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.
This initiative matches recently released prisoners with a place to stay
Every year, more than 600,000 people are released from prison in the US, the country with the highest incarceration rate in the world. One of the biggest challenges faced by those getting out of prison is finding a roof over their heads, which can be especially difficult in ultra-expensive housing Read More...
Online tool helps mobilize Native American communities to go out and vote
Despite having been enfranchised in 1924, due to numerous legislative obstacles, many Native Americans living on reservations still can’t participate in the democratic process and elect candidates of their choice. With less than two months left until the election, two nonprofits have developed a Read More...
“Hello Landlord” is a pro-bono legal resource for all renters
A variety of federal, state, and even local eviction bans have been implemented during the pandemic to protect workers from the economic toll of shutdowns, but for low-income families without access to legal resources, exercising their rights as tenants can be difficult. Fortunately, Hello Landlord Read More...
Ruth Bader Ginsburg: A legacy of justice and optimism
At The Optimist Daily, we share solutions to promote a culture of determined optimism. This week, we are celebrating the life and legacy of one of the world’s most inspirational determined optimists: Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. Ginsburg, who passed away September 18 at the age Read More...
What do policing alternatives look like? Denver is the perfect example
As calls for police reform spread across the country this summer, many cities stepped up to reallocate police funding to social programs to address systemic police violence and racism. One of these cities is Denver, Colorado. The city’s Support Team Assistance Response (STAR) program sends a Read More...
New Jersey enacts new law to help undocumented immigrants find jobs
California has long been the only state to have passed a blanket law to aid all undocumented immigrants, but now New Jersey has joined the state after Gov. Phil Murphy repealed key restrictions. The restrictions barred undocumented individuals from obtaining occupational and professional Read More...
Ireland Lacrosse forgoes competition spot so Iroquois Nationals can play
The World Games 2022 men’s lacrosse competition will take place in Birmingham, Alabama, but the men’s Ireland Lacrosse team will not be participating. The team made the decision to give up their place in the eight-team tournament to make room for the Iroquois Nationals to compete. Lacrosse Read More...
California bill allows formerly incarcerated people to become firefighters
As wildfires continue to burn across the western United States, many have raised concerns about the exploitation of incarcerated individuals used to combat the blazes. Now, California has passed a bill that will allow formerly incarcerated individuals to pursue a career in firefighting after Read More...
To vote or not to vote? 7 Facts on why you should
We recently published an article on how to vote during a pandemic, but let's take a step back and talk about why you should vote at all. If you’re on the fence about exercising your civil liberties or even if you’re a passionate advocate for democratic participation, here’s seven facts that Read More...
Homebase: Stopping homelessness before it happens in New York
Although homelessness across America has been decreasing since 2010, New York City has witnessed an opposite trend. From 2007 to 2018, the state has witnessed a staggering 47% increase in homelessness. That’s where a grassroots program called Homebase steps in. Founded in 2004, Homebase is Read More...