Social Justice
Read about the newest efforts to overthrow systemic inequalities and address injustices in terms of wealth, opportunities, and privileges to make the world a better place.
More US states and cities are boosting minimum wages in 2026. What does it mean for workers?
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the federal minimum wage remains frozen at $7.25 an hour, unchanged since 2009, cities and states across the United States are taking matters into their own hands. In 2026, 88 jurisdictions will raise their minimum wage rates, offering millions of workers Read More...
Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation regains ancestral lands near Yosemite in major cultural restoration
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Nearly 900 acres of ancestral territory have been officially returned to the Southern Sierra Miwuk Nation, marking a major milestone in Indigenous land restoration efforts in California. The property, which borders Yosemite National Park and the Sierra Read More...
Australia’s bold move to ban kids under 16 from social media sparks important global debate
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Starting this week, on December 10th, Australia will become the first country to ban all children under 16 from having social media accounts. This is meant to be a sweeping law that covers TikTok, Snapchat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, Threads, and other Read More...
Elevation through knowledge: Shirley Santana Herrera’s blueprint for youth empowerment
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Women and youth empowerment through education Welcome to the final week of The Optimist Daily’s Annual Local Changemakers series, where we’ve spent five weeks celebrating bold, community-rooted leaders transforming lives across the globe. This week, we Read More...
Shereen Arent and Sambhali U.S. help uplift 80,000+ women and girls in India
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Women and youth empowerment through education Welcome to the final week of The Optimist Daily’s Annual Local Changemakers series, where we’ve spent five weeks celebrating community-rooted leaders driving bold solutions across the globe. We close this Read More...
How Ali Casparian turned food, healing, and heartbreak into a wellness movement
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Dignity and wellness access for underserved populations Welcome to the fourth installment of The Optimist Daily’s Annual Local Changemakers series. Over five weeks, we’re spotlighting ten extraordinary individuals and organizations transforming their Read More...
Shower the People: How Gwen Watkins built a mobile hygiene hub and a legacy of dignity
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Dignity and wellness access for underserved populations Welcome to the fourth week of The Optimist Daily’s Annual Local Changemakers series. This week, we highlight leaders ensuring that basic human needs like hygiene, nourishment, and health are met with Read More...
How a pop-up apple orchard is turning surplus into joy and helping New Yorkers in need
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As Thanksgiving approaches, Manhattan is getting an unexpected gift: a pop-up apple orchard right in the heart of the city. And behind this sweet surprise is The Farmlink Project, a college-student-founded nonprofit that has become one of the most inspiring Read More...
Move Over Bob: changing the trades so women don’t just join the workforce—they lead it
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Building new foundations Welcome to the third installment of The Optimist Daily’s Annual Local Changemakers series. Over five weeks, we’re celebrating ten extraordinary individuals and organizations transforming their communities through heart-led Read More...
Meet Amy Howlett Johnson: the woman reviving a rural town, one home at a time
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Building new foundations Welcome to the third installment of The Optimist Daily’s Annual Local Changemakers series. Every Friday, we’re celebrating ten extraordinary individuals and organizations transforming their communities through heart-led innovation. Read More...