From an early age, Bella Brown exhibited a natural curiosity about how the world worked and a desire to learn. Now 18 and a senior at Walter Payton College Prep, she wears many hats. Brown is the co-founder of a nonprofit organization dedicated to removing the stigma of homelessness, a competitive d ancer, mentor and big sister. And her method of juggling it all? Dedicating herself fully to her work. "I didn't set out to do as much as I am. Everything kind of happened naturally," Brown said. "I joined things that I was genuinely interested in, and I bring my full self to everything I do." And she was recently recognized for her work after she was awarded a scholarship from the National Honor Society. Brown, who lives in Lake View, joined NHS as a junior to participate in service activities and give back to her community. Last month, she learned she was a finalist for a scholarship and was awarded $5,625. "It was really empowering to receive that award," Brown said. "It was really exciting to be acknowledged for some of what I was doing, but also to be really inspired to continue working harder and continue making as much of an impact as I can." In addition to her service work, Bella Brown is a competitive dancer.Provided Even as a little girl, Brown "couldn't wait to be an adult," said her mom, Jodi Glickman."She always has been really intellectually curious," Glickman said. "She was never a child who just accepted what you told them. If she asked you a question, she wanted a deep answer."In 2020 while living in Colorado, Brown and her younger sister, Arden, 16, co-founded Living Outside, a nonprofit organization that creates care bags distributed directly to people "living outside." Its aim was to end stigmas about homelessness. "I think that homelessness had always really been an issue that I cared about, because it is so visible in our society," Brown said. "During the pandemic, we had a ton of time on our hands, so my sister and I decided to do something to help." The sisters put together bags with necessities like snacks and hygiene kits and distributed them to people living on the streets of their community, but as the pandemic subsided, their organization began to grow. What Brown and her sister hadn't realized was how personally the plight of the homeless would touch their family. Shortly after starting Living Outside, Brown learned that her mother's brother, Jay, was unhoused. In 2021, Brown and her family flew to Los Angeles to meet him, and she said the trip was life-changing. "When I did meet him, he was hilarious and he was sarcastic, and he was such a kind person, and every single person in his community was able to see that about him, despite him being homeless and despite the struggles in his life," she said. Jay died in 2022. Her uncle's story has inspired Brown and her sister to expand Living Outside, starting 19 chapters across the globe led by high school students, Brown said."The beauty in the care bags is not necessarily the supplies we were handing out, but it was the opportunity for a conversation they created, with the people who were receiving them," Brown said. Bella Brown started Living Outside, a nonprofit that aims to reduce the stigma around homelessness. The group hands out care bags with snacks and hygiene kits to people living on the streets. There are 19 chapters across the globe, all run by high school students.Zubaer Khan/Sun-Times Brown is also global president of the Junior Economics Club, a nonprofit that focuses on financial literacy and business education; executive director of Innoverge, a youth program working to advance science, technology, engineering and math programs in underserved communities; and a youth leader at DemocraShe, a nonprofit for high school girls interested in civic engagement. "Bella is curious, and she engages the world through this optimistic, hopeful lens," said Sarah Jakle, founder and executive director of DemocraShe. "She's constantly looking for ways to grow as a human, and also how to help others as she does so." Jakle, who is Brown's mentor, said she is a "natural leader" and was excited to see what the future has in store for her. "I'm extraordinarily proud and happy of every single step Bella takes toward making this world a better place, because she's extraordinary," Jakle said. Related Chicago college students left in lurch after losing promised scholarships weeks before school starts No sour notes for Skinner North Classical School student who wins trip to Scripps National Spelling Bee Soon Brown will be headed to college, though she's not quite sure where yet. Although she's proud of what she's accomplished in high school, Brown said she's excited about the next chapter in her life. "College is really about the people you meet," she said. "I'm super excited to have an opportunity to talk to people and hear from their experiences, and to get to have my own ideas pushed, and challenged, and improved by those around me." ...read more read less