Feel Good Friday - Innocence Project

Tomorrow marks the anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, a day that invites reflection on the ongoing fight for racial justice in America. The Innocence Project  is doing that work every single day.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in New York, the mission of the Innocence Project  is "to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone."

Attorneys Barry Scheck and Peter Neufeld started the organization as a law clinic at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law after recognizing that if DNA technology could prove guilt, it could also prove innocence. It became an independent nonprofit in 2003 and has been at the forefront of criminal justice reform ever since.

The racial disparities in wrongful conviction cases are staggering. Nearly 70% of Innocence Project clients are people of color. Black innocent defendants spend 45% more time wrongfully imprisoned before exoneration than white defendants. Cases involving Black exonerees are 50% more likely to involve police misconduct, and intentionally suggestive witness identifications occur twice as frequently in cases involving Black and Latinx exonerees. These are not anomalies — they are patterns rooted in systemic bias.

The Innocence Project fights this injustice on multiple fronts. Their legal team takes on cases where DNA or other scientific evidence can establish innocence. Their policy work has led to the passage of more than 250 state and federal laws addressing issues like eyewitness identification reform, preservation of biological evidence, and compensation for exonerees. They also push to strengthen forensic science standards and limit the use of unreliable technologies like facial recognition in law enforcement. Since their founding, they have helped free or exonerate more than 250 people who collectively spent over 4,000 years behind bars for crimes they did not commit.

If you’d like to support the Innocence Project, there are many ways to do so. Volunteer your time, make a donation, and amplify their message on social media. Follow the Innocence Project on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of justice and freedom with your network.

Feel Good Friday - Brava! for Women in the Arts

Today is World Theatre Day and the final Friday of Women's History Month, making it the perfect moment to celebrate Brava! for Women in the Arts, a San Francisco institution that has spent nearly four decades proving that theater is one of the most powerful tools we have for socil change.

Founded in 1986 and headquartered in San Francisco's Mission District, the mission of Brava! for Women in the Arts is "to produce, present, and cultivate the artistic expression of women, BIPOC, youth, LGBTQIA+, and other underrepresented voices." 

Brava owns and operates the Brava Theater Center, a historic venue celebrating 100 years of being a theater on 24th Street. It began life as the Roosevelt Theatre in 1926, later became the York Theatre serving San Francisco's growing Latino community, and was ultimately transformed by Brava into a vibrant home for boundary-pushing performance and community gathering.

Their flagship program, Brava Presents, delivers an eclectic mix of theater, music, dance, film, and comedy, annually producing 30+ performances by women, LGBTQIA+, and BIPOC artists from the Bay Area and beyond. The Artists-in-Residence program supports professional artists who are traditionally locked out of the arts, providing space for creation, grant writing support, and fiscal sponsorship. Past residents include celebrated artists like Marga Gomez, Cherríe Moraga, and Rhodessa Jones.

Brava is also deeply committed to the next generation. Through the Mission Academy of Performing Arts, they train 120 youth ages 13 - 18 each year through four programs: San Francisco Running Crew, which pairs teens with professional mentors for hands-on technical theater training; Cuicacalli Escuela de Danza, celebrating Mexican Baile Folklórico, hip hop, and modern dance; Young Actors Lab, integrating drama, movement, and music; and Loco Bloco, a youth performance organization using music and drumming to drive social change.

If you're in SF, catching a show at Brava Theater Center is one way to support their work. You can also make a donation, or amplify their message on social media. Follow Brava on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn, subscribe to their YouTube channel and share their stories of art, resistance, and community with your network.

Happy World Theatre Day and Happy Women's History Month! 

Feel Good Friday - Stand Up! Girls

Today is the International Day of Happiness, a United Nations observance celebrating the power of joy and laughter in our lives. And since it falls in the middle of Women's History Month, it makes it a great time to spotlight Stand Up! Girls, a nonprofit using the power of comedy to change the trajectory of young women's lives.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of Stand Up! Girls  is "to educate, inspire and equip girls from underserved communities with the communication skills necessary to succeed in and lead male-dominated workplaces." Through developing and performing stand-up comedy, their girls learn to own the room, whether it’s a courtroom, operating room, or boardroom.

Research shows that laughter isn't just fun, it's a proven driver of happiness and wellbeing. For girls growing up in underserved communities, having a safe space to find their voice, be heard, and make people laugh can be genuinely transformative. Stand Up! Girls offers free after-school and weekend comedy workshops for girls ages 12–17 across four New York City boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. 

Each semester, participants meet weekly for one-hour sessions where they learn basic comedy techniques, write and share jokes with peers, and craft and refine their own routines, with support and feedback from instructors and seasoned comedians. The program culminates in two live performance showcases; one at a NYC comedy club and one for fellow Stand Up! Girls  where friends and family cheer them on as they take the stage for the first time.

The results speak for themselves. As one participant put it: "When I first started telling my stories in the group, I didn't realize they were funny, and when everybody was laughing, I was like, 'Okay… I can do this.'" You can watch their sizzle reel to see the girls in action.

If you'd like to support Stand Up! Girls, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation and amplify their message on social media. Follow Stand Up! Girls on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of laughter and empowerment with your network.

Happy International Day of Happiness! 😄

Feel Good Friday - Women's Earth Alliance

Today, in honor of Women's History Month, I'm spotlighting Women's Earth Alliance, an organization whose work embodies this year's theme, "Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.”

Founded in 2006 and headquartered in Berkeley, California, Women's Earth Alliance (WEA) catalyzes women-led, grassroots solutions to protect our environment and strengthen communities from the inside out. Their model is built on a powerful truth: women are disproportionately impacted by climate crises, yet their leadership remains one of the most underfunded forces for environmental change on the planet. This short video gives an overview of the problem and solution.

WEA delivers funding, training, and networks of support to women who are already established community leaders, equipping them to scale their environmental solutions and connect with a global alliance of peers and mentors. Their programs span water access, food and agriculture, conservation, clean energy, and climate justice, working at the intersection of gender, Indigenous, racial, economic, and environmental justice.

Their flagship U.S. Grassroots Accelerator for Women Environmental Leaders  is a year-long program that has supported 88 women leaders across the country, helping them to deepen their strategies, build alliances, and scale solutions for environmental protection and climate resilience. Globally, WEA has a presence in Africa, Asia, Latin America, and Indonesia. Sponsored programs range from restoring coral reefs in Indonesia to advancing reforestation in Kenya that sequesters an average of 19 million pounds of carbon per year, while also building women's income through tree nursery micro-enterprises.

WEA has had remarkable impact. In 2024 alone, they trained 6,812 women and girls in environmental solutions across 13 countries, reaching 665,442 people with life-saving climate solutions. Since they began, WEA has trained more than 52,000 women leaders in 31 countries!

If you'd like to support Women's Earth Alliance, there are many ways to do so. You can make a one-time donation, join their Seed Bank as a monthly giver, or amplify their message on social media. Follow WEA on Facebook, Instagram  or LinkedIn and share their stories of women leading the way.

Happy Women's History Month! 🌿

Feel Good Friday - National Women's Law Center

This Sunday is International Women's Day and the 2026 theme, "Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls," feels more urgent than ever. That’s why today's spotlight is on National Women's Law Center.

Founded in 1972 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., National Women's Law Center (NWLC) “fights for gender justice—in the courts, in public policy, and in our society—working across the issues that are central to the lives of women and girls”. They do this through litigation, policy advocacy, and culture change to help “break down the barriers that harm all of us—especially women of color, LGBTQ people, and low-income women and families.”

The Center began when secretaries at a public interest law firm made four demands: better pay for women, more women staff attorneys, work on women's rights, and an end to being expected to serve coffee every morning. The group succeeded and NWLC has been fighting for women ever since.

Today, NWLC works across five core issue areas: reproductive rights and health care , education and Title IX, workplace justice, poverty and economic security, and LGBTQ+ equality. Their tools include litigation, federal and state policy advocacy, and public education campaigns, making them one of the only multi-issue gender justice organizations working across all of these fronts simultaneously.

NWLC has had a big impact in the courts and beyond. In 2024 alone, they filed 25 amicus briefs, brought four new enforcement actions before federal agencies, and filed a novel federal lawsuit to protect access to emergency abortion care. They also launched Project Defiance, a four-year, $100 million campaign to safeguard the rights of women, girls, and LGBTQ+ people.

If you'd like help NWLC in their fight for gender justice, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation, take direct action by texting NWLC to 32434, shop for merch, and amplify their message on social media. Follow National Women’s Law Center on Bluesky, Instagram or LinkedIn. Happy International Women's Day!

Feel Good Friday - The Loveland Foundation

Today’s post bring us back to the United States where we’re closing out Black History Month by featuring The Loveland Foundation, an organization that honors Black history by investing in Black futures, one therapy session at a time.

Founded in 2018 and headquartered in New York, NY, The Loveland Foundation is committed to bringing “opportunity and healing to communities of color, and especially to Black women and nonbinary individuals.” To do this, The Loveland Foundation covers the cost of therapy, provides mental health resources, and invests in the professional development of BIPOC therapists. 

The foundation was born from a birthday fundraiser. In 2018, activist and educator Rachel Cargle asked her social media following to donate therapy sessions as a birthday gift. She raised over $250,000 and that became the Loveland Therapy Fund, the organization's core program. With therapy costing an average of $80–$200 per session, the financial barrier is real, resulting in Black women being significantly underserved by the mental health system.

The fund provides financial assistance to Black women and nonbinary individuals seeking therapy anywhere in the United States. Fund recipients receive support covering up to 12 therapy sessions, along with quarterly support groups, workshops, curated wellness resources, and access to public programming. The Loveland Foundation also invests in the therapist side of the equation, offering professional development and continuing education workshops for BIPOC therapists doing this vital work. Their National Resource Directory connects the broader community to mental health resources across the country.

The Loveland Foundation has had a big impact in the communities they serve. In 2024 alone, they served 4,848 individuals and provided 58,176 hours of therapy, and since they began, they've funded over 210,780 hours of therapy support! Ninety percent of their funding comes from individual donors, with an average donation of just $5.

If you, or someone you know, needs support from The Loveland Foundation, fill out this form to join the waitlist. If you have the ability to support The Loveland Foundation you can do so by making a donation  or amplifying their message on social media. Follow The Loveland Foundation on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn, and subscribe to their YouTube channel to start sharing their stories of healing and hope with your network.

Happy Black History Month!

Feel Good Friday - Dignity Network

I’m back from a trip to Thailand, and one of my favorite stops was the Dignity Network Women's Massage Center. Let me explain why.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Chiang Mai, Thailand, Dignity Network is "helping female ex-prisoners reintegrate into professional society successfully" through several programs, including the Women’s Massage Center.

The organization was born when Thierry Gallo, an entrepreneur from Brussels, visited Thailand in 2010 and witnessed the harsh conditions facing women in Chiang Mai's central prison. He partnered with Thunyanun Yajom, a government prison officer with 15 years of experience and a master's degree in vocational education, to build something transformative.

The problem they both recognized is that women leaving prison often face profound stigma and discrimination, resulting in limited job opportunities and reoffending rates between 14 and 20 percent. Dignity Network was created to break that cycle.

While incarcerated, women can enroll in an 800-hour Thai massage training program certified by Thailand's Ministry of Public Health. Upon release, Dignity Network's Women's Massage Center offers them real jobs in a safe, professional environment. Today, five locations are operating across Chiang Mai's Old City, offering traditional Thai massage, foot massage, oil massage, herbal facial treatments, and more, all at remarkably affordable prices.

I booked an hour-long back, neck and shoulder massage for 300 baht, or about 9 dollars. After changing into some oversized hospital scrubs, my masseuse, Muay, not only massaged all the parts in question, she also ended by twisting me around to make sure I was really loose, then gave me a cup of tea.

In addition to helping people relax, Dignity Network also runs a Social Microcredit Program that offers small loans between 5,000 and 10,000 baht to help women cover urgent needs like their children's education, health costs, or rental deposits. Traditional banks won't cover these costs for someone with a criminal record. Since they began, Dignity Network has given jobs to more than 500 ex-prisoners!

You can support the Dignity Network by following them on Facebook and sharing their stories of second chances and new beginnings with your network. And if you're ever in Chiang Mai, stop in for a massage, it’s a very relaxing way to make a difference.

I'm Ready to Go Home, But is My Plane?

No. The answer is no. After mechanical issues that could not be resolved, we were told our flight would leave 9 hours later than scheduled. That meant I would miss my connecting flight and the one that followed. The upside is, I'm blogging from the Hyatt regency in Taipei where I was able to sleep for 5 hours before going back to the airport to get on a plane that will get me home 14 hours later than planned. At least I'll get home. 

Now to wrap up the trip. The food tour of Chinatown in Bangkok was fantastic. We tried so much food including dumplings, steamed buns, duck, pork, squid, and my new favorite dessert dough that has been deep fried then grilled then covered in pandan sauce which has a coconut like flavor. So delicious!

Then it was off to Chiang Mai. Compared to fashion-forward Bangkok this is a small town full of shabby dressed tourists with a similar vibe to Siem Reap. I was in my element. It's also filled with over 100 wats and what seems like 100 coffee shops. It was here I hit my limit and stopped taking photos each time I passed a temple and instead thought "Oh, Buddha. Cool." 

I got a Thai massage at a business that trains and employees formerly incarcerated women to be the masseurs. A one-hour massage only costs $9! I also signed up for another food tour, this one even more adventurous. A lot of stops in the market visiting vendors who have run their booths for decades making sausages, pork leg, pork belly. I finally succumbed to peer pressure and tried both silk worm larvae (kind of mushy) and crickets (a crunchy snack). Hey, when in Southeast Asia. 

Friday was a visit to Elephant Nature Park, which I posted about the other day. It was very special to be able to walk among the elephants and hear about their stories of being rescued from logging or the tourist trade. Watching them frolic, yes I said frolic, in the river was also fun. And we got to spend 15 minutes in Cat Kingdom with 2000 rescued cats! I wanted to visit with more of them but one sat on my lap so I stayed with that cat the entire time. And... in the souvenir shop, I saw an elephant carved out of flip flops. It was done in partnership with Ocean Sole, an organization I visited in Nairobi and made a short video about back in 2007 when they were called UniquEco. So cool to see.

A trip to the night bazar for some local food and souvenirs and here we are, about to board the plane for the final leg home. It's been great to see places I haven't been before and inspiring to see what local people in both Cambodia and Thailand are doing to improve the lives of people and animals in their communities.

As has become the usual with these posts below is a selection of photos from this section of the trip. Thanks for following along!

Feel Good Friday - Elephant Nature Park

I’m feeling good this Friday because I'll soon be visiting Elephant Nature Park in Chiang Mai, Thailand, an organization known for their compassionate approach to elephant rescue and rehabilitation.

Founded in 1995 and headquartered in Mae Taeng District near Chiang Mai, the mission of Elephant Nature Park (ENP) is to provide sanctuary for rescued elephants while promoting ethical, observation-based tourism. The park is home to more than 75 elephants who have been saved from torturous situations in the logging and tourism industries, along with hundreds of rescued dogs, cats, and water buffalo.

Founded by renowned conservationist Sangduen "Lek" Chailert, ENP is recognized as the first ethical elephant sanctuary of its kind in Asia. The park operates with a strict no-riding, no-performing policy. There are no bull hooks, no tricks, and no exploitation. Instead, elephants roam freely across 101 hectares, interacting with their herds, playing in rivers and mud pits, and living with dignity and respect. Watch the documentary Love & Bananas: An Elephant Story to learn more. 

Many of the elephants at ENP have heartbreaking stories. Some are blind or crippled from years of abuse. Others are orphans who lost their mothers far too young. At the sanctuary, these gentle giants receive the care they need and deserve. That means medical attention from four on-site veterinarians, nutritious food through the Elephant Food Bank, and the freedom to simply be elephants.

Beyond direct rescue, ENP has expanded its impact through several innovative programs. The Saddle Off program provides elephants with the opportunity to roam, socialize, and forage in natural habitats, while allowing visitors to have an authentic and intimate interaction with these gentle giants. The Jumbo Express mobile clinic brings veterinary care to elephants that cannot reach the sanctuary while the Farm to Herd initiative supports sustainable food sourcing.

The best, and most fun, way to support Elephant Nature Park is by booking a visit to the sanctuary in Chiang Mai. You can also amplify their message on social media. Follow ENP on Facebook, Instagram or YouTube and share their stories of rescue and rehabilitation with your network.

Goodbye Siem Reap, Hello Bangkok

From mama pigs by the outhouse to skyscrapers, mega malls and an extensive subway system, I was not fully prepared for the culture shock I would feel transitioning from Cambodia to Thailand. And just when I had learned a few phrases in Khmer, I need to forget them all and try to learn some Thai. Sawasdee kha! 

To wrap Cambodia, thanks to all the work the teams did after we left, we were able to finish both houses and latrines and have blessing ceremonies that got the families off to a good start. Not only will their houses better protect them from the rain, they are solar powered so they have light and a fan inside. Cooking will happen downstairs and there is also a water filtration system. It's quite a change for both families. 

Saturday, the team went to Angkor Wat. It's not just the temple you've seen in all the photos, it's a complex of over 72 major temples. We started outside the gate to watch the sunrise then began our tour at the main temple before taking a break back at our hotel and visiting two more - including Ta Prohm, which many will recognize as the Tomb Raider temple. It was a wonderful way to wrap up my time in Cambodia. 

Now in Bangkok I have been navigating the subway system semi successfully and yesterday I went on a whirlwind tour of the Grand Palace, Wat Pho and Wat Arun. All stunning in their own ways. The Grand Palace houses the Emerald Buddha, which is very cool but photos aren't allowed. Wat Pho is where the famous reclining Buddha is. He is 150 feet long - that's half a football field! Amazing. And Wat Arun is another spectacular structure covered in people wearing rented traditional Thai outfits and having their photos taken. 

After all that I met my friend Matt for dinner and he showed me around his neighborhood. We met at work 27 years ago and after promising I would visit him in Thailand, I finally made it. 

Today I walked around a less touristy, more hipster neighborhood and I'm getting ready for a food tour of Chinatown. Then it's off to Chiang Mai. What a whirlwind.

As always, the photos are showing up most recent to oldest in a giant stack below. The first picture is a bit of a spoiler alert for the subway sign I took on the Bangkok train when I first arrived but still worth including!