Business
Looking for positive and inspiring business stories? From green operations to employee rights, from innovative corporate structures to diversity and inclusion, the Business section at The Optimist Daily has got the latest innovative solutions from the corporate sector.
New York’s first professional streetery builder is keeping restaurants afloat
At the beginning of the pandemic, outdoor dining looked like a shamble of folding tables quickly pushed into bike lanes and onto sidewalks. But now, after more than half a year, al-fresco pandemic meals include colorful fences, outdoor heaters, and even, in some cities, dining bubbles. New York Read More...
NYC will try a police-free approach to addressing mental health crises
All too often, instead of a specialized social care worker, emergency calls related to issues of mental health are inadequately addressed by the police. In New York City, though, that will soon no longer be the case. Thanks to a new pilot program, 911 calls in New York City that are evidently Read More...
This vertical farm wants to improve agriculture by growing food for cattle
Producing food for cows requires an enormous amount of land. In fact, the US uses 780 million acres — or 41 percent of its land — to grow animal feed, either on pastures or through growing crops. And as demand for animal food continues to grow, the availability of arable land decreases. In some Read More...
The elections are over. Here’s how to continue your role in democracy
So you cast your ballot and participated in the democratic process, now what? There are so many more ways to remain involved in the democratic process beyond just voting. Today we share some ideas for contributing to collective civic good any time, not just during election season. Reach out Read More...
Diving program teaches kids to document sunken slave ships
In the quest to create a more complete picture of African-American genealogy, an underwater archaeology group called Diving With a Purpose (DWP) focuses on documenting old slave ships that have sunk to the bottom of the sea. Documenting these ships and other artifacts of the transatlantic slave Read More...
This company lets you devote a section of your backyard to honeybees
In 2019, beekeepers in the US have lost 37 percent of their honeybee colonies, a disconcerting phenomenon that’s part of a broader global decline in pollinator populations. One way that people can help restore these populations is by practicing beekeeping. But as enticing as it may sound, Read More...
Florida votes to increase outdated minimum wage to $15
Voters in Florida tossed their outdated $8.56 per hour minimum wage in this election as the state became the eighth in the country to adopt a $15 minimum wage. Like many other states, Florida will introduce the raise slowly, upping it to $10 next year and raising it by $1 each year until it reaches Read More...
Prop 17 restores voting rights for 50,000 paroled citizens in California
50,000 more Californians were welcomed back into the democratic process this election as the state celebrates the passing of Prop 17. The proposition, which passed with support from 59 percent of voters, will allow paroled citizens convicted of felonies to vote. Previously, those convicted of Read More...
This reusable package aims to slash the environmental costs of e-commerce
Among the key environmental issues that come with e-commerce is the overwhelming amount of single-use packaging it uses for deliveries. A Finnish-based startup is now proving that the industry can do better. Using an innovative reusable system, RePack provides packaging-as-a-service to online Read More...
Bookshop makes it easier than ever to support your local bookstore
There’s something beautifully calming about walking into a quiet bookstore, but with the convenience of large-scale online retailers and the economic consequences of the pandemic, small stores are facing unprecedented challenges. To survive, local bookstores are banding together and selling Read More...