Feel Good Friday - Sharks4Kids

Today is Fintastic Friday, an annual observance on the second Friday in May dedicated to raising awareness and advocacy for sharks, skates, and rays. What a great day to spotlight Sharks4Kids.

Founded in 2012 and headquartered in Florida, the mission of Sharks4Kids is "to inspire and empower the next generation of shark advocates through dynamic education, outreach, and hands-on experiences." Founder and President Jillian Morris, a marine biologist, created the organization after years of doing classroom visits for friends and realizing that if kids were armed with facts and enthusiasm, they could be one of the most powerful forces for shark conservation.

Here’s the thing: sharks have a serious image problem. Decades of sensational media coverage have convinced many people these animals are dangerous predators, when in reality they are essential to healthy ocean ecosystems and face massive threats from overfishing, finning, and habitat loss. Sharks4Kids flips the script, turning fear into fascination one classroom at a time.

Their free educational resources offer teachers a full curriculum, activities, coloring sheets, species posters, and crafts that can be woven directly into science programs at any level. Beyond materials, Sharks4Kids brings shark education to life through virtual and in-person school visits led by marine biologists, 360 VR Shark Dives that transport students underwater without leaving the classroom, and the Fin Files video series that spotlights individual species. Kids can also earn a Junior Shark Ambassador designation, empowering them to take their advocacy beyond the classroom.

On the research side, Project Lemon Aid is a hands-on initiative in Turks and Caicos where students join scientists in the field to study juvenile lemon sharks in their mangrove nurseries and learn firsthand what conservation science actually looks like.

Sharks4Kids has had a big impact since they began. By December 2025, they had reached 267,600 students through 1,878 virtual lessons, connecting with kids in 80 countries and all 50 US states, with in-person visits in 19 US states and 18 countries!

You can support Sharks4Kids by making a donation, volunteering with their education and outreach programs, shopping their online store, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow Sharks4Kids on Facebook, Instagram, Threads or YouTube, and help give sharks the voice they deserve.

Happy Fintastic Friday!

Feel Good Friday - Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance

Today is International Workers' Day. It’s also the 33rd founding anniversary of the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance, making it the perfect moment to spotlight this one-of-a-kind organization.

Founded in 1992 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., the mission of Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (APALA) is to "develop a comprehensive strategy to organize Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders into Unions, and to promote the participation and leadership of Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islanders within the Labor Movement."

APALA didn't emerge in a vacuum. The organization's own history acknowledges a long legacy of both contribution and exclusion: AANHPI workers helped build this country, from Filipino labor organizer Philip Vera Cruz, instrumental in founding the United Farm Workers, to Katie Quan and May Chen, who led the Chinese Garment Workers strike of 1982. Yet despite these contributions, AANHPI workers faced legalized barriers to joining the labor movement for generations. It was against that backdrop that AANHPI labor activists approached the AFL-CIO in 1990 with a proposal for a national organization. On May 1, 1992, over 500 AANHPI labor activists gathered in Washington, D.C. to make it real.

Today, APALA is the voice of nearly 800,000 AANHPI union members across more than 22 chapters nationwide. Their work spans several interconnected areas. The Organizing Institute is a three-day training that builds power for AANHPI union organizers, researchers, and leaders within the broader labor movement. The Young Leaders Council brings together worker representatives under 35 from across the country, educating the next generation about the labor movement and how to drive change in their communities. Beyond union building, APALA advocates on immigration reform, anti-Asian racism, voter registration, and civil rights, serving as a critical bridge between the labor movement and AANHPI communities.

Today would be a great day to show your support for APALA and here are some ways to do just that. Become a member, make a donation, shop for merch or amplify their message on social media. Follow APALA on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of solidarity and worker power with your network.

Happy International Workers' Day!