People Doing Good

Stories of people making a difference in the world

A photo collage of a building with flags in front of it, a pizza joint, a portrait of Jesse Kortuem smiling, a person inside a CT scan machine with 2 monitors in the foreground, and an aerial view of a church

Good News This Week: January 17, 2026 - Churches, Pizzas, & Teachers

Your weekly roundup of the best good news worth celebrating...

The Women's March is back. Here's when the big event is — and what you need to know

The Women’s March is a lead organizer on January 20th’s “Free America” walkout. Here’s what to know.

A brass band performs in George Floyd Square in Minneapolis

Minneapolis brass band founded after George Floyd's murder helps community heal once again

Brass Solidarity meets weekly to spread music, usually at George Floyd Square. But with ICE in the area, their music has a renewed purpose.

On the left, Keith McHenry, a young bearded white man is arrested in a black and white photo. On the right, an older Keith McHenry leads a protest.

This man has spent over 500 nights in jail. His crime? Feeding homeless communities without a permit

Keith McHenry’s first arrest was on August 15, 1988, when he and eight fellow volunteers were detained at Golden Gate Park in San Francisco.

Martin Luther King Jr. stands in between a man and a woman shaking hands with each other

MLK is often portrayed as a 'civil saint.' 3 of his works remind us that his beliefs were truly radical

Three particular works from 1957 to 1967 illustrate how King’s political thought evolved from a hopeful reformer to a radical critic.

Two photos side by side. On the left is a screenshot of a video of a person speaking outside of Smitten Kitten, a sex shop in Minneapolis. On the right is an aerial view of canned food donations in brown paper bags

Amid ICE crackdown, this Minneapolis sex shop has transformed into a donation center for neighbors in need

Smitten Kitten has become a hub to gather food, personal essentials, and more, for distribution to community members in need.

A close-up photo of Martin Luther King Jr. as he stares straight into the camera

MLK believed in 'religious pluralism.' Here's what that means, and how it looks today

An African American philosopher explores the role religious pluralism played in King’s fight for civil rights in the United States — and for peace around the world.

A group of people, both Somali and allies, pose for a group photo in Minnesota, holding up signs that read: "We support our Somali neighbor"

At risk to their own safety, Somali neighbors feed ICE protesters: 'This is what it means to be a Minnesotan'

For Somali immigrants who fled civil war, ICE presence in Minnesota is the next battle they are determined to overcome.

Martin Luther King Jr. stands in front of a group of men

MLK had a vision of 'love as a moral imperative.' 58 years after his death, it matters now more than ever

What can the past tell us about healing the nation? Specifically, how can we address divisions along race, class, and political lines?

An 18-year-old, Ribal Zebian, speaks on stage in front of a prototype of a modular tiny home

Teen invents modular home designed to end homelessness. He will live in it for a year to test it himself

Ontario’s Ribal Zebian said his design can be built in just one day.

A teenage girl and an adult woman smile as they cut a red ribbon with oversized gold scissors outside a community space.

This Altadena teen raised millions for wildfire relief. A year later, she opened a community center for girls like her

Avery Colvert's viral ask on social media last year led to a million donations, a nonprofit, and a community hub to help teens plan for their futures beyond the shadow of the wildfire.

Bella Hadid and Pedro Pascal on stage at the 2026 Artists for Aid relief concert

Pedro Pascal and Bella Hadid raise $5.5M at Gaza and Sudan aid concert: 'All of our suffering is connected'

Artists for Aid performers included acts like Chappell Roan, Lucy Dacus, Blood Orange, Clairo, and more.