Feel Good Friday - TreePeople

As Earth Month comes to a close, we’re celebrating with another nature-related post, this one about TreePeople.

Initiated by 15-year-old camp counselor, Andy Lipkis and incorporated in 1973, the mission of TreePeople is “to inspire, engage, and support people to take personal responsibility for the environment, making it safe, healthy, fun, and sustainable.”

The Los Angeles region faces severe impacts from climate change, as we saw with the wildfires earlier this year. “TreePeople unites the power of trees, people and nature-based solutions to grow a more climate-ready city.” They are now one of the largest environmental organizations headquartered in Southern California, and in the last 50 years they’ve inspired over 3 million people to take action for the environment. They do this through several programs and focus areas.

The forestry program provides volunteers with the tools, plants, and education necessary to plant trees everywhere from the mountains, to the cities and schoolyards. School greening involves not only planting trees, but also removing asphalt and educating students in the participating schools on environmental awareness and sustainability. In addition there are Environmental Education programs that help students, teachers and community members gain skills in environmental and climate literacy.

TreePeople also conducts research, provides publications and advocates for nature-based public policy solutions in Southern California. They oversee more than 3,000 acres of land in the Santa Monica Mountains as part of the TreePeople Land Trust and they maintain and operate Coldwater Canyon Park, where you can go for a hike on your own or join one of their eco tours.  

Since they began, TreePeople has planted and cared for more than 3 million trees; developed the nation’s largest environmental education programs which have educated hundreds of thousands of youth; helped drive hundreds of millions of dollars in public funding towards climate solutions; and stewarded and protected over 3,000 acres of wilderness.

If you’re interested in helping TreePeople grow a more climate-ready SoCal, there are many ways to get involved. Those of you in and around the Los Angeles area can volunteer your time. All of us can shop for merch, make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow TreePeople on Facebook, Instagram, Bluesky or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.  

Feel Good Friday - Sierra Club

April 22nd is Earth Day and what better way to prepare for it than learn about the Sierra Club.

Founded in 1892 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the Sierra Club is the largest and oldest grassroots environmental organization in the United States. Their original focus was on the conservation of California's Sierra Nevada mountains and they have since evolved into “an organization that works to advance climate solutions and ensure everyone has access to clean air, clean water, and a healthy environment.”

Their mission statement is focused on three areas. “To explore, enjoy, and protect the wild places of the earth; to practice and promote the responsible use of the earth's ecosystems and resources; to educate and enlist humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment; and to use all lawful means to carry out these objectives.”

From legal challenges to direct actions, the Sierra Club works with partner organizations, non profits and campaigns to achieve their goals. They also mobilize volunteers from chapters in all 50 states to take action to protect the climate, conserve the environment and help people gain equal access to the outdoors. In fact, each year Sierra Club volunteers lead over 15,000 trips to bring people outside where they can enjoy nature.

In the 130+ years the Sierra Club has been active, they have protected over 10 million acres of wilderness, retired 382 coal plants, and established 467 parks and monuments. Their goals for 2030 include protecting 30% of US lands and water, ensuring an additional 50 million people can exercise their human right to connect with the outdoors and replacing fossil fuels with clean energy. You can read details on this 2030 Strategic Vision page.

If you’d like to help the Sierra Club achieve their future vision there are many actions you can take. Volunteer with your local chapter, sign a petition, or join a virtual monthly action hour. You can also shop for merch, make a donation and amplifying their message on social media. Follow the Sierra Club on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Happy Earth Day!

Feel Good Friday - American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee

April is National Arab American Heritage Month and a great way to celebrate is by learning more about the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee.

Founded in 1980 by former U.S. Senator James Abourezk and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) is "a civil rights organization committed to defending the rights of people of Arab descent and promoting their rich cultural heritage.” It is the largest Arab American grassroots organization in the U.S.

The goals of ADC are to protect the civil rights and liberties of Arab Americans, promote mutual understanding among cultures and preserve Arab American cultural heritage and history. They do this through a variety of programming.

The Research Institute sponsors “public programs and initiatives in support of the constitutional and First Amendment rights of Arab Americans.” They also train Arab Americans in the exercise of their constitutional rights as citizens. One example of this is the Know Your Rights video created for international students. They also run a 24/7 Legal Hotline, which you can call at 844-ADC-9955 to report a hate crime.

The Arab-American Business Advisory Council provides assistance to business owners and entrepreneurs. People who become members of the council receive expert advice, mentorship and access to meetings with government officials. There is also a Women’s Empowerment Forum which is focused on promoting issues such as women leadership roles and gender equity. 

With a mission is to foster mental health and well-being within the Arab American community, the Mental Health Resource Hub provides accessible resources and hosts informative webinars led by experts in the field.

Finally, there are programs that celebrate and uplift the cultural heritage of the Arab American community. These include webinars and social media campaigns during the month of April, events such as book launches and musical performances, and the annual ArabCon conference which takes place in Dearborn, Michigan in September.

If you’d like to support the goals of ADC, there are many ways to do so. Become a member, make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee on Facebook or Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Autism Society of America

April is National Autism Awareness Month and we’re kicking it off by highlighting the Autism Society of America.

Founded in 1965 and headquartered in Rockville, Maryland, the mission of the Autism Society of America is to “create connections, empowering everyone in the Autism community with the resources needed to live fully.”

Let’s start with the basics. As they explain on their website, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) “is a complex, lifelong developmental condition that typically appears during early childhood and can impact a person’s social skills, communication, relationships, and self-regulation.” In the United States there are approximately 5.4 million Autistic adults, and one in 36 children is diagnosed with ASD. You can explore this page to learn more.

The work the Autism Society does "connects people to the resources they need through education, advocacy, resources, and community programming.” Their website has an extensive list of resources organized by topics such as communication, housing, employment and public policy. By partnering with 70 local and state affiliates, they are able to support Autistic individuals with services designed for their communities. You can contact this helpline to learn about, and be connected to, resources and services in your area. 

The public policy team advocates for legislation that improves quality of life. In 2023 the Autism Society supported 40 federal and 30 state bills and 2,702 people sent letters congress through the Autism Society’s Action Center.

Currently, they are in the midst of an education campaign called Autism Is, designed to amplify the voices and lived experiences of Autistic individuals and acknowledge that everyone’s experience is unique and valid. You can learn more by watching this short campaign video, reading stories of people with autism or sharing your own story at this link.

In 2023, the Autism Society network served half a million people with 97,900 people contacting Autism Society helplines, 19,000 people attended conferences, and 393,000 people attending over 10,000 Autism Society events.

If you’d like to help the Autism Society of America achieve their vision of “a world where everyone in the Autism community is connected to the support they need, when they need it” there are several things you can do. Visit the action center to support current campaigns, contact your legislators or track legislation. Shop for merch, make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow the Autism Society on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Girls Write Nashville

We’re closing out our Women’s History Month posts on a musical note with Girls Write Nashville.

Founded in 2016, Girls Write Nashville (GWN) is a “nonprofit songwriting mentorship program based in Nashville, TN that cultivates empowered expression and positive community for teen girls.” It began as a one-time community arts project but was so popular that co-founders Jen Starsinic and Georgia English decided to continue their work as a nonprofit.

Because GWN is committed to accessibility and inclusivity, they offer their programs free of cost to participants. These programs focus on the lived experience of female-identifying and nonbinary students and are open to any student who wishes to participate.

The first GWN program is the MNPS Writers Guilds. This after-school program is offered to Metro Nashville Public School students from 6th to 8th grade. Led by a local female artist, students learn how to write and record an original song over the course of a 20 week semester. They share their work with their peers as well as have a showcase for the community. The girls get a demo of their completed song to keep when the program ends. You can meet some of the student songwriters in this short video and hear how being in the program has increased their confidence.

The second GWN program is the All City Mentorship Guild. Open to youth artists from 8th to 12th grade, students receive one on one mentorship from an adult artist as well as have monthly meetings with their peers. This program runs from January to May and culminates with participants producing and recording an original song in a recording studio with a professional band. These songs are added to the GWN annual compilation album. You can listen to the songs from previous years at this link.

When you’ve finished rocking out and are ready to support Girls Write Nashville there are many ways you can do so. If you live in the Nashville area you can become a volunteer. No matter where you are you can make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow GWN on Facebook and Instagram.

Feel Good Friday - Equality Now

Happy Friday! It’s still March, it’s still Women’s History Month so let’s talk about Equality Now.

Founded in 1992 and based in New York City, the mission of Equality Now is "to achieve legal and systemic change that addresses violence and discrimination against women and girls around the world.”  They do this with a global network of lawyers, activists, and supporters who hold governments responsible for their international obligation to prohibit all forms of violence and discrimination against women. 

Equality Now works in all regions of the world and uses a combination of legal expertise, advocacy, collaboration, and resourcing to get their work done. Watch this video to hear Global Executive Director, Mona Sinha explain their work or keep reading.

There are four areas that Equality Now focuses on. Achieving legal equality is the first step towards gender equality. The team at Equality Now works to end legislative gender discrimination and holds governments around the world accountable for their obligations under international law. Ending harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation means leading global campaigns against these practices while also collaborating with regional partners and pushing for states to enact and implement effective laws. 

Ending sexual violence and sexual exploitation is important because 1 in 3 women globally will experience sexual violence in their lifetimes. Equality Now works to enact good laws that are effectively implemented while also exploring partnerships that take an ecosystems approach to building support mechanisms for women and girls. They work to prevent online sexual exploitation and abuse as well as partnering with local activists to challenge sex trafficking and sex tourism.

In 2023, Equality Now shared their feminist, legal expertise in 76 trainings and workshops. They helped change 14 laws in 12 countries, which improved access to justice for 39.2 million women and girls worldwide. Read stories of this impact here.

If you’d like to help Equality Now realize their vision of “a world in which women and men have equal rights under the law, and full enjoyment of their human rights” there are many ways to do so. Make a donation, join the changemakers network, shop for merch, and amplify their message on social media.  Follow Equality Now on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - World Pulse

March is Women’s History Month and we’re celebrating an organization that connects and supports women across the globe, World Pulse.

Founded in 2003 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, the mission of World Pulse is “to create a world where all women thrive: one connection, one collaboration at a time.” They believe that “when women are heard and connected they transform the world for the better.” World Pulse is facilitating these connections through their social network.

Here’s how it works. World Pulse provides a digital space for 85,000 members across 233 countries and territories. Women and allies in this network connect, share their stories, access resources and collaborate to create change. The women on the platform take on different roles such as leaders, mentors, encouragers, and innovators. This new model of philanthropy connects funding directly to changemakers through technology, community, and storytelling. 

It starts with people joining the community and sharing their stories. Themes for the stories span a variety of gender justice topics including, but not limited to, economic power, health, education, human rights, technology, arts and culture. Some of the people and organizations receive financial support for their initiatives. Examples of recent grantees include a woman in Zimbabwe helping people navigate cyberbullying, a disability rights advocate in Kenya and peace activist in Cameroon.

In addition, people who are members of the community can connect to share ideas and resources and partner to develop their businesses, build movements, run for office and improve the lives of millions. In a 2023 survey, World Pulse found that 70% of members said their actions as a result of World Pulse made an impact, 25% trained or educated others, 22% changed behaviors in their community and 9% influenced a law or policy. You can read more about global collaborations on the impact page.

If you’d like to help World Pulse expand connections, amplify voices and build agency for women worldwide there are several ways to do so. Read the latest stories and connect with changemakers, make a donation, and amplify their work on social media. Follow World Pulse on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Ukrainian Women's Fund

March is Women’s History Month and we’re kicking it off by highlighting work being done by the Ukrainian Women’s Fund.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Kyiv, Ukraine, the Ukrainian Women’s Fund (UWF) is the only women’s foundation in Ukraine. Their mission is to “support women's/feminist organizations, make for their participation in the development of a powerful, effective and mass women's/feminist movement capable of protecting women's rights and promoting gender equality in all areas.”

Current efforts by UWF are focused on rapid response grants to support women and girls who face humanitarian challenges caused by the Russian invasion as well as activists who are at the forefront of the volunteer movement. Funds are used to cover the urgent needs for water, food, medicine, hygiene, and communication with a focus on the most vulnerable groups of women and girls.

In addition to these immediate needs, funding provided by UWF supports women’s rights and feminist organizations in Ukraine, women activists and entrepreneurs, young women leaders, and journalists and editors in the media.

Examples of the work being done in current projects includes advancing women’s security, economic empowerment, and leadership in post-conflict Ukraine; continuing Ukraine's EU integration-related reforms; and training teenagers on how to create a culture of consent, define their own boundaries and respect the boundaries of others.

UWF shares many success stories on their website which involve developing girls’ independence and leadership skills through a girl scout program, creating a Women’s Leadership Academy that trains women how to make improvements in their communities, and a grant competition to support female veterans and military families. From February 2022 to February 2025, UWF has received over $54,000 in donations which they apply to these programs.

If you’d like to to help the Ukrainian Women’s Fund change systems with and for women in Ukraine there are several ways to get involved. Make a donation and amplify their work on social media. Follow UWF on Facebook or Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel. 

 

Feel Good Friday - BlaqOut

We’re closing out Black History Month by highlighting BlaqOut, an organization working to improve health and social outcomes for Kansas City's Black LGBTQ+ community.

Founded in 2017 and headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri, BlaqOut's mission is “to create a community where Black people of queer and trans experience are connected and supported, have access to safe spaces, and enjoy sufficient resources to help them thrive.” They achieve this through a variety of programs and easily accessible, no-cost services.

Programs include: Let’s PrEP, designed to reduce HIV incidence and prevalence; the LEAD Fellowship Program, an immersive 12-month program designed to cultivate and empower the next generation of Black LGBTQ+ leaders; Level Up, which uses peer-driven recruitment to connect to populations at high risk for contracting HIV; Mpox, providing education and vaccination resources for this infection formerly known as monkeypox; SWAG (Sexual Wellness and Growth), providing holistic sexual education; and VEAP (Vaccine Equity and Awareness Program), promoting vaccinations, boosters and encouraging good health practices for all. Whew!

Examples of the no-cost services BlaqOut provides include primary care, health insurance navigation, HIV testing, medication delivery, transportation and supportive services such as emergency housing, food and clothing. To access any of these services, fill out this request form. Their website also has links to numerous resources specific to housing, mental health, substance abuse and more.

Finally, BlaqOut recently launched a community-based pubic awareness campaign called "Give A F_ck", which is designed to spark conversations, bridge gaps, and inspire action to protect the lives, health, safety, and acceptance of the Black LGBTQ+ community.”

If you’d like to support BlaqOut’s vision of “a world where all Black people of queer and trans experience live with dignity and are free from racial injustice and health inequity” there are many ways you can do so. Volunteer your time, donate your money, and spread the word on social media. Follow BlaqOut on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to the BlaqOut YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Akonadi Foundation

As the celebration for Black History Month continues, let’s learn about an organization working towards a racially just Oakland, Akonadi Foundation.

Founded in 2000 and headquartered in Oakland, California, the mission of  Akonadi Foundation is “to support the development of powerful social change movements to eliminate structural racism.” They do this by investing in racial justice organizing and policy advocacy that will lead to enduring systems change. 

A majority of grants awarded by Akonadi Foundation are focused on ending the criminalization of Black youth and youth of color in Oakland and Alameda County. Currently, there are two funds the Foundation supports.

The So Love Can Win Fund provides general support grants of $10,000 to Oakland’s “organizers, storytellers, culture bearers, and healers who seek to ignite and implement a radical collective vision of freedom and racial justice.” In 2024, the Foundation awarded $500,000 to 49 initiatives and organizations. Examples of recipients include Arab Resource and Organizing Center, West Oakland Mural Project and the Lakeshore LGBTQ Cultural District.

The goal of the  All in for Oakland fund is to end the criminalization of Black youth and youth of color. Over the next five years, Akonadi Foundation will invest $12.5 million in partners who prioritize movement building and organizing, research, organizational capacity and policy advocacy.

Since they began, the Foundation has given over 1,900 grants totaling $43 million to nonprofit organizations that have centered power-building and organizing to fuel a racial justice movement. 

In addition to these funds, Akonadi Foundation runs a program called We Love Oakland which celebrates the vibrant and joyful culture, relationships, and activism that can be found in The Town. There are short videos you can watch where residents explain how Oakland’s history and culture inspires their work. You can also read letters from community leaders and post your own story of why you love Oakland.

If you’d like to see a community where young people of color have the support systems they need to thrive, spread the word about Akonadi Foundation. Read their blog, follow them on Facebook or Instagram, and subscribe to their YouTube channel.