Jean Friedman-Rudovsky is a journalist championing women's causes around the world but her book project "Beneath Her Feet" marks an important shift in her career.

I have known Jean for 15 years and her passion for telling stories of injustice has always been remarkable. In "Beneath Her Feet" she has shifted her focus towards what women are doing to push back against injustice, illuminating hope where one could easily assume only despair might reside.

This video lays out the 'map' of 9 countries she is telling stories of women from, and the resilience of those featured gives fuel to the rest of us who care deeply about positive change. I watched Jean's video this morning and afterwards, was even more fired up to get involved, be involved, stay involved with movements for change.

There is hope. We feel it. We believe it. And the more we embrace and spread that message, the more momentum for change and uplift will touch other people's lives. This is participatory media, where the sharing of stories isn't merely to pass along history, but to shape the histories of tomorrow.

-Alok Appadurai is communications director for A Beautiful Body Project, co-founder of Fed By Threads, a public speaker, writer, environmentalist, advocate for animals, and a father. To learn more about him, visit www.AlokAppadurai.com