Why didn't I think of that?!

This is another one of those stories that makes me think "Why didn't I think of that?!" Orange Sky Laundry ">

Austin, Indiana HIV Epidemic

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2016/04/09/austin-indiana-hiv-outbreak/82837934/

This isn't inspiring but I did find it very interesting! It explains how an interdisciplinary group is working on solving a very serious health problem that is rooted with deeper social issues.

This would be a really interesting career and definitely something that we as Sociologists would be able to contribute to.

Beesweet Lemonade!

16/03/30/11-year-old-mikaila-ulmer-homemade-lemonade-contract-whole-foods">

I found this to be inspiring because this little girl is on 11 years old and is a young entrepreneur. She has created a new brand of lemonade called "Beesweet Lemonade". She was on the hit TV show Shark Tank when she landed her big break. Mikaila has taken the old school lemonade stand to the next level! Today, the award-winning BeeSweet Lemonade is buzzing off the shelves of Whole Foods Market, the world’s leader in natural and organic foods, and available at a growing number of restaurants, food trailers and natural food delivery companies. I feel like since she can do something so big at 11, there is no reason why I cannot start working on a hair product of my own.

How Suffragists Used Cookbooks as a Recipe for Subversion

How Suffragists Used Cookbooks as a Recipe for Subversion

12 Tales of Accidental Science Brilliance

Whoops! 12 Tales of Accidental Science Brilliance

Just Turned 40? An Architect says it's time to design for aging

Designing for Aging

Acquired Savant Syndrome

http://www.npr.org/2014/01/17/263364530/sudden-savant

I have listened to this article a couple of times.  It reminds me that the human brain is still such a mystery.  Maybe we all have these talents hidden inside we just do not know how to unlock them.

Disease Detectives

Disease Detectives
http://www.diseasedetectives.org/

Jobs for Sociologists

Career Opportunities for Sociologists

Car Wash Made for People with Autism

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VULKzVZCso0

This is an amazing thing this father did for his son. More places need to be like this. This is inspirational to me because I believe that people need to become more aware of people with not just mental disabilities but disabilities in general. With having this car wash, it helps people to realize that people with mental disabilities can function and hold a job, just like them.

Tripp Halstead

http://www.cbs46.com/story/27852921/tripp-halstead-walks-for-first-time-since-accident

High school students start pantry for fellow students in need

http://www.goodnewsnetwork.org/high-school-kids-start-food-pantry-to-keep-classmates-from-hunger/

ATU Food Recovery Program

I really Love these guys. When they see a problem that impacts the community, they try to make a change. It is great that we as Arkansas Tech can make a difference, as long as we the students help make it happen. Thank You .

http://www.inc.com/leigh-buchanan/innovation-story-of-the-year.html

Mental Health Awareness

https://www.facebook.com/InternationalBipolarFoundation/videos/10150584938229984/

Cleaning Homes for Cancer Patients Who Can't

Cleaning Homes for Cancer Patients Who Can't

This is another sector of society who need assistance.

Volunteer

https://youtu.be/6WzRtWb70Qs

Humans of New York

https://m.facebook.com/humansofnewyork/

One of my favorite things is to read every post on this page. Some of the stories are sad, some happy, some tearful, but all inspirational. This guy goes around New York taking pictures of people and asks them about themselves. Then he uploads the picture and their story to facebook. He also has a book out that has pictures and stories published in it!

A Place Called Home
http://www.adoptafamilypbc.org/aplacecalledhome

Adopt-A-Family’s A Place Called Home program (APCH) is a HUD-funded, permanent supportive housing program.  Homeless families living with disabilities are assessed and referred by the Senator Philip D. Lewis Center and are placed in 2, 3, or 4 bedroom apartments or houses in Lake Worth, FL. 

APCH offers much more than safe, affordable, permanent housing. Parenting classes, job training, afterschool programming, financial literacy courses, and nutrition counseling are common supportive services offered by providers such as Parent Child Center, Boys Town, CredAbility, local universities, and Gulfstream Goodwill. These services complement housing-based case management offered by the full-time case manager strictly dedicated to the nine families of APCH.  Families work closely with the case manager to design “Family Action Plans” that are tailored to each family’s goals and needs to assist them to attain or regain self-sufficiency.  

Project S.A.F.E.http://www.adoptafamilypbc.org/ProjectSAFE

Project S.A.F.E. (Stable Able Family Environment) is the oldest housing program of Adopt-A-Family.  Project S.A.F.E. provides homeless families the opportunity to reside in safe, permanent, affordable housing.  Residents are referred to Project S.A.F.E. from the various emergency shelter programs located in Palm Beach County, and have often spent time living in uninhabitable situations prior to entering this program.  The head of household must have a disability which impeded their ability to live independently.  To address the barriers and challenges the families are encountering, intensive support services are offered – including case management, advocacy, budgeting, mental health counseling, access to education and job training, financial literacy training, and childcare – all designed to help clients increase their self-sufficiency.  All families must either be attending school and/or working while in the program. Read below for a testimonial from one of our families. 

“My Name is Latoya Hatcher and I have a son named Jermaine. We have been in this program since March 2013.  I cannot express how much Adopt-A-Family has helped my son and I! This program is a place that doesn’t just help. This program goes beyond your expectations. They treat you like you’re family. Whatever you may need they will go the extra mile to get any resources needed. If I can sum it up in one word I would say this program is EXCEPTIONAL because it helps families help themselves.” 

Making the World a Better Place With Pizza and Post-its

http://www.goodnet.org/articles/making-world-better-place-pizza-postits

Smart Shopper Uses Extreme Couponing To Get Items For People In Need

http://m.huffpost.com/us/entry/student-uses-extreme-couponing-skills-to-buy-items-for-people-in-need_us_5695193ae4b086bc1cd52eb5?utm_hp_ref=good-news

Suspended Coffee

When you buy a coffee, you can purchase another one for someone else. When someone in need comes in, they can ask for a suspended coffee and receive one that was already bought for them.

Adult Education

Adults improve their skills to go on to college or get better jobs.

Recycling for Prizes

Pepsico recycling initiative: the Dream Machine

One example:
https://youtu.be/znwFOCFd0XM

Random Acts

Even the smallest random act of kindness can do a lot of good.

Cathy O'Grady has always been a person who's life mission was to bring a smile to the faces of complete strangers. But after her mother passed away 15 years ago from breast cancer, she felt the need to embody her mother's legacy of unbridled generosity and took her random acts of kindness to the next level. From donating $50 gift cards to Boston families who couldn't afford a Thanksgiving dinner to leaving blankets, hats and scarves on park benches for the homeless, O'Grady devotes every second of her spare time outside of her accounting job and online jewelry business to giving back because it helps others and makes her feel good.

"I just want people to feel loved," she told HuffPost.

Epic Adventure

Epic adventures and giving can go hand in hand.

When U.S. Navy veteran Austin Shirley returned from duty with a sudden lack of purpose, he set out to find it in a way that was not just about himself, but was focused on wounded veterans around the country. Shirley mapped a 2,500-mile walking route that began in Jacksonville, Florida, and ended in San Diego, California, that he followed with his dog Archer and best friend John for nine and a half months, raising money for his fellow servicemen along the way. He traded in all of his possessions for hiking gear, camping equipment and food, raised more than $62,500 for Wounded Wear, and found the part of himself that was missing

http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshhAW8vCnAsM6RQXjCL

This video discusses how adjunct professors have a high level of education but aren't getting paid enough. This low level of pay is causing these professors to seek help through ways such as welfare. This video inspired me because I am involved in the food pantry process going on at Tech. Tech has many adjunct professors who fall within this category. I was able to speak with an adjunct professor who had a daughter in high school. She mentioned how she barely makes enough for her and her daughter and just thinking about the expenses of sending her to college created financial stress. Food pantries on college campuses can address this problem.

http://www.5280.com/blogs/2013/09/24/get-involved-adopt-dog-day

I attended a college before I transferred to Tech that had a program similar to this. I could not find anything on it but basically for a day, students could rent a dog or a puppy for the whole day or even for just an hour. This not only allowed for the dogs to get attention and love but it also helped reduce stress students had and put them in happier moods. Also, because the weather was nice outside it got students outside and being active so that they could play with the dogs. It also creates an environment for students to be more open to the idea of adopting from a shelter later on in life when they may want to get a pet of their own. 

The Most Pampered Vegetables in the World

http://www.npr.org/2016/01/25/462829094/meet-the-most-pampered-vegetables-in-america

Sometimes, it's about finding an "unmet need."

Pirate Supply Store/Tutoring Center

826 Valencia is a nonprofit started by Dave Eggers. It is a tutoring/writing center that uses it's front as a "pirate supply store".

SCADPad

SCAD Pads are micro homes built in unused parking garages for growing populations.

Foster Grandparent Tutoring

Coffee Cart

How A Great Teacher Cultivates Veggies (and Kids) in the Bronx

How A Great Teacher Cultivates Veggies (and Kids) in the Bronx

One of those things that I see as a major social problem that needs addressing is our education system.  I am inspired by stories about people who step outside of the box to try to get students to learn.