When we were on a book tour in New Zealand, we came across a country inn marquee advertising the “Best Muscles in the World,” green-lipped ones. We pulled in. Mussels (not muscles), beer and a band -what could be better?

Well, the band and the mussels were just the appetizer. The real purpose of the evening was a community celebration to showcase local people who were making a difference in the world. There was a transgender teen boy who had started an anti-bullying campaign at his high schoo...