Obama Gives Support To LGBT Community
Today President Obama stated his support for same-sex marriage.
Of course, his statement does not end the struggles LGBT communities face in the political arena, or end the lack of gay rights in places like North Carolina (where gay marriage was recently banned).
However, to hear the President voice his support for gay marriage is good news nonetheless for supporters.
A quick refresher:
Some claim that the fight for gay rights began at Stonewall. Since then, it’s become more and more acceptable for LGBT Americans to be who they are in public. In fact, the American public has slowly been favorable with same-sex marriage.
So in the end, for straight and LGBT couples, it is a happy day when love remains at the heart of a relationship, not sexual orientation.
Via The Los Angeles Times, check out President Obama and the good news. Click here.
“We Will Survive Cancer” Fundraiser Inspires
Last week Gloria D’Molina, a cancer surviver, told her story at the We Will Survive Cancer fundraiser event at L2 Lounge in Washington DC.
“You can’t imagine what a parent goes through when they are told their child has only a couple of months to live,” D’Molina said. “Today [and 10 years later], I’m cancer-free.”
D’Molina was the guest of honor at the We Will Survive Cancer event, hosted by the nonprofit of the same name.
We Will Survive Cancer helps cancer patients who lack the financial ability to cover all treatment options with funding as well as providing a support group to better the lives of cancer victims and their families.
The event was held at the prestigious L2 Lounge in Washington DC, and featured a silent auction of items contributed by individuals and various charitable groups. Besides the guest of honor, the event featured artist Tameka Contee, who painted an original and personalized piece around the theme of “Hope” given towards the auction as well.
The L2 Lounge was a gracious backdrop for such an event, with its exposed brick walls, intimate layout, displayed art work and top of the line sound system and video projections. The music was provided by well-renowned DJ Neekola, who spun everything from Hi-
Guest of Honor Gloria D’Molina (center)
Photo Curtesy of: Diane Crawford, Red Carpet Concierge Washington DC, a Red Carpet Media Group
a Ma by the late Miriam Makeba to Avicii’s Levels. Even the cocktail of the night contributed to the “pink” theme; The Pom being a delicate mixture of pomegranate juice and vodka with some extra sweet additives.
Everyone was touched by D’Molina’s inspirational story and her simple plea of not taking any moment for granted and just smile more. The simple act of smiling from within, according D’Molina can change someone’s day and mood drastically.
“Someone once told me, that you can have the best makeup and the pretties outfit in the world, but if you don’t have a smile on your face, you’re not dressed good enough,” D’Molina said.
For more information on We Will Survive Cancer and how you can donate and get involved, visit their website at: http://www.wewillsurvivecancer.org
For more information on the featured artist Tameka Contee, you can visit her website here: http://www.conteecreation.com/
People speaking out
[The rally against war with Iran had taken place earlier in the year. But the Free Syria activists still protest every Saturday]
There is a rally against War with Iran. There is a rally for a Free Syria. There are young men playing street hockey. All three are happening in front of the White House. All three occur in the same space and time. And yet, each manages to maintain a distance from one another. Each is able to gather and voice their concerns on a rather gray and cold winter afternoon.
Michelle Nadeau has in-laws in Iran.
Standing up against the powers that be
[This story was written in February, but issues like foreclosure don’t simply disappear.]
There should be children playing in the backyard. There should be a tire swing and a front porch. Families smiling and telling one another jokes. Instead, there is plywood. Plywood over windows and plywood stacked over muddied water. The floors are ripped apart, and from the walls spill wires and foam like entrails.
Welcome to America. Read the rest of this entry
Trending
Greetings Goodies!
This week we are happy to report a number of diverse and interesting topics shared by you on Twitter, which can be viewed under Good Tweets of the Week.
However, one story in particular peaked our interest, and yours as well, making it the top trending story of the week.
Elena Baturina, entrepreneur and Russia’s richest woman, with a net fortune of over $1.1 B according to Forbes magazine, pledged to invest over $100 million into intellectual development. What does this exactly mean? Launching a creative think-tank called Be Open devoted entirely to improving the world. In other words, investing in the global creative elite in the areas of arts, education, design, business, and media to find solutions that are plaguing our society today.
“Elena Baturina defines Be Open as ‘intellectual development,’ investing in the creation of added value for future generations,” said Director of the newly formed foundation Be Open Gennady Terebkov. “Mrs. Baturina plans to invest $100m to identify solutions to major social issues and then develop them from concept stage to realization.”
A very noble cause indeed, and who exactly is Elena Baturina besides being labelled the richest woman in Russia? A native to Moscow, she worked her way up, earning a degree in Management and married Yuriy Luzhkov, who was mayor of Moscow. She founded a successful construction company, Inteco, and later invested in energy and banking, deriving much of her wealth from her vast portfolio of ventures.
The launchpad for Be Open was at the International Design Week in Milan. For more information on Be Open, you can view their website here, and even submit your own project idea for a better world!
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The 8-hour work day
An 8-hour work day.
Decent benefits when injured.
The right to unionize and protest for better working conditions.
These are reasons to celebrate.
When America was experiencing its industrial revolution, many working-poor and working-class people continued to struggle making ends meet. They were the backbone of America’s economy and however, were treated poorly. It took the hard work and sacrifice of unions, of ordinary workers to demand their rights and respect. Soon, because of daily protest and the skilled organization of unions, all working-people benefited from better wages and from better living conditions.
Today is a day to remember those workers and those activists who made it possible for us to work in a safer environment and with better rights.
Faces and Shapes at a Clinic
At the Mary’s Center, families flow in and out through the front door. Rosa Walters is working at the front desk and her hands keep moving. She admits that with the number of patients at the clinic, “It’s high-demand.” Right above her is a red ticker. “Each doctor sees 25 patients a day,” she says, “And people can also walk in if they don’t have an appointment.”
Cristina Arnolds is a single mom. She switched from a private doctor when according to her, “All the Gucci moms and the moms with the Blackberries were being seen before me and my daughter.” Arnolds used to work for an Anti-human-trafficking organization but she has basic insurance.
The front door opens and closes. More voices fill the rooms.
Grizelda Meijia is in front of her computer, typing to fill the screen. Since working at the Center for a year and a ½, she has moved from the front desk to position of Financial Counselor. She is also in her junior year at Trinity, majoring in Human Relations, remembering the many times she would help translate for her parents as a child.
When asked about how she finds rest, she grins, “I’m probably working on 2 to 3 hours of sleep each day.” She smiles and glances at the screen. Read the rest of this entry
Trending
Greetings Goodies!
Recently we shared a 60 Minutes story on our Facebook page of a remarkable symphony orchestra defying poverty in a war-torn country, the Congo.
The idea to form an orchestra came from a former pilot, whose airline went under, and there was little else to do. In the beginning it was quite difficult; few available instruments, no one that could really read music, and the extra stigma of societal ridicule. However, the persistence and desire was there and soon the orchestra grew in size (currently over 200 local musicians) and in popularity (only symphony orchestra in central Africa).
Together, the musicians create beautiful music by practicing every day and ignoring the struggles they face in their daily lives. It is through music that each member is able to teleport themselves into a realm of joy and tranquility by playing and appreciating the likes of Beethoven and Brahms.
It was such an inspiring and well reported story, that we were glad it picked up traction in the Twitterverse and subsequently became our top trending story of the week. This type of good news is always welcomed since it enriches our own lives and brings us all, from the Congo to DC, closer together.
To view the whole story click here.
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What's Good, DC 