Feel Good Friday - Lambda Legal

June is Pride Month, and today I'm highlighting Lambda Legal, an organization that has spent more than five decades in courtrooms across the country fighting for LGBTQ+ civil rights.

Founded in 1973 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of Lambda Legal is "to achieve the full recognition of the civil rights of LGBTQ+ people and all persons living with HIV through impact litigation, public education, and policy work." 

It's easy to forget how recently these rights had to be fought for at all. When founder Bill Thom filed the organization's incorporation paperwork in 1972, a panel of New York judges rejected it. In their view, the mission was 'neither benevolent nor charitable.' Thom appealed their decision, and won.

Lambda Legal has been fighting on three interconnected fronts ever since: pursuing high-impact cases in court, equipping people to understand and exercise their rights through public education, and advocating for stronger legal protections at the local, state, and federal level. Clients pay nothing for Lambda Legal's representation.

Right now, that work has never been more urgent. Since January 2025, Lambda Legal has filed six major cases challenging executive orders targeting transgender people, gender-affirming care, accurate identity documents, and military service for trans people. In 2025 alone, they had active cases in 24 states. One of their recent wins is a court injunction that restored $6.2 million in federal funding to LGBTQ+ and HIV organizations after the Trump administration moved to cut it. You can track their ongoing federal cases with their Trump Tracker.

Lambda Legal also maintains a national Help Desk for people experiencing discrimination, and a network of volunteer Cooperating Attorneys that extends their reach far beyond their staff team. With more than 50 years of landmark wins behind them and some of the most consequential cases of our time ahead, they are exactly the organization this moment calls for.

If you’d like to support Lambda Legal you can do so by making a donation, becoming a volunteer, and amplifying their message on social media. Follow Lambda Legal on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and share their stories of resilience and resistance with your network.

Happy Pride Month!

Feel Good Friday - Bikes Not Bombs

May is National Bike Month, and what better way to wrap up the celebration than spotlighting Boston’s Bikes Not Bombs.

Founded in 1984 and headquartered in Jamaica Plain, Massachusetts, the mission of Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) is "to use the bicycle as a vehicle for social change to achieve economic mobility for Black and other marginalized people in Boston and the Global South."

Each year, BNB collects roughly 5,000 donated bicycles from supporters across Greater Boston and New England, and ships most of them to partner organizations around the world. In fact, BNB is loading a container of bikes and parts headed to their partner Learn, Work, Develop in Rwanda this weekend!

Since 1984, they have shipped over 80,000 bicycles to partners in 14 countries. Current international partners include organizations in Guatemala, El Salvador, Kenya, Rwanda, and Nevis Island, all using bicycles to expand access to economic opportunity, education, and health care in their communities. Bicycles also power pedal-driven machines for grain milling, water pumping, and coffee processing in some of these locations, providing emissions-free technology that improves rural livelihoods. 

Locally, BNB’s Youth Pathways programs have served over 3,000 Boston youth since 1990. Their Earn-A-Bike program gives young people a safe, welcoming environment to learn everything from riding basics to fully refurbishing a bike they can take home. Youth Apprenticeships offer paid, hands-on training in bike mechanics, entrepreneurship, and career development, building skills and resumes that open doors well beyond the bike shop. BNB's Bike Shop and Training Center sells refurbished and new bikes, with profits funding their youth and international work. To hear the origin story of Bikes Not Bombs directly from co-founder Carl Kurz, you can watch this short video about the organization's 40+ years of impact.

There are many ways to support Bikes Not Bombs. You can donate a bike, become a volunteer, make a monetary donation, or shop their online store for gear and accessories. Amplify their message on social media by following BNB on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn or YouTube, and sharing their stories of hope and community with your network.

Happy National Bike Month!

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 - Academy of American Poets

April is National Poetry Month, and this year marks the 30th anniversary of the celebration, making it the perfect time to spotlight the Academy of American Poets, the organization that started it all.

Founded in 1934 and headquartered in New York City, the mission of Academy of American Poets  is "to support American poets at all stages of their careers and to foster the appreciation of contemporary poetry."

The Academy launched National Poetry Month in 1996, and it has grown into the largest literary celebration in the world, with schools, libraries, publishers, and poetry lovers across the country participating every April. But their work doesn't stop when the month ends.

Year-round, the Academy runs an impressive slate of programs. Poem-a-Day is their beloved daily series, publishing more than 200 new, previously unpublished poems each year alongside exclusive commentary from the poets themselves. Dear Poet  connects K–12 students directly with living poets through letter writing. This year, for the first time, the program includes poems in both English and Spanish! Teach This Poem  is a free weekly resource for educators, pairing a poem with discussion questions and classroom activities. And Poetry Near You is a searchable calendar of poetry events happening in communities nationwide.

The Academy also administers the American Poets Prizes and Fellowships, distributing more than $1,000,000 to two hundred poets each year, making it the largest funder of poets in the United States. This includes the Poet Laureate Fellowship, which awards $50,000 fellowships to state and local poets laureate, and the Wallace Stevens Award, a $100,000 prize for lifetime achievement.

Upcoming events include Poem in Your Pocket Day on April 30th. Everyone is encouraged to carry a poem and share it with someone on that day. And don't miss the Poetry & the Creative Mind virtual benefit reading on April 28th, featuring a star-studded lineup of celebrities reading their favorite poems. It's free and open to all!

You can support the Academy of American Poets in many ways. Become a member, make a donation, or simply share their work on social media. Follow them on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and spread a little poetry love with your network.

Happy National Poetry 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 - Volunteer Building Cambodia

With my volunteer trip to Cambodia coming up and 2026 being the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development, I'm excited to spotlight Volunteer Building Cambodia this week.

Founded in 2014 and headquartered in Siem Reap, Cambodia, Volunteer Building Cambodia (VBC) aims to improve the living conditions of families in need in rural areas by providing them with wells, toilets, and safe, dry housing. You can find details about this work and their partnership with the JJoy Foundation in my post from December. Today I want to highlight VBC's education programs.

In rural Cambodia, inadequate education and lack of skills mean many people remain jobless or struggle with unskilled labor, resulting in limited opportunities for families to break the cycle of poverty. VBC established the Volunteer Building Cambodia Community Centre (VBCCC) in 2017 to provide a crucial step on that ladder out of poverty.

Located about 25 kilometers outside Siem Reap in Bakong village, VBCCC teaches English language and computer skills to children and teenagers who have limited or no access to these classes at their own schools. These programs complement the local Khmer curriculum and open doors for young people looking for job opportunities as well as students planning to attend universities that use English language textbooks and require digital literacy. Through their English classes, VBCCC also provides education on hygiene and sanitation, the environment, and other important subjects.

VBCCC has had a big impact in the community. With only four full-time teachers, the school serves around 200 students every day and more than 50% of them are girls! In addition, VBC has plans to create a vocational training facility starting with basic building skills to help adults in surrounding villages gain greater opportunities to find work and better provide for their families.

If you'd like to support Volunteer Building Cambodia, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation, join a volunteer trip to build homes or teach at the Community Centre, and amplify their message on social media. Follow VBC on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and share their stories of hope and opportunity with your network. I'll be sharing photos and stories from my trip on my Hey Miss K blog so stay tuned! 

Feel Good Friday - JJoy Foundation

In February, I'll be heading to Cambodia with the JJoy Foundation for my 9th volunteer house building trip, which inspired me to spotlight their incredible work this week.

Founded in 2013 and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, the mission of JJoy Foundation is to improve the lives of children and families in underserved communities around the world through education, health, and housing programs.

JJoy's work spans multiple areas: they provide educational support and scholarships, deliver health and wellness programs, and build housing for families in need. My volunteer work in February will focus on their housing initiatives in Cambodia, where they partner with Volunteer Building Cambodia, a locally-run organization that's been improving living conditions for families in rural Cambodia for the past 11 years. Together, they build sturdy, traditional Khmer-style homes and latrines for families living in inadequate housing.

In rural Cambodia, 85% of families lack adequate sanitation and 35% don't have access to safe water. Dilapidated homes require constant repairs, stealing time and resources families need to focus on education, health, and livelihoods. When JJoy builds a secure home with proper sanitation, children have a safe place to study and sleep, parents can invest time in income-generating work, and the entire family gains dignity and stability.

The organization's volunteer-powered model brings people from around the world to work alongside local builders, creating not just homes but connections across cultures. These aren't just construction projects—they're foundations for better futures. Since JJoy began, volunteers have completed 104 project that have benefited more than 2,000 people!

If you'd like to support JJoy Foundation, there are many ways to do so. You can make a donation through my personal fundraising page (my goal is to raise $1,000 by December 17th), or amplify their message on social media. Follow JJoy on Facebook and Instagram and subscribe to their YouTube channel. I'll also be sharing photos and stories from my trip on my Hey Miss K blog—stay tuned!

Feel Good Friday - International Menopause Society

Did you know tomorrow is World Menopause Day? Neither did I. Now that we do, let’s learn more about the organization that founded it, the International Menopause Society.

Founded in 1978 and headquartered in Truro, England, the mission of International Menopause Society (IMS) is “to work globally to promote and support access to best practice health care for women through their menopause transition and post-reproductive years, enabling them to achieve optimal health and well-being.”

Given that the vision of IMS is, in part, “that all women across the world will have easy and equitable access to evidence-based knowledge and health care”, it’s no surprise that the menopause info section of the website is extensive. 

For people who want to learn more about menopause, there are fact sheets on topics such as symptoms, sleep and hormone therapy provided in multiple languages. The fact sheet on cardiovascular disease is available in English, Bangla, Chinese, Croatian, Dutch, French, Greek, Hebrew, Hungarian, Italian, Malaysian, Mongolian, Portuguese, Spanish, Taiwanese and Turkish! If you don’t feel like reading you can check out the selection of videos and podcasts with leading experts from around the world.

These experts make up a network of IMS members who collaborate and share knowledge about all aspects of aging in women and advocate evidence-based treatment options that optimize mid-life women’s health and promote best practice in women’s health care. The professional resources section of the website has information to help healthcare providers maintain these high standards.

In addition, IMS founded World Menopause Day in 2009 to raise awareness of menopause and improve the experience of women around the world. Each year on October 18th, IMS highlights challenges faced by women during menopause and advancements in research, education and support. In 2025, the focus is on how lifestyle medicine, such as healthy eating, physical activity and healthy relationships, can ease menopausal symptoms, reduce chronic-disease risk and support women’s long-term health. You can view and download as many of the lifestyle medicine fact sheets as you’d like as well as register for online educational events.

If you work in this field, you can find and join your local affiliated menopause society. If you’d like to support the work of IMS you can make a donation to the Endowment for Education and Research. To help the women in your life learn about this valuable resource, spread the word on social media. Follow the International Menopause Society on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - Cesar Chavez Foundation

Today we celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month and the work of Cesar Chavez by highlighting the Cesar Chavez Foundation.

Created by Cesar Chavez in 1966 and headquartered in Keene, California, the mission of the Cesar Chavez Foundation (CCF) is “to carry on Cesar’s life’s work of uplifting the lives of Latinos and working families by inspiring and transforming communities through social enterprises that address essential human, cultural and community needs.”

Cesar Chavez was a labor leader and civil rights activist who co-founded the National Farmworkers Association which later became the United Farm Workers labor union. His motto, “¡Si se puede!” (“Yes, it can be done!”), guided him through his work as a community organizer and champion of social change, the environment and consumer rights. 

CCF is a self-sustainable fund. They raise money through various social enterprises that are then used to provide services to target underserved communities. Their current areas of focus include housing and economic development, education, multimedia communications, and preserving Cesar’s legacy. 

The Housing and Economic Development Fund builds and manages high-quality, service-enhanced, affordable housing for working families and seniors across California, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. That includes over 5,000 multifamily units and more than 300 single family homes. The Education Fund supports after school and summer school programs as well as develops culturally relevant curricula for teachers to use. More than 110,000 students have been served through these programs.

Radio Campesina is the flagship program of Chavez Media. It’s one of 14 digital radio stations CCF operates across California, Arizona, Nevada, and Georgia and it reaches over 1.5 million listeners! Most of the programs are broadcast in both Spanish and English. 

Since they began, CCF has invested more than $860 million in underserved communities. What a wonderful way to continue the legacy of Cesar Chavez. His life and work is also being preserved at the National Chavez Center in La Paz estate in Keene, California, which you can visit seven days a week.

If you’d like to support CCF and the work they do, there are some unique ways to get involved. You can request a speaker to come speak at your next event or shop for merch to show your support. You can also raise awareness of this organization on social media. Follow the Cesar Chavez Foundation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel. ¡Si se puede!

Feel Good Friday - Latinitas

We continue our celebration of National Hispanic Heritage Month with a look at an organization that is inspiring confidence and empowering community, Latinitas.

Founded in 2002 and headquartered in Austin, Texas, the mission of Latinitas is to “empower girls and their communities through culturally relevant education.” They focus on STEAM education (science, technology, engineering, arts and math), digital equity, career exploration, and economic opportunity.

Let’s start with culturally relevant education. It’s designed to connect to the lives, identities and aspirations of the students and their families. The curriculum encourages students to engage with the topics and see themselves in the stories. Role models who are professionals with similar backgrounds inspire success and create an environment for girls to build confidence, develop leadership skills, and explore creative career pathways.

There are a number of educational programs that Lantinitas runs. Club Latinitas is an afterschool program focusing on technology, digital media, culture and identity, open to girls ages 9-14. During the summers, this age group can attend Camp Latinitas where every week there is a new theme such as architecture, engineering and fashion design. 14-18 years old can learn the programming language Python in eight weeks by attending the free, virtual program Code Chica. Families can participate in the multi-generational programming which covers digital literacy and workforce readiness. There are also a variety of one-day Chica Conferences where technology and media are used as tools to explore careers, and Latinitas Magazine, the first digital magazine made by and for young Latinas.

These programs are attended by approximately 3,000 girls across Texas every year. In the 2023-2024  year, there was an 87.5% growth in enrollment in Club Latinitas, 220  girls attended the Chica Conferences, Camp Latinitas had 3528 impact hours and the multi-generational programs had 1167 hours of impact.

If you’d like to help empower Latinitas across Texas there are many ways to do so. Texans reading this post can volunteer. The rest of us can make a monetary donation and amplify this work on social media. Follow Latinitas on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel.

Feel Good Friday - International Volunteer HQ

For everyone who enjoys traveling after the summer season and volunteering while on vacation, you’re going to love learning about today’s organization, International Volunteer HQ.

Founded in 2007 and headquartered in Taranaki, New Zealand, International Volunteer HQ (IVHQ) is the world’s leading volunteer abroad organization. If you’re short on time, this one-minute video gives a great summary.

IVHQ provides a fully-hosted experience, which means you pick your destination, volunteer project and duration and they take care of airport pickup, accommodations and logistics. There are 334 projects in 50+ countries across Africa, Asia, South America, Central America, North America, Europe, the Caribbean, the Middle East and the Pacific.

The first step is to pick a destination and a project. You can make your decision by starting with the country you want to visit, or choose what type of organization you’d like to support. IVHQ partner organizations work with children’s education, animals, the environment, health and well being and community development. Specific examples of available trips include mentoring young women in Columbia, protecting and preserving endangered wildlife in Namibia, and working in a pediatric hospital in Cambodia.

Once you find a project that works for your interest, schedule and budget you apply online. If accepted you secure your spot with a registration fee, and prepare for your trip. You’ll also need to pay a program fee, which covers accommodation, meals, airport pick-up, 24/7 in-country support, in-country orientation and discounts on local activities. Prices vary depending on your destination. This page of FAQs can answer all of your questions.

Since they began, IVHQ has helped connect over 152,000 volunteers to opportunities around the world where they have collectively spent 8 million hours doing volunteer work! In 2024 alone 11,678 volunteers representing 125 nationalities volunteered in 56 locations. Get all the details in this short impact video.

One of the best ways to let more people know about IVHQ is to go on a trip and tell people about it! Share your photos and videos on social media and tag IVHQ or write a guest blog on their website to share your volunteer story. You can also stay in the loop by following International Volunteer HQ on Facebook, Instagram, or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel. 

Feel Good Friday - National Archives Foundation

Happy 4th of July! Once you finish celebrating Independence Day with a parade or a barbecue, take a moment to learn about today’s Feel Good Friday organization, the National Archives Foundation.

Founded in 1993 and headquartered in Washington, DC, naturally, the National Archives Foundation is “an independent nonprofit that increases awareness of the National Archives’ mission to preserve, protect, and share America’s stories.” 

The purpose of the Foundation is to support the Archivist of the United States in developing programs, technology, projects, and materials that “educate, enrich, and inspire a deeper appreciation of our country’s heritage through the collected evidence of its history.”

Historic documents such as the Declaration of Independence, Constitution, and Bill of Rights are housed in the National Archives Museum in Washington, DC. There are also regional archives, records centers, and Presidential libraries and museums where you can view pieces of our history. Even a virtual visit to the regional archives is pretty interesting. The National Archives at San Francisco has historic military records, genealogical resources, and a list of former Alcatraz inmates.

Online you’ll find educational resources for students and teachers in a program called Civics for All of US. The goal of this initiative is to promote civic literacy and engagement. You can also explore the Women’s History programming or take a look at America’s 100 docs. The Foundation is inviting people to vote on which documents they feel are most important to US history. The top 16 records will go head-to-head before the United States’ anniversary in 2026! This gallery shows all 100 documents in the competition. 19th Amendment anyone?

Finally, for those of you who like to plan, the Foundation already has events on the calendar to celebrate America’s 250th anniversary next year. Learn more at America 250.

If this post got you feeling all patriotic and you want to know how you can help the Foundation, here’s how. Make a donation, or shop to support National Archives exhibits, public programs, and educational initiatives. You can buy copies of historic documents, books, games and socks! 

 

As always, help spread the word on social media. Follow the National Archives Foundation on Facebook, Instagram or LinkedIn and subscribe to their YouTube channel. Happy 4th!