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.
BLM protests didn’t spike COVID cases. Here’s why and what we can learn from them
Preemptive reopening, poor tracing capabilities, a refusal to wear masks...the list of factors contributing to the new COVID-19 spike in the US is very long, but one thing that didn’t seem to contribute to rising case numbers were the Black Lives Matter protests. Why not? Let’s take a Read More...
These 3 organizations are helping low-wage workers live a better life
Sometimes all it takes to correct injustice is to recognize the problem and have the willpower to make a change. At least that’s what the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program (FFRP) did in California, where prisoners are encouraged to volunteer to fight wildfires but struggle to get jobs as Read More...
America’s digital divide: Why Internet access should be a basic human right
It may sound odd to you, but there’s a huge digital divide in America. In fact, over 40 million Americans live without access to reliable internet. As COVID-19 forces more individuals to work remotely and families to navigate distance learning for their children, the need for access to broadband Read More...
Haven’t filled out the census yet? Here’s why you should.
By now, if you live in the US, you’ve probably received multiple census forms in the mail and seen it advertised on local buses. If you’ve put off filling out your census response, don’t panic, you have until October to respond and here’s why you definitely should do so. You might be Read More...
Proposed D.C. bill would end felony disenfranchisement
Voting is one of the strongest tools citizens have in voicing their opinion in political leadership and legislation, but in the US where about 1 in 40 adults cannot vote due to a felony conviction, the democratic system is lacking the voice of a significant portion of the population. To Read More...
Victory! Activist groups succeed in shutting 3 major oil pipelines
The cancellation of the Atlantic Coast Pipeline, Dakota Access Pipeline, and Keystone XL Pipeline not only represents a major victory for the environment, but also for grassroots groups which spearheaded the opposition movement. Shutting down these pipelines demonstrates the effectiveness of Read More...
When will police budgets be discussed in your area? This site will tell you
Calls to defund the police need to be heard by the local politicians who make city budget decisions. But the meetings where those decisions are made can be difficult to find out about, or full of confusing bureaucratic language; those who have never attended a city council meeting before may not Read More...
The tech workforce is mostly white and male. These groups are changing that
The tech industry is one of the largest sources of wealth generation in the United States. It’s also 68 percent white and 65 percent male. As we work to build a more inclusive economy after the pandemic, the Optimist Daily is spotlighting movements that seek to provide opportunities to Read More...
How groups of gleaners are bridging the gap between farms and the food insecure
Whether it was stopping on the side of the road to pick wild plums or gathering apples from a neighborhood tree, most of us have gleaned at least once in our lives. Now, this practice of gathering leftover produce throughout the community is finding new purpose as a source of food for those in need Read More...
Sephora pledges 15 percent of shelf space to Black-owned brands
Aurora James, the founder of sustainable accessories brand Brother Vellies, has called on large retailers to take the 15 Percent Pledge to counteract racial disparities in big business and cosmetics brand Sephora is the first to endorse and commit to this pledge. In June, Sephora agreed to Read More...