Should you mix your friend groups? Here's how to do it right
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Bringing together friends from different parts of your life can feel like introducing characters from different books into one shared story. It might be for a birthday dinner, a wedding, or a casual game night. Either way, there's something exciting about Read More...
Resilient community-building: staying safe in times of uncertainty
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY TEAM Recent global and domestic developments have left many feminists and allies feeling uneasy, uncertain about their place in society, and even alone. Despite this turmoil, the need for community remains strong. Connection is vital not only for personal well-being, but Read More...
Turin transforms abandoned tramway into an attractive community park
Here at The Optimist Daily, we are big fans of sustainable urban development projects that put community front center. The creation of the Precollinear Park in Turin, Italy, is exactly this type of project. The park came about as the result of a placemaking initiative by nonprofit Torino Read More...
Onondaga Nation’s fire station brings sustainability and community together
As you probably have noticed by now, here at The Optimist Daily, we are major advocates of sustainable architecture as well as community-building, and we are elated whenever we come across an initiative that combines both. The most recent example that we’ve uncovered involves eco-friendly Read More...
Utah activist lets people without a home set camp in his front yard
In one of the small yards adjoining the homes of the quiet Fairpark neighborhood in Salt Lake City sits an encampment made up of people experiencing homelessness. They are there at the invitation of homeowner Darin Mann. He has welcomed them to set up tents in his front yard and lets them use his Read More...
Giving: Safe ways you can continue to give back this holiday season
The holiday season is the time we reflect on how lucky we are to have a roof over our head and food on our table, but it is also a time to think about those who have less than us. As we head deeper into the holiday season, we’re sharing ways you can still safely give back to your community at a Read More...
A nonprofit in Boston is turning vacant storefronts into pop-up communal spaces
When businesses stand empty in a neighborhood, the negative effects can be far-reaching. That’s why a nonprofit was created that turns vacant storefronts into pop-up communal spaces where people can come together without having to spend money. The nonprofit is called CultureHouse, and it was Read More...
Football is reuniting the Paradise community one year after fatal Camp Fire
Few things can invigorate a community like sport. A true testament to the community-building power of sport comes from Paradise, California, where firefighters finally extinguished the Camp Fire that all but destroyed the town one year ago. Although hardly anything in Paradise has been rebuilt, Read More...
Vendors turn streets into community spaces, so why are cities cracking down?
Earlier this month, a woman from Ecuador was handcuffed by police for selling churros in a New York City subway station. Officers confiscated her pushcart—her livelihood—and all its contents. She did not have a permit. But the city has not raised the number of permits since 1983, meaning $200 Read More...
This startup is using tech to help immigrant communities thrive in America
While there are plenty of online networking tools these days, there’s only one like Homeis. That’s because Homeis specializes in building networks that are focused on the needs of specific immigrant communities and helping them find things like new friends and job opportunities. The startup Read More...