Not so with the 12 Michiganians of the Year 2000 -- people who have accomplished the remarkable.

There's the person who feeds the destitute in a sea of plenty. An automotive titan whose decisions are felt across the globe. A scientist who developed one of the lynchpins in battling AIDS, and an entrepreneur who lodged Detroit in the planet's musical imagination for all time.

In this section, you'll also meet sports heroes, humanitarians, and the heads of major Detroit institutions. The individuals honored were picked from hundreds of nominations. They demonstrate a universe of ways in which one person can make a seismic difference.

That's why every year, The Detroit News asks readers and staffers to tell us about the people, famous and unknown alike who most deserve recognition.

This 23rd annual group of Michiganians all share one important quality: They have made Michigan -- and the world -- a better place to live.