Staci Backauskas is a Multiplying Good One in a Million Award recipient. They are among the millions of people who are putting others first and using service as a solution to the problems we're facing. Read his story below then nominate someone who's making a difference during this unprecedented time!

One in a Million Award recipient: Staci Backauskas

Where they are multiplying good: Pittsburgh, PA

How they are multiplying good: Staci is an amazing artist and through the Japanese art of Haiku, she is creating community during the Covid-19 pandemic. Every week since March 26th, she has inspired individuals by capturing their thoughts and feelings in Ku-Ren, a new form of poetry that is a multi stanza Haiku written one line at a time by different individuals. Utilizing Zoom, Staci has guided the community to express their fears, frustrations, and hopes through the written word and she has been able to document the evolving landscape that we are living through. Her gentle nature has elicited a body of work that captures the unsettling times week by week and is truly a capsule of the times. In addition, at each Haiku Happiness party, she shares a piece of art - painting, sculpture, photograph - that inspires everyone to discuss their observations and feelings and then they collaboratively write a Ku-Ren about it. This sharing spirit has been a healing balm for many who have been able to articulate their thoughts in a complete novel way. Staci is an inspiration to us all to create and connect. The photo is the Ku-Ren created from inspiration received by the painting "Mending" by Pittsburgh artist Sara Tang.