Innehållsförteckning för The Helpers Edition från The Goodnewspaper

HELLO HELLO! One of the founding elements of the Goodnewspaper is our collective admiration of Fred Rogers. “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, ‘Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping,’” Rogers is famously quoted as saying. Rogers’s quote is seminal to this annual edition of the paper — but as my first Helpers Edition as managing editor, I implore us to explore the sentiment more deeply. Where we celebrate good news, we also distinguish the endless threads of nuance weaving their way through every story. Back in Mister Rogers’ heyday, “helpers,” might have only been perceived as traditional first responders like firefighters, doctors, and police officers. This begs us to examine…

After 28-year-old James Warren saw a woman sitting on the ground at a seatless bus stop, he realized he could put his carpentry skills to good use by building benches and placing them at Denver-areabus stops that lacked sitting areas. Warren, who years back sold his car and turn ed to other forms of transportation, began to notice that many bus stops lacked valuable resting spaces for passengers. Seeing that woman sitting on the ground was the tipping point. “The people who use mobility devices, elderly people, people who can’t afford a car, these people are left behind all the time,” Warren told Denver?. “And I think the last thing we should be saying to those people is, ‘You don’t get to sit while you wait for a bus.’ You…

After the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that absentee ballots must be delivered by mail or in-person by no one but the voter themselves, Wisconsin voters with disabilities mobilized to seek justice. Although the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Voting Rights Act ensure that people with disabilities are able to vote and that polling places must be accessible, folks with disabilities still find their right to vote severely limited by a lack of accommodations. In fact, researchers at Rutgers University found a 5.7point voting gap between people with disabilities and non-disabled people in 2020. Disenfranchisement is a widespread systemic challenge for people with disabilities, and Wisconsinites were swift to clarify this new state law. With the help of firm Law Forward, plaintiffs filed a lawsuit against the Wisconsin Elections Commission,…

It was the iconic Fred Rogers that told us. “Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.” At Good Good Good, we’ve made that the foundation of our work — to know that even in times of extreme hardship, there are always people looking to do good in the world, people ready to receive the good, and most of us at the intersection of taking action. This past year has been another “unprecedented” year (ugh), full of overwhelming challenges and large-scale catastrophes. But what keeps us moving forward, what keeps us afloat amidst so many unknowns, is the potential to respond, problem-solve, and care for one another. 2022 ushered in violence and fear — threats to healthcare (the Supreme Court struck down Roe v. Wade), ongoing…

Sharon McMahon (also known as @sharonsaysso), is a former high school government and law teacher who rose to prominence in 2020. Her community, the “Governerds,” has raised funds for teachers, neighbors, and organizations, as well as built a coalition of individuals who value McMahon’s dedication to sharing non-partisan facts about the U.S. government and democracy. While McMahon had previously created a successful teacher grant program that raised more than $560,000, she later set a more ambitious goal for a July 2022 campaign: $1 million. Within just one weekend, the Governerd community raised $1.1 million — and continued to raise more funds over the next week. The funds went directly to teachers from every corner of the U.S. in the form of over 2,000 grants, each worth $500, with no stipulations…

A tweet from user @husbandkiller reads: “the decline of monkeypox cases proves that if COVID had hit the gays first, we would have beat that shit.” Now, we’re not saying husband killers are always right, but this one might be onto something. While the monkeypox virus (MPV) remains a global concern, cases are steadily declining. This trend has been fueled by the LGBTQ+ community — from protestors in New York demanding access to vaccines, human rights organizations investing in vaccine education campaigns, and gay men — who have long been at the hands of HIV stigmas — receiving their shots in droves. According to the Pew Research Center, 66% of gay or bisexual men said they definitely or probably will get an MPV vaccine to prevent the disease, including one-in-ten…

ART & MEDIA HELPERS Between launching a size-inclusive shapewear line, winning an Emmy for her dance competition show “Watch Out for The Big Grrrls,” playing James Madison's crystal flute in Washington DC, and dropping her fourth studio album “Special,” Lizzo still made time in 2022 to bless us with her TikTok thirst traps, vegan recipes, and rom-com reviews. The hip-hop artist's candid spirit, openness to feedback, and vibrant inclusivity remind fans and critics alike that she is a force to be reckoned with. Even when she messes up (she quickly corrected a song lyric this year that initially included ableist language), Lizzo faces fame and her fanbase with authenticity and joy. Whether singing or speaking up, her impact on the entertainment industry is historic. “When I was a little girl,…

In 2022, two more people were cured of HIV (out of five total in history). While a universal cure is yet to be discovered, scientists have found success in specific cases. Marshall Glesby, infectious disease specialist and coauthor of a recent HIV cure study told PBS: “There is incremental progress being made in terms of our understanding of where the virus hides within the body and potential ways to purge it from those sites.” Here are a few highlights on HIV cures from 2022: Tel Aviv University scientists created an injection using genetically engineered white blood cells that secrete neutralizing antibodies that destroy HIV. Three new mRNA HIV vaccines are undergoing trials. A third known person (and the first woman) has been cured of HIV after receiving a stem cell…

Chef José Andrés is no stranger to using food for good. The Spanish chef’s nonprofit World Central Kitchen (WCK) has mobilized as immediately as any other first responder to crises from Australian wildfires, to COVID-19. This past year, Andrés and the WCK team had pots and pans on the ground in Ukraine, serving free hot meals to refugees within 24 hours of the Russian invasion in February, at first along the Ukraine-Poland border. Since then, WCK has served over 150 million meals all over the country to anyone in need, while still dispersing teams around the globe where their help is needed. Even with the threat of violence overhead, WCK — and Andrés — refuse to get out of the kitchen. “We have 550 restaurants and thousands of chefs here…

GUN SAFETY HELPERS When word spread throughout the small Uvalde, Texas community that an active shooter was at Robb Elementary School, Angeli Rose Gomez was one of many concerned parents who rushed to the scene. The mother of two said that while she could hear gunshots, she witnessed minimal law enforcement effort to serve and protect their children. Her overwhelming frustration briefly landed her in handcuffs. When she was released, Gomez quickly managed to hop over a nearby fence and into the school. Within minutes, she was able to safely usher her oldest son and his classmates to a secure outdoor location, running back inside for a second time to do the same for her youngest son and his class. While the lack of swift, coordinated communication (not to mention…

In August 2022, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act — a bill containing important tax and health care changes, as well as the largest-ever investment in fighting climate change in the U.S. (around $370 billion in total). Though Senate lawmakers were credited for this historic victory, it was also made possible thanks to the diligent efforts of young congressional staffers, organizations like Sunrise Movement, and frontline communities who all kept the bill alive. “A lot of people think activism does nothing, that it’s like screaming into the void,” Aria Kovalovich, a staff member for the House Oversight Committee, told Teen Vogue. “But working for politicians, I know they pay attention when people are sitting in their offices or rallying just outside them. This bill is set to incentivize folks…

EDUCATION HELPERS Quinta Brunson is a writer, producer, actress, and comedian. You might recognize her from the breakout ABC comedy “Abbott Elementary,” in which she’s the creator, executive producer, writer, and star. The series — inspired by her mother’s teaching career at an under-resourced elementary school — earned Brunson three Emmy nominations making her: the first Black woman in TV history nominated in three comedy categories in the same year, the youngest Black woman ever nominated in the comedy acting category, and the second Black woman to win the Outstanding Writing fora Comedy Series category. The success of the show has also allowed her team to use its platform for good, including advocating for higher teacher salaries and even redirected a portion of the show's marketing budget to help teachers…

Kai Shappley is an 11-year-old transgender activist in Texas, a trailblazer at the heart of one of the most anti-LGBTQ+ states in America. In April 2021, she testified before the state legislature, speaking against a bill that would have banned gender-affirming medical care for minors. Alongside legacy activists, she helped defeat that bill — and 50 other anti-trans pieces of legislation that year. And in 2022, when Texas Governor Greg Abbott directed state officials to investigate any reported instances of parents providing gender-affirming medical care to minors, her fight continued. Outside Texas, she is also a widely recognized LGBTQ+ activist, even traveling to Washington, DC to speak to members of Congress about the Equality Act. Barely a teenager, she’s exhausted. But she’s also full of hope. “I want to be…

John and Hank Green have long been the guidance counselors of the Internet. Between the emergence of their YouTube channel (vlogbrothers) in 2007 and their illustrious careers (both are writers, educators, and entrepreneurs), they have championed caring and sincerity in the digital world. Their charity projects include the Awesome Coffee and Awesome Socks Clubs, which are building a maternal hospital in Sierra Leone, and their annual fun draiser: The Project for Awesome, which pours millions into various nonprofits. Recently, they started making TikTok videos. Hank became a beacon of knowledge on the app, explaining phenomenons like circles and electrolytes, and creating how-to videos to help people vote in every U.S. state. John creates his own poetic clips, both brothers maintaining their statuses as silly and smart online guideposts. “I like…

HEALTHCARE HELPERS Dr. Jennifer Lincoln is “not your average OBGYN.” A doctor, mom, and author of the book “Let’s Talk About Down There,” she works to demystify sex ed so people can understand their bodies and feel empowered to advocate for themselves. Lincoln’s popular social media platforms include educational resources and document her work in the abortion advocacy space. After the Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade, Lincoln sprang into action. She quickly launched the website threeforfreedom.com to help people access contraceptive and abortion pills in all 50 states, as well as co-founding the advocacy group Obstetricians for Reproductive Justice, alongside two other OBGYNs (Dr. Jenn Conti and Dr. Heather Irobunda). “We see what happens,” Lincoln said at a rally in June. “These politicians who make these laws aren’t…

In a time of dire crisis, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been a beacon of inspiring leadership. When Russia invaded the 44-year-old head of state’s country, his unfailing allegiance to his people made headlines. He swapped a suit and tie for T-shirts and slacks, turned down President Biden’s offer to evacuate (he said “I need ammunition, not a ride”), and has presented emotion, candor, or passion in his remarks — a stark contrast to most historical figures desperate to maintain decorum at times like these. Zelenskyy's approach is a blueprint of what emotional and transformational leadership can look like on the world stage. While it is certainly not easy to be a country’s leader during war, and Zelenskyy has and will make mistakes, his character and determination have a ripple…

In 2018, Manuel and Patricia Oliver lost their son, Joaquin, in the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. In their healing process, the couple started a nonprofit called Change the Ref (CTR), with the mission of increasing awareness of mass shootings and reducing the public influence of America’s largest gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association. Over the years, CTR has worked to empower young leaders by using urban art and nonviolent creative confrontation to expose the effects of mass shootings in America, and demand stricter gun laws. The latest initiative from CTR is The Yellow Bus Project — a mobile museum made of 52 empty school buses honoring the 4,368 children whose lives have been lost to gun violence since 2020. While it’s heartbreaking…

CLIMATE HELPERS Indigenous communities have always been at the forefront of tackling the climate crisis, but their warnings have too often been met with empty promises. So, they organized. The Global Alliance of Territorial Communities (GATC) is a political platform of Indigenous and local communities representing 35 million people from 24 countries in Asia, Africa, and Latin America — defending over 958 million hectares of land, spanning most of the world’s endangered tropical forests. In September, members of the alliance and their allies rallied in New York to meet with policymakers and donors during Climate Week, which brought together the most influential global leaders in climate action. Speaking as one united voice, GATC drew attention to previous promises made by international bodies that failed to materialize and demanded immediate action,…

The January 6th hearings, led by the U.S. House Select Committee, are the result of a year-long investigation into the unprecedented domestic attack on the U.S. Capitol. The committee, led by Chairman Bennie Thompson (D-MS) and Vice Chair Liz Cheney (R-WY), was tasked with investigating and examining evidence developed by Federal, State, and local agencies. From the beginning, the committee understood that some watching would approach these hearings with a level of skepticism, however, they urged Americans to open-mindedly listen to the evidence presented — which overwhelmingly came from Republican testimony — before reaching any form of judgment. A key element of the committee’s responsibility is to release a comprehensive report and propose recommendations — including legislation — to ensure that any future attempts to stop the peaceful transfer of…

An Austrian farmer decided to stop cultivating a fifth of his property to help support and expand his neighbor’s bee colony. Bees are a key part of the global food system and pollinate 75% of our food crops, according to the United Nations Environment Program. But human-induced contaminations (like air pollution, climate change, and pesticides) make it harder for them to do their job. Franz Nigl, owner of a mid-sized agricultural business in Leiten, Austria, grew frustrated by the lack of government action to protect the environment and endangered species. He decided to take matters into his own hands by allowing his neighbor, local beekeeper Josef Krenn, to expand his bee colony into his property. “I’ve never experienced anything like that,” Krenn told local news outlet, Tipps. “We benefit from…

Carey Arensberg (@mrsarensberg4th on TikTok) is a fifthgrade teacher from Mobile, Alabama. She's known around her community and online for her “Care Closet,” a resource available to students who are in need of essential items like dinner boxes, hygienic products, and extra uniforms — even if it’s for another sibling or family member. “It has helped build such a strong sense of trust and community,” Arensberg shared on TikTok. “Students are able to have their physiological needs met, which allows them to relax and focus on their schoolwork instead of what they maybe lacking. Arensberg works hard to create a safe, comfortable space that normalizes asking for help and focuses on positive selftalk and self-esteem with her kids. Her sweet, compassionate videos have inspired so many others to start and…

LGBTQ+ HELPERS Dylan Mulvaney is a trans actress, comedian, and content creator who is best known for her TikTok series “Days of Girlhood,” where she highlights her transgender journey every day. Throughout 2022, Mulvaney has delighted her over 8 million followers (including Lady Gaga) with queer joy and exciting milestones: From fun makeup routines, medical consultations, and adding tampons to her purse to give to other women in the bathroom — to modeling in New York Fashion Week and attending the Forbes Power Women Summit. She has taken us along on her journey to get facial feminization surgery, hair removal procedures, and even her dating life as a trans woman. Most importantly, she’s made the Internet — and the world — feel like a safer place for other trans people.…

Olivia Julianna is a 19-year-old Houston advocate who is apolitical strategist for youth-led nonprofit Gen Z For Change, which uses social media to raise awareness, fundraise for causes — and take problematic politicians down a peg. And she’s good at her job. In the summer of 2022, Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz made fatphobic, misogynistic comments about Olivia in an attempt to degrade her and her ongoing advocacy for abortion rights. Instead of letting it get to her, she used it as fuel to fundraise for abortion funds across the country via social media. Donations came flooding in, starting with $50,000 in the first 12 hours of the initiative. The number hit $2.2 million within a week, and Olivia solidified her place as an activist both online and in the political…

Dr. Paul Farmer was a world-renowned infectious disease expert, humanitarian, and equitable global health advocate who passed away in February of 2022. His life of service started in 1982 when he started his first clinic in Haiti, which grew into a hospital serving over 150,000 people. Inviting a social justice approach to global health, his writings on human rights and the connection between inequality and infectious diseases have transformed healthcare. Farmer co-founded the health and justice organization, Partners in Health, which works in 12 countries, focusing on equitable care for maternal health, tuberculosis, HIV, Ebola, and some of the world’s most infectious diseases. Though Farmer is no longer with us, his influence on healthcare has indelibly shaped the future of care. “If you’re asking my opinion, I would argue that…

UKRAINE HELPERS When Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Ukrainians mobilized in droves to help one another. While there is no possible way to recount every small action of community care within and beyond Ukraine’s borders, one thing is certain: Ukrainians continue to balance the responsibility of helping others and the need to be helped. Ukrainians have shown us that we can do what we can with what we have. Whether it’s the thousands of Ukrainian Etsy sellers fundraising through their art, housing nonprofits creating scrappy solutions for displaced citizens, teachers taking up arms, independent journalists reporting at war, civilians telling their stories on TikTok, or even local animal shelters caring for pets that have been left behind — the simultaneous grit and compassion of Ukrainians is to be…

After 10 people were killed in a mass shooting at a Buffalo, NY, supermarket by a white supremacist gunman, Buffalo public school associate superintendent Fatima Morrell, Ph.D. helped her students process by expanding the curriculum around racism. This included principles such as empathy, diversity, and restorative justice. “For all our children, we have to unpack white supremacy, as hard as that is to talk about,” Morrell shared with TIME. “It is important that every single child receives an anti-racist curriculum in the Buffalo public schools, and I’m going to continue to push that.” Her goal is to engage and empower students by providing lessons about the historical contributions of Black, Latino, and Indigenous communities. Morrell began implementing anti-racism education during the aftermath of the George Floyd murder. She led the…

Yvon Chouinard is an American mountain climber, environmentalist, and founder of the outdoor brand Patagonia. From promoting adventure for all, to urging businesses to take responsibility for their environmental impact, Chouinard has gradually cleared a path for a new economic approach. Rather than selling the company or taking it public, Chouinard announced that he and his family were transferring ownership of Patagonia, valued at about $3 billion, to a specially designed trust and a nonprofit. Both were created to preserve the company’s independence and ensure that all of its profits — some $100 million a year — are used to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe. The brand's website now states: "Earth is now our only shareholder." “Hopefully, this will influence a new form of capitalism…

EQUALITY & JUSTICE HELPERS For 232 years, no African American woman had served on the U.S. Supreme Court. That changed in June 2022 when Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson was sworn in, becoming the 116th Supreme Court Justice and the first Black woman to hold the position. Judge Jackson was nominated by President Biden and was later confirmed by the US. Senate. Her experience includes being confirmed with bipartisan support to both the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit in 2021 and district court judge for the U.S. District Court in 2013, as well as her service as Justice Stephen Breyer’s law clerk. Judge Jackson is now the first-ever Supreme Court justice to have served as a public defender. Her historic confirmation marks a moment of long-overdue progress for…

The number of migrant arrivals reported along the U.S.Mexico border surpassed 2 million in August, an all-time high driven in part by unprecedented levels of people fleeing from Cuba, Venezuela, and Nicaragua, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. This year alone, we’ve witnessed the horrific deaths of 46 migrants in an abandoned tractor-trailer outside of San Antonio, Texas, the busing of thousands from border states to northern cities, and the uncertain status of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy — which puts more than 600,000 young individuals at risk of deportation. There are, however, helpers like RAICES, United We Dream, and Artists Athletes Activists stepping up in this time of crisis to provide essential resources and legal aid to migrant and immigrant communities across the U.S. Helpers…