The Goodnewspaper The 2023 Helpers Edition

When I first began building Good Good Good and The Goodnewspaper, I was heavily influenced by the work and wisdom of Fred Rogers — who is better known as Mister Rogers, everyone's favorite neighbor. Rogers has this iconic quote that you've no-doubt heard before: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.'” At Good Good Good, we're here to help readers find the Helpers and then to join in and become the Helpers. Each year, we dedicate an entire edition of the Goodnewspaper to The Helpers of the Year. This year, our team worked together to nominate and curate the most impactful Helpers who made 2023…

John Stessel calls himself the “Shelter Dog Magician.” His tricks go back to his eighth birthday, when he first got a magic kit and fell in love. In the two decades since, he has honed his craft and created a library full of tricks — that he uses for good. One of those magic tricks? Making a dog treat vanish right before a pup's eyes. An entertaining trick for audiences and dogs alike, he began posting videos of dogs excitedly sniffing out the vanished snacks, aghast at the idea that it really could be gone. Stessel reached out to St. Hubert's Animal Welfare Center in New Jersey to collaborate on these videos — using adoptable dogs as his special assistants, and sharing the adorable clips in hopes of helping them…

This September, Lego began mass production of specialty Braille Lego sets. The bricks are manufactured in the same shape as the classic ones, but the studs on the top are rearranged to form braille letters and numbers. In the last two decades, computer technology has produced great leaps in accessibility for those who are blind or partially sighted. But even with the advancements in voiceto-text and automated translation tools, experts say that the tactile language of braille is crucial to the independence and education of anyone who is vision-impaired. “Audio has convenience on its side, but braille is how children who are blind can develop vital literacy skills alongside sighted peers,” said Chris Edwards, a director at Vision Australia. In an interview with the Guardian, Lisa Taylor said braille Legos…

On August 8th, a series of deadly wind-driven wildfires overwhelmed the Hawaiian island of Maui. The destruction led to island-wide evacuations, widespread destruction, and the tragic loss of at least 99 people and thousands of pets. The fires extended to historic landmarks throughout Lahaina and Pulehu and wiped out over 2,200 homes. In the wake of the disaster, there has been a global outpouring of support for the people of Maui. The Hawai'i Community Foundation — which created the relief fund Maui Strong — has raised nearly $140 million. The funds come from over 200,000 donors from more than 50 countries around the world. “We are so humbled by the outpouring of aloha from around the world,” Maui Strong spokesperson Sheila Sarhangi told Forbes. “Lahaina holds a place in many…

GOOD Misinformation can run rampant online. Stay informed through trusted news sources and flag fake news when you spot it on social media platforms or news publications to help hold them accountable. BETTER Make a personal donation to a trusted humanitarian group. You can use ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer web tool to vet organizations and see first-hand where their funds are going. BEST Support an established fundraiser and help spread awareness for the cause. Whether the fundraiser is local, online, or both, this is a great way to form a network with other people who care.…

In drag performances, queens and kings — typically crossdressed in fabulous clothing and dramatic make-up — take the stage to sing, lip-sync, and dance their hearts out. But in 2023, Montana and Tennessee both passed state laws explicitly restricting drag performances. Four more states — Texas, Arkansas, Florida, and North Dakota — passed laws that target drag shows or ban them entirely. Although a flurry of temporary blocks and federal court orders have ruled the laws unconstitutional or unenforceable, drag bans have taken on a dangerous, new connotation this year. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, “Drag Race“ star Aura Mayari said that drag shows simply spread joy. “People come to our shows to have a good time and to escape the cruel reality of life,” said Mayari. “Drag changes…