How looking at art can boost problem-solving skills
If you appreciate The Optimist Daily’s focus on solutions, then you’re probably a fan of problem-solving in your own life. Well, if you’re looking for a way to enhance your ability to solve problems, then a trip to an art museum or gallery (in real life or online) can be just what you Read More...
A seat at the table for underrepresented communities
Climate change is already affecting all of us—however, those that bear the brunt of these consequences are predominantly from low-income, marginalized, BIPOC communities. So why is it that out of the organizations that are trying to confront climate change and find solutions, about 95 percent of Read More...
Year of the tiger: Bringing in the Lunar New Year
On Tuesday this week, almost two billion people all over the world celebrated the Lunar New Year which is also called the Chinese New Year (or the Spring Festival in China). Traditionally, it’s a time to get together with families to honor ancestors and deities and to enjoy the exciting street Read More...
Maya Angelou becomes first Black woman featured on a US coin
In 2022, US quarters with the image of poet and writer Maya Angelou went into circulation, making her the first Black woman in the nation’s history to be featured on a coin. Angelou’s quarter kicked off the US Mint’s American Women Quarters program, an initiative led by Democrat Read More...
The United Arab Emirates decides to stop censoring movies
For generations now, the United Arab Emirates has censored sensitive scenes from cinematic work that are considered offensive to traditional Islamic sensibilities. This includes any scenes involving nudity, homosexuality, sex, or any other content regarded as inappropriate. Unsurprisingly, the Read More...
Jessica Watkins is first Black woman on a long-term mission aboard the ISS
Jessica Watkins will make history as the first Black woman to complete a long-term mission on the International Space Station (ISS) on the upcoming SpaceX Crew-4 launch, according to a statement released by NASA. Joining Watkins on her first voyage into space, which is set to launch in April Read More...
Sesame Street introduces Ji-Young, its first ever Asian American muppet
The beloved children’s show “Sesame Street” will formally introduce seven-year-old Ji-Young, the young muppet making history as the show’s first-ever Asian American, on Thanksgiving Day in an episode called “See Us Coming Together: A Sesame Street Special.” Ji-Young, who is Korean Read More...
Meet the woman on a mission to diversify the world of skateboarding
The world of skateboarding has been dominated by the typical “white boy” skater, which is what Marie Mayassi, who introduces herself as “born in Paris but originally from Congo,” noticed when she first took up the sport four years ago. Determined to change the scene’s lack of Read More...
New Zealand swears in first Indigenous Māori Governor-general
Last week, Dame Cindy Kiro was formally sworn in as New Zealand’s first Indigenous Māori woman to be named Governor-general. The Māori peoples account for around 17 percent of New Zealand’s population but are still socially and economically disadvantaged. They continue to be Read More...
Phil Henderson will lead the first all-Black American team to the summit of Everest
Expensive gear, remote locations, and limited transportation options make outdoor exploration inaccessible to many communities. Phil Henderson recognizes that the world of outdoor adventure is lacking diverse representation and plans to push change in the industry by leading the first-ever Read More...