Building Community
Our Theme in November 2019
This NFL champion will skip 2020 season to fight Covid-19 in his hometown
In February, Laurent Duvernay-Tardif won America’s biggest sporting event, the Super Bowl, with the Kansas City Chiefs. But rather than spend the offseason getting ready to defend the Super Bowl title, the football player has been on the front lines of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, Read More...
This mom donated her lottery winnings to a wounded police officer
Shetara Sims is a single mom who was down to her last $7 when she found a dollar bill in a grocery store parking lot. The Kansas City native used it to buy a lottery ticket and ended up winning $100. But rather than keep it for herself, she listened to her daughter Rakiya’s advice and donated Read More...
The Optimist View: Renting is rewarding with Rhove
“There’s no problem that I think is worth solving more than this one at this moment in our country and the concept is really that every renter should be an owner and it should be as easy as the click of a button.” - Calvin Cooper 20 years ago, buying a first home was a benchmark moment for 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...
Florida inmates spent 4th of July comforting dogs frightened by fireworks
For most people, the Fourth of July means cookouts, sunny afternoons by the pool, and evenings full of fireworks. But for dogs, the loud bangs can be a nightmare. Fireworks are typically louder than gunfire and even many planes at takeoff. The loud noise, coupled with bright flashes, can confuse Read More...
The boundless ways you can make a difference in your community
We all want to make a positive difference in our communities, but where to start? Fortunately, small changes can have a big impact on your block, your neighborhood, and even your city. Here are just a few great ideas to get you started. On your street, you can redesign a crosswalk to make Read More...
The founder of Netflix just donated $120 million to black colleges
Many prominent public figures have donated towards causes that support racial justice in the aftermath of the killing of George Floyd, but no donation has gone further than that of Netflix founder Reed Hastings and his wife, Patty Quillin. The duo recently put forth $120 million that will be Read More...
The Optimist View: The Power of Social Entrepreneurship
"A little bit of good can turn into a whole lot of good when fueled by the commitment of a social entrepreneur" - Jeffery Skoll We often hear about massive companies creating amazing new products, coming up with disruptive solutions and finding new ways to deliver their products or change our Read More...
Fighting racism on wheels: skateboarding and racial justice
Skateboarding has a reputation of attracting irresponsible teens, but as the sport evolves, and even joins the Olympics, researchers and riders alike are drawing attention to the beneficial community-building power of the sport. As the country continues to reckon with the need to eradicate deep Read More...
Values before profit: This man turned his restaurant into a donation center
At the Optimist Daily, we like to honor the everyday heroes that make communities thrive. Today we bring you a story out of Minneapolis where a local restaurant owner has turned his restaurant into a community outpost for those protesting police violence. Here’s his story. Tomme Beevas Read More...