Grateful News December 2017

This month’s news focuses on kindness in education; how farming is empowering black farmers; new leadership at Esalen promotes healing the “Inner Net”; an unexpected intergenerational friendship; and innovative roofing to transform homes in slums.

Can Kindness Be Taught?

Thanks to a challenge from the Dalai Lama, a number of preschools are trying to teach something that has not always been considered an academic subject: kindness. Since the curriculum was introduced in August, more than 15,000 educators, parents and others from around the world have signed up for it.
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Black Farmers are Sowing Seeds of Health and Empowerment

Chris Newman went from being a software engineering manager to becoming a farmer. Now he is healthier, has fewer stomach problems and can eat dairy products again. He wants to help more people of color get involved in farming, so they can feel the same connection to the land and health transformation that he has experienced. >> Read and Listen to Full Story

Where Silicon Valley is Going to Get in Touch With its Soul

“There’s a dawning consciousness emerging in Silicon Valley as people recognize that their conventional success isn’t necessarily making the world a better place,” said Mr. Tauber, 34, a former Google product manager and start-up executive coach, who is now at the helm at Esalen, where people come to reflect and get a new perspective…>> Full Story

He’s 22. She’s 81. Their Friendship is Melting Hearts.

Their friendship began entirely at random when “Words With Friends,” a Scrabble-like phone game, assigned the two strangers to play each other last summer. They would eventually play hundreds of games together, and finally met in person briefly. >> Full Story

How Recycled Roofs are Transforming Homes in Slums

Hasit Ganatra saw people in the slums of Ahmedabad in Gujarat, India, and realized that their lives were blighted by the quality of their homes. It took two years and more than 300 attempts, but finally Mr. Ganatra designed modular roof panels made from waste, pulped cardboard and natural fibers that were both sturdy and waterproof.  >> Full Story and Video