Welcome to the Goodnewspaper. You are now a part of a global community that celebrates the people, ideas and movements that are changing the world for the better and helps others do the same. It’s when times are hardest that it’s most important that we shine a light on good news. Not cheesy stuff. Hope — real hope — no matter how messy it may be. There’s a lot of good in the world that needs to be celebrated. And we need to be a part of it.
2
H E L LO H E L LO !
The Year of Celebrating Good News
WHO MAKES THE G O O D N E W S PA P E R ? Publisher Branden Harvey - @brandenharvey Senior Art Director Judson Collier - @judsoncollier Senior Editor Tyler Huckabee - @tylerhuckabee Lead Strategist Katie Lentile - @katielentile Creative Strategist Sammi Harvey - @sammiharveyco Podcast Producer Chad Michael Snavely - @chad_michael Videographer Jeremiah Warren - @jeremiahjw Web Design Jordan Short / Luum - @jordandshort Digital Copywriter Cadence Turpin - @cadenceet
“I went into television because I hated it so,” Fred Rog-
some of the very real and very sad events going on around the
ers once told CNN. “And I thought there was some way
world isn’t healthy. But then again, burying your head in exclu-
of using this fabulous instrument to be of nurture to
sively negative news isn’t good either.
those who would watch and listen.”
The truth is, there’s a lot of good news out there. Not just
That’s what led the man who would come to be
stories of Chris Pratt making balloon animals or dogs learning
known around the world as Mister Rogers to start
to juggle but real good news that’s happening at a foundational
a small children’s show on public TV — a humble,
level, improving people’s lives and making tomorrow a better
puppet-filled land of make believe with a current of
place. Diseases are being cured. Crime is going down. Injustice
profound emotional intelligence. And as modest as the
is being eradicated. These are big, important things. They need
show was, the shadow it cast is huge, and represents
to be celebrated. They need to be understood. And maybe most
not just some of the best television of all time, but rep-
importantly, they need to be replicated.
resents some of the best of humanity.
Fred Rogers got into TV “to nurture to those who watch and
I don’t hate the news. Actually, I’m really grateful
listen” and that’s why the Goodnewspaper is here too. I want
for the women and men in the news industry who work
this to be a resource: a way to encourage us, sure, but also to
hard at providing the rest of us with important stories
inspire us to go make more good news of our own. Who knows?
about what’s happening in our cities, our country and
Maybe something you do will end up in a future issue.
the world around us. But it’s hard to not get discouraged by the things that are in the news. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. It’s important that we read and understand those stories. Burying your head in the sand and ignoring
That’s why the Goodnewspaper exists: to highlight the good things going on in the world, and to help people make more of it.
-BRANDEN HARVEY @BRANDENHARVEY
SPREAD GOOD NEWS Share a good news story, post an inspiring quote, or just brag about getting the first copy of the Goodnewspaper. Tag your photos of the Goodnewspaper with #goodnewspaper and @goodgoodgoodco.
Centerfold Poster Featured Artist Judson Collier - @judsoncollier Social and Communications Manager Kristi Karrenbrock ••••••••••••••••• Learn more about the Goodnewspaper and update your subscription at goodgoodgood.co Keep up with more good news by following us anywhere at @goodgoodgoodco Get in touch about feedback, questions, and advertising inquiries at hello@goodgoodgood.co
3
W E ’ V E G OT G O O D N E W S
A Palestinian Teen and an Israeli Teen Were Each People With HIV Are Living a Whole Decade Longer Saved, Thanks to Donations From Each Other’s Family A survey of more than 88,000 people in 18 different countries Historically, there’s a lot of conflict between Israelis and
confirms an upward trend we’d love to see continue: people
Palestinians. The long and complicated tension between
with HIV today can expect to live ten full years longer than
the two groups stretches back over centuries, and although
they did in the mid 1990s. In fact, a 28-year-old with HIV to-
there have been plenty of attempts at peace, it never quite
day can expect to live to be about 78 years old, which is nearly
seems to work out.
as old as people without HIV.
That didn’t stop two families from pitching in to help each
Researchers credit exciting new developments in medi-
other when they needed it. According to the Jerusalem Post,
cine and anti-HIV drugs for the longer life spans and say that
the mother of a 19-year-old Israeli Arab donated one of her
the really good news is that this means science is on the right
kidneys to a 16-year-old Palestinian boy who needed it. That
path for eradicating the disease altogether.
16-year-old’s brother donated his kidney to the 19-year-old. It was complicated because the donors weren’t compatible with their own relatives who needed the organ transplants, but they were compatible with each other. So they put aside their historic differences and pitched in to save each other’s lives.
This Guy Turned His $4m Apartment Complex Into a A Toronto Restaurant Rescues Food and Gives Free Home for Homeless Moms It Away for Free Rick Steves is a travel writer who picked up a passion for af-
The Soup Bar is a Toronto restaurant that makes soups
fordable housing while backpacking through Europe, where
from scratch, using fine ingredients from well-respected
a place to stay wasn’t always a guarantee. He’s since had a lot
bakeries and grocers. Just one catch: the bakeries and gro-
of success as an author, and even bought an apartment com-
cers actually threw these ingredients away. Chef Jagger
plex called Trinity Place in Seattle. His original plan was to let
Gordon receives food donations from the restaurants and
the place appreciate over time, but in 2017, he decided it was
stores of Toronto, rescuing a lot of the perfectly good food
time to push back against what he calls a rising “greed-is-good”
that gets thrown out at the end of the day so he can use it to
ethic. According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, he do-
make soup. And even better, he then uses a “pay-what-you-
nated the entire complex to the YWCA to be used as housing
can” method, even if you can’t pay anything at all.
for homeless women and their families. “Having reliable hous-
“I get a lot of students,” he told CBC News. “I get a lot of
ing options like Trinity Place is not only crucial,” said YWCA
families. I get a lot of single moms.” These are people who
executive director Mary Anne Dillon in a press release. “It’s a
have a hard time affording quality, healthy meals, or may
matter of life and death for families in our community.”
just lack the time to cook one. Gordon fixes it for them, us-
The Suicide Rate Among American High Schoolers Is Falling
ing his creativity and a firm determination that we can all be more responsible with how we treat our food.
Suicide is a real problem in the United States, with suicide
Since 1990, Child Deaths Have Dropped by Half
among teenagers being particularly high in the US compared
According to a new report, the world as a whole is getting
to other countries. Over the past few years, the trend has held
much better at keeping babies alive longer. In nearly eve-
steadily or even increased, but lately, it’s taken a slight dip. In
ry country over the past 25 years, the child mortality rate
fact, it’s fallen 7% since 2015. It was even more notable among
has plummeted. Globally, the number of child deaths has
LGBT students, who saw a 14% drop in suicide attempts.
dropped from 14.2 million to 7.3 million. That’s still far too
Julia Raifman of Johns Hopkins University says that the drop may well have something to do with the US Supreme
“This is the most peaceful time in human history. That matters because if you think the world is getting better, you want to spread the progress to more people and places.”
many, but the number is trending in the right direction, ac-
— Bill Gates
cording to a study in JAMA Pediatrics.
Court’s legalization of same-sex marriage. She and her team
Experts attribute the improvements to more clean wa-
believe that the decision helped reduce a stigma felt by many
ter and sanitation in developing nations, and the spread
teenagers in the LGBT community, where suicide rates are
of vaccinations. Surprisingly, the spread of education for
often higher. “I would hope that policymakers and the public
women (which you can read about on page 12) is also a con-
would consider the potential health implications of laws and
tributing factor, since there’s a correlation between edu-
policies affecting LGBT rights,” Raifman told the Guardian.
cated mothers and their children’s lifespan.
HOW TO SUPPORT THOSE DEALING WITH MENTAL HEALTH
What’s this? This is the Good Bar! We believe in celebrating good, and then joining in and making a difference ourselves. The Good Bar is full of recommendations from the Good Good Good community on how to take action in meaningful ways.
GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Read ‘Reasons to Stay Alive’ by Matt Haig. It’s a powerful book about mental health and reading it will help unlock the power of empathy.
Affordability is the greatest barrier to people getting help through counseling. Donate directly to facilities or organizations. We’ve made a list at goodnewspaper.org/1
Apply to be a Crisis Text Line counselor or volunteer at a suicide hotline. They’ll train you and don’t require prior counseling experience, just a willingness to help.
4
W E ’ V E G OT G O O D N E W S
Sweden Will Cut Emissions by 2045
All
Greenhouse
Gas
Sweden has rolled out one of the most ambitious environmental plans from a developed nation, announcing a plan to make increasingly drastic cuts to their fossil fuel emissions a little bit every four years until 2045, when they plan to be at zero. A lot of countries have made pledges to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions but, unfortunately, most of them are off target when it comes to actually putting their money where their mouths are. Sweden is setting a great example for the rest of the world, putting out real, tangible laws that will help reduce their fossil fuel emissions. “Our target is to be an entirely fossil-fuel-free welfare state,” Climate Minister Isabella Lovin told The Independent.
China Will Outlaw Its Ivory Trade by the End of 2017 Kenya Is Getting Electric Power to Its Citizens at a Elephants are in bad shape. There are only about 415,000 of them Breathtaking Rate left in the wild, and that number is dropping lower all the time
It took over thirty years for the United States to connect all its ru-
because of things like deforestation and poachers. But one of the
ral farms to electric power — a huge achievement that took tons of
biggest threats to elephants has been the ivory trade. Ivory is big
hard work and resulted in a nearly uncountable amount of extra
business in China, where nearly 70 percent of all ivory ends up.
productivity. Kenya is trying to do the same thing today and here’s
Or, it did. China will begin slowly phasing out its
Health Science Funding Got a 2 Billion Dollar Increase
ivory trade throughout the year before banning it com-
In one year, Kenya managed to add 1.3 million households
pletely at the end of 2017. The people of China are big
to its electric grid, meaning 55 percent of all Kenyans now have
fans of this switch. In 2012, less than half of the Chinese
electric power. That’s a 28 percent jump from just a few years
population opposed the ivory trade. Today, that num-
ago in 2013, leading to big developments in education and agri-
ber has climbed to over 71 percent, according to wildlife
culture for Kenyan citizens.
It’s no secret that we’re living in a rough time for science,
group Save the Elephants. So that’s good news for China,
with budget woes slashing funding left and right. That’s
bad news for poachers, and great news for the elephants.
why it was such a pleasant surprise for the United States’
what’s amazing: they’re on track to do it in just seven years.
Malawi’s AIDS Rate Is Dropping at a Record Rate The AIDS crisis has lost a bit of its initial urgency, but it still
budget for the National Institute of Health to get a giant,
The World’s First Malaria Vaccine Is Currently Being Tested
two billion dollar bump in 2017.
Malaria infects about 200 million people every year, and kills
in Africa. Malawi, in particular, faces an uphill climb when
NIH’s budget was largely expected to see big cuts, giv-
almost half a million — most of them African children. It re-
it comes to combatting the AIDS epidemic, with at least one
en the recent push to rein in government spending. But
mains one of the biggest global challenges for healthcare pro-
person in every ten carrying HIV. But it’s not all bad news,
lawmakers worked together and managed instead to give
viders, but they’re on the verge of a breakthrough.
particularly in Malawi. In fact, the country is finding in-
NIH a six percent increase, which means it’ll have a total budget of $34 billion.
The world’s first malaria vaccine is being tested in Ghana, Kenya and Malawi — largely because those coun-
remains a deadly problem all over the world, most seriously
novative ways to fight back against AIDS, and the results speak for themselves.
That means way more money will go toward finding
tries have experienced significant upticks in their ma-
The country focused heavily on education, empowering
cures for diseases like Alzheimer’s and cancer, and fund-
laria rates, despite plentiful access to nets and other
people to be aware of the impact of the decisions they make.
ing hospitals that work in underprivileged communities.
methods used to keep malaria-spreading mosquitos at
The country also focused on increasing access to life-saving
Buzzfeed News quotes George Washington University sci-
bay. Hundreds of millions of dollars have been spent
HIV/AIDS medicine. According to experts, Malawi’s treat-
ence policy expert Al Teich, who says “Biomedical research
on the vaccines, and early clinical are promising. If ef-
ment program has saved some 260,000 lives in the last ten
is definitely a favorite cause in Congress. It has a history of
fective, these vaccines could save hundreds of thou-
years and reduced the number of children acquiring HIV by
bipartisan support. No one wants to vote against such caus-
sands of lives and help fulfill the World Health Organi-
an astonishing 67 percent. That’s the most significant pro-
es as research on cancer, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.”
zation’s goal of ridding the world of malaria by 2040.
gress made by a Sub-Saharan African country.
HOW TO BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION TO THE GLOBAL REFUGEE CRISIS GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Follow @refugees on Twitter and UNHCR on Facebook, and share some of the inspiring stories they’ve posted. Help break down the stigma associated with refugees.
Donate to one of the incredible organizations supporting families fleeing war and conflict around the world. We have a list to help you get started at goodnewspaper.org/1
Volunteer with a local refugee organization to support refugee families in your community. Find great organizations to support at goodnewspaper.org/1
5
DEVIN ALLEN
Photo by Fj Hughes
DON’T CALL DEVIN ALLEN AN ACTIVIST
In 2015, Devin Allen made history by being one of the few amateur photographers to make the cover of TIME Magazine. Now, he’s trying to change the future for others.
6
DEVIN ALLEN
affecting, and it gets at the sort of
city is the heroine capital of the
things Allen wants to convey with
United States. My city’s not that
his work.
big, but there’s 300 murders a
“When it first started every-
year. A lot of schools get shut
one was calling me an activist or
down and they jam two or three
a journalist,” Allen says. “It feels
schools into one school. There’s
good to have people believe in
a lot of charter schools. There’s
you! Activist is a big name and at
been funding cut. Growing up
first I was like, ‘Am I an activist?’
here is tough.”
I don’t know. I consider myself a
And that’s something Allen
dialogue creator. I’m good at cre-
feels got ignored in the media nar-
ating conversations. My images
rative surrounding what happened
are meant to create a conversa-
in Baltimore. People weighed in
tion. My job isn’t to take a picture
on what was happening in his city
and tell you what’s going on in the
who didn’t understand his city.
picture. I let you look at the picture
That’s why he started document-
and you come to your own con-
ing the protests — in attempt to
clusion based on the energy that’s
tell the real story before it got co-
transferred from you viewing my
opted by people who didn’t have a
work. My heart goes into my work.
real understanding of it.
I don’t want to say, ‘Look, this guy’s
“It’s rare that we have the platform to tell our own stories without them being filtered.”
When
Time
Magazine
destroying a police car and that’s
reached out to Allen, he thought
evil.’ I want to create awkward mo-
it was too good to be true. They
ments.”
informed him they might even
Photography by Devin Allen
Allen got into photography by
make one of his photos the cover,
necessity. He and a friend hosted
but warned him against getting
If you’ve seen the shot, you remem-
for Palestine. But this hit home with
a regular “poetry night”, and invit-
his hopes up, so he didn’t. He
ber it. If you haven’t, it’s almost im-
a lot of people, because, you know
ed people from their community
didn’t know they’d selected his
possible to fully describe. A black
I’m Freddie Gray. I could have easily
to show up. (It cost guys ten dol-
shot for the cover until he saw it
man in Baltimore, running from
been Freddy Gray. I’ve had my run-
lars to get in. It cost girls five dol-
on social media.
what looks like an army of police
ins with the police. So just watch-
lars.) The events were a success,
“I remember getting on Twit-
officers. They’re after him, row af-
ing it, and watching the youth react,
and Allen wanted to document
ter and seeing all these notifica-
ter row of them, decked out in riot
they inspired me to come out every
them, so he started taking pic-
tions,” he recounts. “And I scrolled
gear. Their masks give them an
day and take pictures.”
tures with an old camera. He took
to the bottom and it said ‘Amateur
inhuman, almost robotic appear-
The Time cover got all the at-
to it and, eventually, scrounged
photographer lands the cover of
ance — like something from Mad
tention, but the interior of the
together the money to buy a nicer
Time Magazine.’ I just bust out
Max. The black man has a mask
magazine shows even more of Al-
camera and started getting more
crying. I called my mother and she
too, a bandana cinched around his
len’s unique eye. There’s a natural-
ambitious with his art.
just dropped the phone. My whole
face. He’s got a white ball cap, and
ism to the shots. If all you know
Allen speaks in measured
family was crying. I’m the first
a pair of slim trousers. His gait ap-
about the Baltimore protests is
tones, pushing the conversation to
black photographer to do some of
pears urgent but not strained. Not
what you saw on television, with
deeper, more interesting realms.
the things I’ve done.”
the run of retreat, but of regroup
overturned police cars and broken
He did not personally know Fred-
Allen’s deeply interested in the
— putting a little distance between
storefront windows, you’d hardly
die Gray, but they shared mutual
authenticity of his work and has
him and the police. The image is in
know these pictures were taken in
friends. He’s a spiritual person, he
to resist the temptation to edit the
black and white, and so is the gen-
the same environment. Protestors
says, and talks a lot about how his
perspective for the sake of pushing
eral sense of the shot. A black man
are captured in all the broad spec-
artwork creates energy between it
a certain narrative.
and whiteness. The shot was taken
trum of humanity. There’s a wom-
and the viewer. He rarely says the
“There are instances where I
in 2015, during the Baltimore pro-
an weeping silently, her mascara
word “Baltimore” instead prefer-
can become selfish and only think
tests spurred by the killing of the
streaming down her face. A young
ring to call it “my city.”
about my community while tak-
unarmed and innocent Freddie
man holds a baby, his look one of
“My city is different,” he ex-
ing these pictures,” he says. “That
Gray by police officers who were
muted exasperation. A man and a
plains. “It’s a very real and au-
was the most difficult thing for
subsequently acquitted of any
woman stare into the camera with
thentic city. There are two dif-
me. How can I tell this story in its
wrongdoing. The shot was taken
calm defiance while young chil-
ferent sides to my city. Everyone
raw form and not try to hide cer-
by Devin Allen.
dren around them raise their fists
knows all the pretty sights on the
tain things, even if it’s negative?
“It felt like I was in a movie,”
towards the sky, grinning. Perched
water but there’s a totally differ-
Or even if there are certain things
Allen says. “This wasn’t the first
on the man’s shoulders is a child
ent side to my city that people
that are positive but I don’t neces-
time I’d [photographed] a protest; I
— scarcely old enough to walk —
don’t know anything about. A
sarily agree with. I had to clear my
marched for Mike Brown, I marched
flashing a peace sign. It’s all deeply
lot of people don’t know that my
mind and just be a vessel for the
7
DEVIN ALLEN
movement. It was a struggle. It took a toll on me, the things I had to show. I didn’t want to show my people, my generation, my little brothers, stomping police cars. I don’t want to show that. But I had to. Because that’s the story. That’s what happened.” Too often, Allen says, the real story gets hijacked by people or
Photography by Devin Allen
companies with agendas, or else,
“My biggest accomplishment has been putting cameras into the community.
a lack of firsthand knowledge. “It’s very difficult because, at the end of the day, my people — since we’ve been here — our stories have always been told by other people. It’s rare that we have the
People donate cameras to me, and I just hand them out to kids.”
platform to tell our own stories without them being filtered.” Allen’s fastidious about following this rule, and he’s strict
to stay in Baltimore and focus on
Shutter speed. ISO. Aperture.
the community he grew up in. He
You break it down to the sim-
talks about how his work with
plest form that you can, and then
kids in his area needs to go be-
I had some document their own
yond simple involvement, but to
life. A family. School. If you hate
real investment. “I want my stuff
the school lunch and it’s nasty,
to be grassroot, raw essence,” he
take pictures of it.”
says. “It’s not about just work-
School lunch is one thing, but
ing with them, but transferring
many of the kids in Allen’s pro-
my energy to them. Making mo-
grams also come from neighbor-
ments. They will remember you
hoods suffering from drugs and
for the rest of your life.”
gang violence. These challenges
about the kinds of stories he
from the likes of Samsung and
young as six-years-old, only to
wants to tell. He only shoots
Def Jam co-founder Russell Sim-
come upon them in the streets
There are a lot of challenges
loom large, but Allen is uniquely
things with which he feels kin-
mons, Allen has been staging art
months later, snapping photos
when it comes to starting a pro-
equipped to help his students
ship, no matter how much he
shows with pieces created by
of the world around them. Is
gram, and Allen’s up front about
navigate them. After all, he grew
might care about the issue at
Baltimore area kids.
it changing lives? Only time
how difficult it’s been. Beyond
up in the same environment.
will tell, but Allen knows this
the simple logistical challenges
much: it’s changed his.
of funding, there are the emo-
hand.
“My
biggest
accomplish-
“At the end of the day, I’d nev-
ment has been putting cameras
er just walk into Chicago and just
into the community. I ran out of
“My heart is really in this. I’m
tional challenges. Baltimore
start documenting, even though
funding a long time ago, because I
very strong and adamant about
kids face a lot of difficult issues,
I know the struggle and I’m a
don’t know anything about fund-
you have to love what you do. Don’t
and Allen has had to learn how
black man,” he says. “But this
ing a program. But I have a lot of
just do it because you think it’s the
to help his students overcome
story I knew I could tell. I’m not
support from my Instagram and
right thing to do. You do it because
their obstacles.
a photojournalist. My heart will
Twitter followers. People donate
you know your heart is in it.”
always conflict with my work.
cameras to me, and I just hand
The pictures come out better if I
them out to kids.”
“I work with some tough
“I’m
just
there
to
give them love.”
WHERE TO FIND DEVIN ONLINE
Follow Devin on Instagram and Twitter at @bydvnlln. Find his new book ‘A Beautiful Ghetto’ wherever books are sold.
Allen takes all this seriously.
kids. I work with some easy
His huge success in photography
kids. I work with some smart
LISTEN TO DEVIN’S PODCAST
This has earned him the
has provided opportunities to
kids. I work with kids that don’t
INTERVIEW ON SOUNDS GOOD
His love for his city is taking
nickname “the Cameraman”
travel as a journalist, even get-
have the same tools as the rest
Listen to Devin’s conversation with
on real, tangible work too. Allen
in his community, and Allen
ting the opportunity to travel to
of them. I work with some kids
Branden Harvey on Sounds Good
started a GoFundMe to provide
speaks of his work with obvi-
Asia with NBA MVP Steph Cur-
through a middle school. I work
cameras for the youth in his com-
ous pride. He tells stories of
ry on assignment with Under Ar-
with some kids through a rec
munity. Utilizing hefty donations
handing out cameras to kids as
mour, but he’s eschewed all that
center. I teach them the basics.
love, and I love my city.”
at soundsgoodpodcast.com/devin. Photo on right by Devin Allen
HOW TO GIVE BACK TO YOUTH IN YOUR COMMUNITY GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Donate money or resources to local youth clubs or groups that you’re passionate about. Find them by calling local schools or community organizations.
Kids need consistency in their lives. Volunteer to mentor youth on a regular basis with Big Brothers Big Sisters or start needed support groups like AA or NA.
Help America’s most vulnerable children by speaking up for their best interests in court as a Court Appointed Special Advocate or CASA at casaforchildren.org.
#GOODNEWSPAPER
@GOODGOODGOODCO
11
PRISON REFORM
The Innocence Project: The Freedom Fighters exonerate innocent people and get them back to their homes and families. Since then, they’ve helped secure the release of 343 innocent people, 20 of whom were on death row. They’ve also helped bring the right people to justice, using their expertise to land more than 147 real perps behind bars. Incorrect eyewitness testimony isn’t the only reason innocent people wind up in jail. According to the Innocence Project, about half the cases they’ve gotten involved in also involve bad forensic science and outdated methods of proving someone’s guilt. Even more concerning, the group says about a quarter of cases they’ve studied involve innocent people who actually plead guilty because they were coerced into it. To help those people and others, the Innocence Project launched what’s called the Innocence Network, a collective of law schools, journalism schools and public defenders that team up to help get wrongfully convicted felons out of jail. They’re working in 26 states and even overseas, in countries like Photo courtesy of
The Innocence Project
In 1992, two lawyers named Peter Neufeld
details, and end up convicting the wrong per-
Australia, Ireland, New Zealand and the UK.
and Barry Scheck were wrestling with a grow-
son. One study found that over 70% wrongful
But the group isn’t interested in only temporary
ing problem in the American justice system:
convictions in the US can be at least partly
solutions, but also real, systemic change. They have a
the number of people who were convicted on
blamed on incorrect eyewitness testimony.
whole policy team that works with everyone from local
false eyewitness testimony. Too often, in the
Scheck and Neufeld’s solution was to found
leaders to Congress, helping pass laws that make it
heat and panic of the moment, people who
the Innocence Project, a nonprofit legal group
harder to convict the wrong person and easier to get
witness crimes incorrectly remember certain
that uses sound science like DNA testing to help
innocent people out of jail.
Bryan Stevenson: Mercy, He Wrote Bryan Stevenson was in the second grade in 1955, when
people who were convicted for crimes they committed be-
the school in his small, rural town in Delaware was deseg-
fore they turned 18, and worked hard to convince the coun-
regated. But even though he was now technically allowed
try that it was immoral and unconstitutional to pursue life
to go the the same school as the white kids he grew up
sentences without parole for minors who were convicted of
around, he still had to play separately from them and use a
crimes. As he wrote in his book Just Mercy, “Each of us is
different entrance. He couldn’t even go to the same public
more than the worst thing we’ve ever done.” Stevenson be-
pool as the white kids.
lieves that we as a people have a duty to offer mercy to eve-
Growing up like this left a deep mark on Stevenson, one he carried with him to Harvard Law School, where he re-
Stevenson’s hard work was rewarded in 2012, when
wanted to bring justice to the people who needed it most
the Supreme Court ruled that life sentences without
and in Stevenson’s experience, the people who needed it
parole for people 17 years old and under were unconsti-
most were on death row.
tutional, a landmark decision that affected 29 different
profit organization that seeks fair sentences for minorities,
bit.ly/2sfLVnH
all, is what mercy is all about.
ceived a full ride scholarship and found his life calling. He
In 1995, he founded the Equal Justice Initiative, a non-
Photo by James Duncan Davidson - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0,
ryone, especially those who may not deserve it. That, after
states. As of August of 2016, the Equal Justice Initiative had rescued 125 men from the death penalty.
the poor and, especially, children who find themselves in the justice system. Stevenson was deeply concerned about
HOW TO BE A PART OF SUPPORTING PRISON REFORM GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Donate to one of the many incredible organizations doing great work in the world of criminal justice reform. Check out our list at goodnewspaper.org/1
Attend an execution vigil. Hear the stories of those who are a part of this cycle, and be in prayer and good thought for all who are involved.
Connect with an organization like Human Writes and become a penpal to someone who is currently on death row.
12
G I R L P OW E R
Clever Girls: Education’s gender gap is shrinking faster than you think. When it comes to gender equality, we’ve all got a long way to go. From healthcare to income, the situation around the world is dire,
Girls in East Asia today can expect to receive about 14 years of education. In 1990, they could only expect to receive about 6.
1990 2017
Girls in Northern Africa can expect to receive about 13 years of education today. In 1990, they received only about 8 years on average.
A single year of primary school has been
1990
shown to increase women’s wages later
2017
in life by 10 percent to 20 percent. The returns to female secondary education are between 15 percent and 25 percent.
Girls in Sub-Saharan Africa could only expect to receive about 5 years of education in 1990. Today, it’s closer to 9 years.
A child born to a mother who can read
1990
the age of 5 than a child born to an illit-
their male peers. That’s unacceptable and untenable but there is some great news, if you know where to look. Women
are
making
incredible
is 50 percent more likely to survive past erate woman.
2017
with women in every country consistently being given opportunities at rates well below
What happens when the gender gap on education closes?
Every 1% increase in women with a secGirls in Latin America are actually outpacing boys when it comes to primary education. Girls are getting 15 years of education in those countries, compared to an average of 14 for boys.
ondary education boosts a nation’s per capita income growth by 0.3%. Women who complete primary education
BOYS
are half as likely to contract HIV/AIDS.
gains in one of the most important and foundational
areas
of
all:
education.
All this matters because education literally saves
GIRLS
lives! Studies show that if all women had at least a primary education, there would be 15 percent fewer child deaths. If all women had a secondary education, the global rate of child deaths would be cut in half. Studies show that girls with an education are also less likely to be sexually assaulted and more likely to have access to lifesaving healthcare. So pursuing education equality
In the United States, women are outpacing
for women is a real matter of life and death and
men in one education
fortunately for all of us, life is winning.
area: college. 30.2% of
Around the world, women still lag behind
women in the US have a
men when it comes to education opportunities,
bachelor’s degree, com-
particularly when it comes to secondary educa-
pared to 29.9% of men.
tion. But in primary school, there is good news.
That’s a big jump up from
In poor countries, there are just as many girls enrolling in school as there are boys — a huge step up from just 15 years ago, when there were
30%
15%
2005, when 28.5% of men had their BA, compared to just 26% of women.
only about 91 girls for every 100 boys, accord-
0% 2005
2017
ing to the Guardian.
Credit: tellmaps.com
HOW TO ADVOCATE FOR WOMEN’S EDUCATION AROUND THE WORLD GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Visit malala.org to learn more about how when girls are educated, everyone benefits. Share your favorite statistic or story from the site on social media with #YesAllGirls.
Donate to More Than Me, Camfed Camfed, or 60 Million Girls. Or buy from Sseko or i smell great great, who donate their proceeds to support girls’ education. Visit goodnewspaper.org/1
Volunteer one hour a week to tutor a low-income or at-risk girl in your community through organizations like Girls Who Code, Girls Inc., or Big Brothers Big Sisters.
13
SOUTHERN UPRISING
MONUMENTAL VICTORY How New Orleans is taking an ugly chapter of its history head on In 2017, New Orleans mayor Mitch Landrieu began to rid his city of several Confederate Army monuments. It was the culmination of a two-year legal battle that ultimately came down to a City Council vote. Not everybody’s happy with the move, as a lot of New Orleans residents consider the Confederate Army to be a treasured part of New Orleans’ history, but Landrieu says that there are better ways to remember the legacy of the Civil War in Louisiana than monuments which ultimately commemorate an army that was fighting to keep America’s black peo-
Photo Illustration by Judson Collier Monument Image: Infrogmation of New Orleans, Flickr, CC BY 2.0: bit.ly/2sMZmw7
ple enslaved. Sure, a lot of modern day apologists for the Confederacy will argue that the Civil War was waged over
War had ended and Louisiana had been brought back into nation, do not condone their actions or take pride in them.
states’ rights, but that’s only half true. There’s no question
the United States, New Orleans and various other cities in
that slavery was considered a vital part of the Confeder-
the American South began erecting monuments to Con- drieu said, “History, unfortunately, has seen great nations
acy and if the North had lost the war, slavery would have
federate soldiers in an attempt to whitewash US history, become lost, isolated and ultimately extinct by refusing
lasted a lot longer than it did.
recasting the Confederate Army as noble rebels instead of to confront the sins of the past and evolve to meet the de-
Before the Civil War, New Orleans was the coun-
deeply misguided racists.
In an op-ed published in the Washington Post, Lan-
mands of a changing world. If we don’t want to be forever
try’s largest slave market, with a port that saw hundreds
But the past few years have dredged some of the United held back by our crushing history of institutional rac-
of thousands of black people brought over from other
States’ ugliest chapters into the spotlight and, along with ism, it’s time to relegate these monuments to their proper
countries, only to be torn from their families, sold up the
that, a renewed energy in the need to atone for our past place.”
Mississippi River and condemned to a life of inescap-
atrocities. Removing the statues of men like Robert E. Lee
able hardship. When the Civil War began and President
and Jefferson Davis from the public square doesn’t erase Orleans’ residents who are supporting the mission, those
Abraham Lincoln’s mission to preserve the Union began
what happens, but it does take that chapter of American monuments are being relegated to their proper place, and
in earnest, New Orleans fell to the Northern armies fairly
history off of a pedestal and acknowledge to today’s de- the people of New Orleans can start focusing on the dif-
quickly. Nevertheless, nearly fifty years after the Civil
scendants of the people they fought to enslave that we, as a ficult work of racial equality.
Thanks to the work of people like Landrieu and New
HOW TO BE A PART OF THE FIGHT FOR RACIAL EQUALITY GO OD
BET TER
BEST
We all have unconcious biases and the only way to combat them is to be aware of them. Take the opportunity to assess your biases with a Harvard test at goodgoodgood.co/bias
Find and support locally owned black-owned businesses by downloading the Black Trade Circle app. Doing this encourages racial equality in the for-profit sector.
Learn from and follow the leadership of organizations focused on education and reconciliation like SURJ, SURJ Campaign Zero, and the NAACP.
14
GAME CHANGERS
The US Crime Rate Is Near an All-Time Low
It’s a little tough to measure crime. After all, there are a lot crimes out there and they don’t tend to all move the same direction. Sometimes money laundering will go up while burglaries will go down. Identity theft can increase while the murder rate declines. It’s complicated. But the good news is that, overall, crime is going down in the United States right now — and it has been for a while. Between 1993 and 2015, violent crime was cut by half in the United States, according to the FBI. If you look at a study from the Bureau of Justice Statistics, the number is even sharper — dropping by a full 77 percent. The good news doesn’t stop there. The FBI says that property crime — like burglary and theft — has fallen by a crazy 48 percent since 2015, while the BJS estimates it’s fallen by 69 percent. No matter which stats you use, that’s a real encouraging trend, and nobody’s entirely sure why it’s happening. Also, nobody’s entirely sure why the public perception seems to be the opposite. Gallup polls consistently show that Americans believe crime is getting worse, even though the actual statistics say the exact opposite. That’s unfortunate because, there’s more than enough real bad news in the world. When it comes to the overall crime rate in the US, the news is actually pretty good!
A&M and then — after being crowned homecoming queen — got a full ride scholarship to the University of Alabama, where she got her masters and PhD, making her one of fewer than 100 black female physicists in the country. She’s putting her genius to good use, figuring out a way to use lasers to remove cancer cells. It’s as cool as it sounds, and it’s been successfully used on animals. Her work is so promising that she secured a $1.1 million grant to continue working on it. Green saw firsthand how difficult cancer treatment can be. Her aunt chose to forgo chemotherapy during her own battle with cancer, deciding she wanted to avoid the common side effects of such treatment. And Green took a few months away from school Photo courtesy of Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green
to help her uncle with his own treatment and assist him during the
Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green: Changing the way America treats cancer
Like many people, Dr. Hadiyah-Nicole Green’s
radiation treatment. The medical technology that she’s working
life has been marred by cancer. Both her aunt
on today wouldn’t carry the sort of side effects patients get from
and uncle, who raised Green after she lost her
chemo and radiation. That’s part of what makes it so exciting.
parents, were diagnosed with the disease while
“I’m really hoping this can change the way we treat cancer in
she was in school. The cancer sadly killed her
America,” Green told AL. “There are so many people who only get
aunt, but by that time, Green had started a jour-
a three-month or six-month survival benefit from the drugs they
ney that might just change the way the world
take. Then three or six months later, they’re sent home with no
treats cancer.
hope, nothing else we can do. Those are the patients I want to try
She got a degree in Physics from Alabama
to save, the ones where regular medicine isn’t effective for them.”
HOW TO SUPPORT PEOPLE BATTLING CANCER GO OD
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Call that person in your life who has cancer but you didn’t know what to say. Honestly, better late than never. (Listen to our podcast about this at soundsgoodpodcast.com/emily)
Donate to the American Cancer Society. This organization sets the bar for integrity and impact in the field of cancer support and research. Visit goodnewspaper.org/1
Become one of the hundreds of thousands of people that volunteer at a local Ronald McDonald House, which supports families in the midst of medical battles.
15
GAME CHANGERS in the world is 795 million. That’s a
can indeed eliminate the scourge of
big number, but it’s 216 million fewer
hunger in our lifetime,” FAO Direc-
than there were 12 years ago. The
tor General José Graziano da Silva
number is even more impressive
said in a statement. “We must be
when you consider the fact that the
the Zero Hunger generation. That
global population has increased by
goal should be mainstreamed into all
1.9 billion since 1990, while the num-
policy interventions and at the heart
ber of hungry people continues to
of the new sustainable development
shrink. That’s an encouraging trend.
agenda to be established this year.”
“The near-achievement of the Millennium
Development
East Asia, Latin America, south-
Goal
east and central Asia, and various
hunger targets shows us that we
parts of Africa showed the biggest declines in hunger. Sub-Saharan Africa
World Hunger: A Winnable War In 1996, a World Food Sum-
ber of hungry people in the world
According to the Food and Agri-
mit was held with 129 differ-
was judged to be over 1 billion, so it
culture Organization of the United
ent countries from all over the
was a huge undertaking, made even
Nations, a majority of the countries
world, in which they all pledged
more difficult by unforeseen and
that made the pledge actually achieved
that they would attempt to halve
unprecedented political unrest and
their goal. 72 of the countries success-
the number of malnourished
climate change that has affected
fully cut the prevalence of malnour-
citizens within their borders
how easily people can get food. And
ishment by half. Today, the approxi-
by 2015. At the time, the num-
yet, there’s good news.
mate number of malnourished people
“The global population has increased by 1.9 billion since 1990, while the number of hungry people continues to shrink.”
has seen the least amount of positive growth in nutrition — nearly one in every four people living in that part of the world is undernourished — but the good news is that African countries that invested the most in agricultural infrastructure saw the biggest gains. The next goal on the horizon is completely eradicating hunger. That’s a big goal, but the past ten years have proved that it’s a long way from impossible.
Terrorism In 2015 Dropped for the First Time Since 2012. 2015 saw a drop in terrorist attacks from the previ-
of anti-terrorism security measures worldwide, or
ous year, and also a drop in the number of lives taken
just some good luck. It might even be the aftereffect
by terrorist actions. It’s the first time terrorism has
of people banding together in the face of terrorism
gone down since 2012, so this represents a major
from Orlando to Oslo, showing a united front in
positive step forward. There were about 15,000 ter-
the face of radical extremists. Most likely, it’s some
rorist attacks in 2015, which is around 2,000 fewer
combination of all those factors, and many more.
than there were in 2014. 43,000 people were killed by
Whatever the reason, it makes it more impor-
terrorist actions in 2014, compared to 38,000 in 2015.
tant than ever for people who are talking about
Terrorism in the West was actually slightly
terrorism to be smart and avoid fear-mongering.
up in 2015, but since the vast majority of terrorist
Analysis of terrorism data in 2016 was not avail-
attacks take place in the Middle East and North
able as of publication, but regardless of what it un-
Africa, which saw the steepest decline, the global
covers, the most recent data reveals an important
number is still down.
truth: Terrorism is not getting worse and worse all
Why did terrorism take a dive? No one’s quite
the time. Sometimes, it actually slows or even re-
sure. It could be that we’re finally seeing some posi-
verses course. We’ve all got a part to play in helping
tive results from years of diplomacy, the product
it stay that way.
HOW TO FIGHT HUNGER AT HOME AND AROUND THE WORLD GO OD
BET TER
BEST
Most food banks can buy more food with $5 than you can with $5. Consider supporting your local foodbank financially. Find yours at goodnewspaper.org/1
Support the impactful work being done by celebrities Jerome Jarre, Colin Kaepernick, and Ben Stiller to combat the famine in Somalia. Donate at goodnewspaper.org/1
Make a bigger difference in the fight to end hunger than just packing pantry bags or volunteering at a soup kitchen. Learn more at hungervolunteer.org.
16
GO OD QU E ST ION S
Finding good news isn’t always easy and finding ways
ics that matter to you. You can submit a question at
to inform yourself about good things happening in the
goodnewspaper.org/goodquestions
world is even harder. That’s what Good Questions is
@goodgoodgoodco. Our team and the Good Good Good
for: to help you learn more good stuff about the top-
community will answer as many as possible.
or
tweet
It feels like every single company has some shady stuff going on and I want to learn more about how to be a more ethical shopper. Do you have any ideas on where to start in the world of fashion? – April W.
I’m really curious about art, particularly how art can be used to help people. Is there any good news on that front? – Hannah R.
GOOD WATCH
GOOD WATCH
True Cost — Andrew Morgan’s well-recieved documentary about the fast fashion bub-
Art Therapy: The Movie — This Kickstarted docu-
ble and the huge toll it’s taken on workers all over the globe is a must-watch, no
mentary takes a look at how art is being used all over
matter how interested in sustainable fashion you are. It’s available on Netflix and iTunes.
the world to help people live better lives.
GOOD DOWNLOAD
GOOD READ
Done Good — “Done Good” sounds like something we’d come up with, but it’s actually an app
The Soul’s Palette by Cathy Malchiodi — Written in the
that filters shopping options for you. It even has a handy Chrome plugin. The app allows you to
aftermath of September 11, Malchiodi is an art therapist
prioritize brands that empower workers, are eco-friendly, are cruelty free, are locally sourced,
who explains how art helped her come to terms with the
etc. It’s a great way to become more aware of which brands are ethical and which brands aren’t.
tragedy, and how it can help the rest of us too.
GOOD BUY
GOOD FOLLOW
You don’t have to compromise style when you buy ethically. Here are a few of our favorite
Follow @jeremycowart, @wendymac, @fireandjoy,
ethical brands to get you started: @Everlane, @KrochetKids, @Patagonia, @NudieJeans,
and @thebradmontague to see the incredible ways
@TheGivingKeys, @PactOrganic, @AlternativeApparel, and @NisoloShoes.
they use art to connect, inspire, and empower others.
Hey guys! Any good recommendations for learning more about the environment? I’m particularly interested in climate change and what I can do to play my role in helping the earth. – Shamir R. GOOD ACTION
GOOD READ
GOOD LISTEN
Take one day off from eating meat each week. It’s
Six Degrees by Mark Lynas — Mark Lynas is a
Costing the Earth — Tom Heap and Dr. Alice Rob-
estimated that if every American reduced meat
journalist and climate activist and his book Six
erts host this long-running BBC podcast that takes
consumption by 20%, the greenhouse gas savings
Degrees is a well-researched look at our shared
a look at just what our technological advances
would be the same as if we all switched from a normal
world’s future, with both reasons to be optimistic,
are doing to the world around us, both for worse
sedan to a hybrid.
and reasons to take action.
and for better.
I personally admire people with a great deal of empathy and I’m looking to develop more empathy for others. Any recommendations on how I can cultivate that? – Shawn M. GOOD WATCH
GOOD READ
GOOD LISTEN
Life In a Day — YouTube’s experimental documentary
Americanah — Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s
This American Life — This remains the premiere pod-
gathered footage from all over the world that was cap-
award-winning novel about a Nigerian immi-
cast for telling humanizing stories from people all over
tured on one day: July 24, 2010. It’s an amazing way
grant is a great way to experience the United
the world to help you better understand what life is like
to step outside of your shoes and look at how different
States through the eyes of an outsider trying to
for people outside your own circle. There’s a reason it’s
people experience the exact same 24 hours.
understand its many unique oddities.
one of the top shows on Apple Podcasts.
us
17
GOOD CLASSIFIEDS
GOOD CLASSIFIEDS
This is the Goodnewspaper’s classified section, where
per, but instead of listing jobs, we’re listing signs of
we’ll post quotes, good thoughts, big ups, high fives,
hope. And of course we needed a comic and a cross-
congratulations, and anything else you, our readers,
word puzzle too!
would care to have printed here. Think of this like any normal classified ads you’d see in any other newspa-
Want to run a classified here? Find out how at goodnewspaper.org/classifieds
www.HBLiTZSTEiN.com
#HOPEISWINNING find out how @SoleHope
~Art that makes people happy!~
We are a podcast and collective on a mission to shed light on the
L.A.’s single-artist gallery
creatives out there dreaming and
since 1993. Harry Blitzstein’s
doing and showing up authentically.
art IS good news, a boost of
Congrats to Against the Grain Podcast on
joy every time you look! Come
Check us out at www.authenticity.com
see us! Blitzstein Museum of
to learn more.
Art in Los Angeles or www.HBLiTZSTEiN.com
the their debut. For the love of fun and film photography give it a listen. www.graincast.tv @graincasttv LET’S START A MOVEMENT OF
Max and BonnieKate here from
KINDNESS. Our award-winning
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If you’re reading this, that means
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you’ll also love our stories of
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GOOD CROSSWORD
Find the answers to the crossword at goodnewspaper.org/crossword
3 4
AC ROSS
DOWN
3 - Voluntary giving of help to those in need
1 - Notice taken of someone or something
4 - This is a great way to contact your local representatives
2 - Scandinavian country to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 2045
6 - According to Emily Dickinson, this is the thing with feathers
5 - The Nobel Peace Prize is an _____ for people who have made outstanding contributions in peace
9 - 1,439 brought the Goodnewspaper to life on _____.
7 - When he was a boy, his mother would say ‘Look for the helpers.’
10 - _____ is caring.
8 - Data shows we’re seeing a _____ toward less violence in the world
14 - The ability to understand and share the feelings of another 16 - Bringing people together for a common purpose, typically via the internet 18 - Another word for close 20 - Intentionally making our future the cause of the present
8
9
10
11
12
13
14 15 16 17
19
12 - First-place metal
18
20 21
13 - A response to the suffering of others that motivates a desire to help them 15 - The exchange of ideas 17 - Goodnewspaper: $13, Good News Tote: $15, Good News: _____
23 - Worthy of praise
19 - Efforts to achieve or complete something difficult
27 - The role of the courts is to dispense justice fairly to everyone.
6
11 - The process of converting waste materials into new materials and objects
22 - Sesame Street is the longest running television program for _____. 26 - Selfless concern for others
7
5
23
22
25 27
26 28
21 - Look for the _____. 24 - 2009 Pixar hit
29 - Random acts of _____
25 - Caring is _____.
30 - One rotation of the earth on its axis
28 - Compassion shown toward someone whom it is within one’s power to punish or harm
29
30
24
18
GOOD CLASSIFIEDS
GOOD COMIC
Hi! I’m Kailey Thompson, and I want to share my favorite quote with you: “They tried to bury us. They didn’t know we were seeds.”
Websites should be happy, just like this newspaper. We help small businesses and nonprofits stand out and grow through clean, modern, optimized websites. Easy to edit. Friendly service. Award-winning team. Check out pixelpressweb.com
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Ever wish you could “Participate in Dreaded Conversations with Ease”? Check out Peace is Sexy’s step-by-step workbook to help you do just that! www.peaceissexy.net/dreaded-conversation
In memory of my best friend, Chelica Lai K. A beautiful, wonderful, & amazing human who had so much love in her
The dark streets of Santa Cruz, Bolivia are home to over Freelancing can be a good way to own your
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soul. I miss you with every day that passes and my love for you never fades. I hope wherever you are-you have found peace.Xo<3
future. anchorofhopebolivia.com
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