Today’s Solutions: January 14, 2025

Corporate Social Responsibility

Keeping up with the latest news in all four corporate social responsibility categories: environment, human rights, philanthropy, and economic responsibility.

Progress amid backlash: corpor

Progress amid backlash: corporate America’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Amid mounting conservative backlash against diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, a new report from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) highlights a surprising trend: many U.S. companies are doubling down on their commitment to LGBTQ+ equality in Read More...

Goodwill’s new store ins

Goodwill's new store inside the Silicon Valley Jail offers hope and job skills

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Goodwill of Silicon Valley started an innovative venture by launching its first store inside Milpitas' Elmwood Correctional Facility. This innovative initiative offers hands-on retail training to incarcerated women, preparing them for future work Read More...

Rowing against the current: Bo

Rowing against the current: Botswana’s women safari guides inspire and empower

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the calm of Botswana's Okavango Delta, where the morning sun creates a golden glow on the water's surface, an amazing metamorphosis is occurring. Women are taking the lead in changing an industry that was formerly thought of as a man's domain: guiding Read More...

Zimbabwean grandmothers transf

Zimbabwean grandmothers transform mental health care globally

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A deceptively simple yet revolutionary mental health therapy based on grandmothers' wisdom and sensitivity took root in Zimbabwe. Now, it is being embraced around the world, including in the United States.  A lifeline for despair Tambudzai Tembo, 57, was Read More...

Restitution of Asante Kingdom

Restitution of Asante Kingdom treasures: US museum returns stolen artifacts after 150 years

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a historic event, the Asante kingdom of Ghana welcomed the return of seven royal treasures seized by British colonial forces 150 years ago and kept at the Fowler Museum at the University of California, Los Angeles since the 1960s. This is a significant Read More...

Helping young people of color

Helping young people of color navigate the music industry with Carnegie Hall's The B-Side

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In the iconic setting of Carnegie Hall, a remarkable initiative is taking shape, one that seeks to bridge the stark gap between the industry's diverse musical talent and its predominantly white leadership. The B-Side, a program specifically developed to Read More...

Belong is an intergenerational

Belong is an intergenerational housing solution to combat loneliness among older adults

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As society faces the challenges of an aging population, new housing concepts are emerging that promise to address one of the most important issues of older adults: loneliness. One such option is intergenerational housing, which combines senior living Read More...

Steam-powered seed treatment g

Steam-powered seed treatment gains popularity as a chemical-free alternative in agriculture

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Farmers around the world have long used chemical treatments to safeguard their seeds from pests and disease. However, a new chemical-free alternative is gaining popularity in Sweden, Norway, and elsewhere. ThermoSeed, developed by former researcher Kenneth Read More...

Hospitality workers’ wages g

Hospitality workers’ wages get unprecedented boost with 30% wage increases

In an unexpected turn of events, the hospitality industry, long associated with some of the lowest-paid occupations, is undergoing a wage revolution. Over the last four years, salary raises in the industry have pushed hospitality workers' wages up by almost 30 percent, a significant increase that Read More...

The ongoing success of the 4-d

The ongoing success of the 4-day workweek: a year in, companies share insights

Nearly 61 British businesses made the historic switch to a four-day workweek in 2022, setting in motion a cascade of beneficial effects that are still felt today. What started as a six-month experiment has resulted in 54 organizations adopting the strategy permanently, demonstrating long-term Read More...