In moments of crisis, healing often begins with something simple: a warm meal, a quiet space, the sense that someone sees you. For those navigating homelessness, trauma, or identity-based marginalization, even these basic comforts are often out of reach. But when they are made available — intentionally, consistently, and with care — they can be […]
When I first met Pierre Moise Louis in Jérémie, Haiti, 15 years ago, he had just finished university. Determined to help his family and his country, Louis had one goal: to build a business around breadfruit. He saw this humble, starchy fruit not just as a food staple, but as a solution to hunger, to […]
Several months ago, I spent some time decluttering my house by going through papers, clothing, kitchen stuff, personal items—everything. Beyond creating a more satisfying space, I discovered some surprising effects on my psychological well-being. Along the way, I was able to cultivate inner resources such as gratitude, satisfaction, mindfulness, non-attachment, and other qualities that emerged from […]
I remember one of the first birds I ever worked with. His name was Saki, and he was a Bali myna. He would greet me every morning by saying “Hello, Saki” and “Hi.” I was so intrigued that I set out to learn more about the species. What I learned was disheartening. At that time, […]
As sustainability efforts expand across the country, a growing number of initiatives are rethinking how packaging waste is handled in industries like wine and spirits — from glass bottles to shipping boxes and plastic wrap. In Northern California, one program is offering a practical, scalable model that reduces landfill waste while building green career skills […]
An unlikely collaboration between a Chicago-based filmmaker, dancers at The Joffrey Ballet, and the International Crane Foundation became a passion project and the beginning of the conservation short film series Mates for Life. Shot in a prairie setting, Mates for Life features two dancers, Joffrey artists Olivia Duryea and Dylan Gutierrez, portraying whooping cranes in […]
With cutbacks to federal government programs and layoffs of civil servants around the country, there’s been a lot of confusion about funding for wildfire prevention and mitigation under the new presidential administration. Yet, Santa Rosa, California resident Lynn Garric feels encouraged. “I’m a very hopeful, optimistic person,” she explains. “I’m the one who came back […]
Ami Vitale has spent her career on the front lines of our planet’s most urgent crises, using her camera not only to witness the world but to change it. A National Geographic photographer, writer, documentary filmmaker, and Nikon Ambassador, Vitale began her career covering conflict zones — places where human suffering was raw and unrelenting. […]
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Award-winning photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s new book, HOPE, offers a powerful counterpoint to the growing sense of despair that often surrounds conversations about our planet’s future. As Mittermeier poignantly observes, “Hope may not be a plan or a strategy, but it is vital for our survival.” For decades, Mittermeier has traveled the globe, documenting both the […]
