For many, the past year has felt like a balancing act. Staying healthy, focusing at work, and managing complex family dynamics in the midst of a global pandemic and political unrest is no easy feat. We’ve devoted extra time to stories on self-care, and fortunately, there are many … [Read more...] about How to stay engaged in an overwhelming world
community
A local pizzeria is feeding National Guard troops ahead of the inauguration
During the general election, we shared a story about a non-profit bringing pizza to hungry voters waiting in line. Now, we’ve got another patriotic pizza story for you. This time aptly named restaurant, We the Pizza, is delivering meals to the 20,000 National Guard troops … [Read more...] about A local pizzeria is feeding National Guard troops ahead of the inauguration
The Optimist View: Reflections on activism from Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons
“If we merge mercy with might, and might with right, then love becomes our legacy and change our children's birthright.” - Amanda Gorman BY: AMELIA BUCKLEY As we celebrated the life and works of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this week, many Americans contemplated the profound … [Read more...] about The Optimist View: Reflections on activism from Gwendolyn Zoharah Simmons
How a former KKK meeting place became a center for healing
In Laurens, South Carolina, an organization called Echo Project is converting what once was a Ku Klux Klan meeting place into a community center and racial reconciliation museum. Shockingly, the building became home to a White supremacist store in 1996 that sold Klan robes and … [Read more...] about How a former KKK meeting place became a center for healing
How car-free streets unite communities: A firsthand account from Oakland
The Optimist Daily has never been shy to support urban planning that favors pedestrians over motorists. Not only does it make the streets safer, but it can also clean up the air in a city dramatically. But beyond all this, perhaps the biggest benefit of clearing the streets of … [Read more...] about How car-free streets unite communities: A firsthand account from Oakland