You Said It: During Disability Pride Month, Communities Should Focus On Improving Accessibility For People With Developmental Disabilities

Each July, we celebrate Disability Pride Month, commemorating the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) on July 26, 1990. The ADA has become the cornerstone legislation that prohibits discrimination against people with disabilities in employment, public housing, transportation, and other areas. It has been a crucial tool for holding ourselves accountable and creating […]

by Erin Ryan, CEO, Shore Community Services

The Honeycomb Project: Creating Change — and Reaping Lifelong Benefits — Through Youth Civil Service

Nearly every Saturday, 11-year-old Brody wakes up early, not to scroll on his phone and watch YouTube videos, but rather to volunteer alongside his parents and siblings. Brody is one of many children in Chicagoland who steps up to address pressing challenges in our communities, such as poverty, food insecurity, and homelessness.  According to Illinois […]

by Kristina Lowenstein

Life Expectancy Linked to Nature Access: Brushwood Center's 'Convergence' Transforms Research into Art

Across the United States, how long you live is determined by where you live. A person’s health is shaped  by their environment, their ability to access nature, and the systems that support communities. In Lake  County, IL, north of Chicago, often recognized for an abundance of nature, including Lake Michigan,  forest preserves, parks, and grassroots-created […]

by Better Staff

Giving Women Their Bodies Back: Many Post-Pregnancy Pelvic Health Problems Can Be Treated in Less Than an Hour — A Top Doctor Explains

Women can experience a variety of uncomfortable pelvic issues following childbirth or as they get older. From occasional or frequent incontinence and painful intercourse to bowel issues and prolapse, these issues cause not only physical discomfort but also self-consciousness and a diminished quality of life. Many women suffer in silence with these issues. For 25 […]

by Claire Zulkey

You Said It: I’m an Economist — Here’s Why DEI in Business, Education and Community Leads to Economic Prosperity

In 2020, President Donald Trump signed an executive order revoking all federal government diversity, education, and inclusion (DEI) training. While several lawsuits followed that order, and President Joe Biden has since reversed the ban on DEI training, federal government agencies, businesses, and nonprofits that contract with the federal government already felt the impact from the […]

by Better

Yale Researchers Analyzed Millions of Emotional Responses to the Pandemic — Here Are Their Surprising Findings About How We Feel

Four years after the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, news cycles continue to serve up potentially traumatic events that remind us resilience is fundamental to successfully navigating crises. At the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, we recently unpacked research conducted during the pandemic to gain a better understanding of how people were feeling. What we […]

by Robin Stern, Zorana Pringle, Marc Brackett, Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

How To Keep Your Child Safe at Summer Camp: 5 Must-Ask Questions

The weather’s warm, school’s out, and everyone’s excited for the fun that comes with long summer days spent outdoors. While you’re getting everything prepared for your child’s sports camp — sunscreen, water bottles, or packing an overnight bag — it’s important to spend some time thinking about athlete safety. The U.S. Center for SafeSport is […]

by Allison Donohue