Social Justice
Read about the newest efforts to overthrow systemic inequalities and address injustices in terms of wealth, opportunities, and privileges to make the world a better place.
Changemakers of the week: Coalition for Compassion and Justice and Fish Reef Project
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Every day on the Optimist Daily, we report on solutions from around the world. Though we love solutions big and small, it is often the ones right in our communities that make the largest impact. Today we are thrilled to present to you the second round of Read More...
Better jobs and higher wages for Goodwill's unique high school for dropouts
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana realized that many of the people in its job-training programs lacked a high school diploma, it recognized a chance to make a lasting difference in its community. Rather than focusing simply on job training, Read More...
Hispanic Heritage Month: ‘Latinx' must go if we really want to be inclusive
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The term 'Latinx' has sparked intense disputes, particularly in the United States, where it originally became popular. However, while 'Latinx' has gained popularity in academic circles and activist communities, it has not been broadly accepted by the people Read More...
California's first national marine sanctuary in 30 years to protect 116 miles of coastline
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM The proposal for the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary marks a big step in protecting California's coastline. This sanctuary, which spans more than 116 miles of the state's central coast, will become the third largest of its kind in the United Read More...
Learning how to identify and defend against medical gaslighting
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM Imagine you're in pain and know something's wrong, but every doctor you see dismisses it as "nothing serious." Unfortunately, this scenario is far too prevalent and even has a name: medical gaslighting. It occurs when healthcare workers minimize or disregard Read More...
Alaska Judge overturns law allowing only physicians to perform abortions
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A state Superior Court judge overturned an Alaska statute that required only licensed physicians to provide abortions, declaring that the limitation violated constitutional protections of equal protection and privacy. Superior Court Judge Josie Garton's Read More...
NHS 111 expands to provide 24-hour mental health crisis support
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a big step forward for mental health care, England has become one of the first countries to provide 24-hour help for people in crisis via a single phone line. Anyone experiencing a mental health emergency can now contact a trained expert by dialing NHS 111 Read More...
Australia grants employees the right to disconnect after hours
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a big step toward protecting workers' personal time, Australia has passed a new law granting employees the "right to disconnect" from work after hours. This policy, which went into effect for the majority of workers this past Monday, permits Australians Read More...
Statue of late civil rights leader John Lewis replaces Confederate monument in Georgia
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM A monument honoring the life and work of civil rights icon John Lewis was unveiled in Decatur, Georgia, marking a major step in confronting America's racial past. For more than a century, a Confederate obelisk stood in the square where the new memorial now Read More...
The FCC launches nationwide alert system to protect and serve missing Indigenous people
BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM In a key step toward improving public safety, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented a new nationwide warning system designed expressly for missing and endangered Indigenous people. This effort intends to fill a critical vacuum in the current Read More...