The Gift of Education: Textbooks for children of the slums

At Mathare Community Education and Development Organization (MCEDO) the students take education very seriously. “I have never been in a classroom where students are so committed to learning,” says Elizabeth Allen, a seventh-grade science teacher at MCEDO. “When I ask a question, nearly every student raises his or her hand, jumping at the chance to participate.”…

Invisible People: Behind the Face of Homelessness

Even on a morning where I was already running late, I couldn’t help but notice that this particular morning was just beautiful. Sunlight that shone through the treetops and the slight breeze made the shadow art on the sidewalks and pavement dance, even as the cars and trucks whizzed by. I was trying to chew…

Spotlight: What Will You Bring to the Table?

“Tag!” From nowhere, a little pair of hands shoved me towards the playground. Lunch had just ended and it was recess for this New Orleans kindergarten class. They’re told to walk but that doesn’t stop the energetic five-year-olds from racing toward the monkey bars and swing set. When I agreed to help for a day…

Hope House: Fathers Behind Bars

A summer camp run by the Hope House, a D.C.-based organization, allows kids to attend camp while visiting their incarcerated fathers every day for a week. In a country with some of the highest incarceration rates worldwide, this camp is aimed at strengthening family bonds, lowering the recidivism rate and putting an end to the…

What Good Is Gratitude? (Infographic)

We know that to have something to be grateful for its own reward. But the benefits don’t stop there. This beautiful infographic from the John Templeton Foundation shows us just how far-reaching the side effects of gratitude really are.