head to Flavors From Afar in Los Angeles to try the delicious rotating menu for yourself!

Watch the full video to hear of Meymuna's story.

4. Norina is supporting small businesses and amplifying the local stories of her Chinatown neighborhood.

BuzzFeed

Norina’s parents immigrated to Chinatown in New York and opened KK Discount to start their entrepreneurial journey. Norina grew up helping in the store and witnessed the close-knit community among the mom-and-pop shops of the neighborhood. Now, Norina has a daughter of her own who is the star of a social media account, Little Miss Chinatown, that has the purpose of shedding light on all the wonderful things their Chinatown neighborhood has to offer. And it’s as adorable as it is informative! 

During the pandemic, many of the small businesses in her neighborhood have been struggling or permanently closed. Luckily, with the help of nonprofits and supportive individuals like Norina, these mom-and-pop shops are learning how to adapt and thrive during this difficult time.

BuzzFeed

Norina’s dedication to keeping these small businesses afloat is helping preserve a vital part of her community.

Watch the full video to hear more of Norina's story.

Check out all four Zelle® #Transfer-mation Monday videos to hear their full stories, and join us in supporting their important journeys!