The major Holi festival of India was celebrated last week -- a riot of color and and gaiety marking the coming of Spring, the season of hope and joy. Family and strangers rush with excitement down every street corner pouring colored powders on passers by.
A police inspector who banned his officers from hanging around their station during shifts was hailed as a 'bit of a hero' who proved it was possible 'to do more with less' in the face of budget cuts. The tough approach has led to a 67 percent percent reduction in crime between June and December 2011 compared to the same period in 2010.
A shy and reclusive heiress who lived alone for 20 years in a rambling mansion left the bulk of an estate worth $40 million to the Vancouver Foundation. One of the largest charitable bequests in British Columbia history, it will add $700,000 per year to the hundreds of thousands of dollars the community foundation already spends on BC projects focused on youth, the homeless, the elderly and the environment.
The American Federation of Teachers, vilified by critics as an obstacle to school reform, is leading an unusual effort to turn around a floundering school system in a place where deprivation is layered on heartache. The AFT wants to improve education deep in the heart of Appalachia by simultaneously tackling the social and economic troubles of McDowell County.
"42" is an inspirational and ultimately uplifting drama about perseverance in the face of turbulent opposition. And the greatest credit to writer-director Brian Helgeland is that none of this is shown through grand melodramatic movie monologues, but through simple restraint on the screen.
After serving a 14-year sentence for murder, no one would have expected Sarah Jane Coffman to go anywhere near the Hiland Mountain Correctional Center once she was released. But every Saturday she makes the 10-mile drive with a viola in tow for orchestra practice at the prison just north of Anchorage. Coffman is a founding member of the women's string orchestra at the prison, playing since 2003.
It's capitalism with a conscience. Nordstrom recently opened a test store where all profits go to charity. Starbucks has three coffee shops where a big chunk of the money made helps the needy. In the past few years, dozens of America's biggest brands have embraced social generosity.
Rhode Island's governor is expected to sign into law the first Homeless Bill of Rights in the United States as early as next week, formally banning discrimination against homeless people and affirming their equal access to jobs, housing and services, and public places.
Anthropologists once examined a society that utilized a special technique for the treatment of those members who chose to break rules or violate customs, which were predominantly children.
Elkhart, Indiana was hit pretty hard by the recession of 2008. But now, things will run a lot smoother, after Hollywood producer David Gundlach bequeathed his entire personal fortune to the Elkhart community foundation, which supports the county. Museums, parks and senior care facilities will all benefit from the $125 million dollar gift.
At the White House yesterday President Obama honored this year's recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Nation's highest civilian honor. "I have to say, just looking around the room, this is a packed house, which is a testament to how cool this group is," chuckled the President, whose broadest grin came as he bestowed the medal upon the shoulders of Bob Dylan.
All 193 United Nations member states last year adopted a resolution decreeing March 20 to be the first International Day of Happiness. To celebrate, people all around the world are bringing happiness to others and talking about it on social media networks. The decree followed the first ever UN conference on Happiness and Wellbeing in July 2012.
Spring break may mean beaches, bikinis and beer for some, but students participating in Break Away, a national nonprofit group that steers people to community service projects, are delivering meals to AIDS patients, teaching Native American kids and repairing the environment in Utah.
In an unprecedented concession, Colombian rebels have pledged to end their practice of kidnapping for ransom and release the hostages they hold, hoping to re-open the doors to dialogue as the civil conflict enters its 48th year.
Recent Stories
A Heartfelt Reminder to Appreciate the Ones We Love
Cherish the Woman Who Stands by You
Breaking Generational Cycles of Pain
Living by Your Own Values, Not Others' Approval
When Life Brings Rain, It’s Okay to Rest
Before You Judge Someone's Life, Take a Moment to Walk in Their Shoes.
A Friend Who Spreads Gossip is Not a True Friend at All
The Value of Human Connection Over Digital Convenience
The Quiet Kind of Love
One Day, Your Mom Won’t Call You Anymore
I’ve reached a point in my life...
Happiness is a mindset, a conscious choice we make every day