Silver Linings | Book Donors | Community Venture

Good Vibes: 16 Funny Wild Animal Pictures, Winners Of Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

Hello and welcome to a new edition of the Upturn, the newsletter born out of the desire to do something that will improve the communities within our reach.

When Patrisse Cullors started the Black Lives Matter movement along with Alicia Garza and Opal Tometi they had little more than each other and the strength of their convictions. In an interview reflecting on all that the grassroots movement achieved—and has yet to accomplish—Cullors advises activists to follow their passion, and persevere: “We don’t change things overnight but if we stick to the work, if we stay in it, we can really change the world.”

More stories about dreamers and changemakers below.

In the Upside, an entrepreneur weaves a quite literal silver lining in the pandemic, and a Purple Heart veteran finds a new calling as franchise manager.

In Up-And-Coming, a woman’s passion project puts her on the path of VC funding with a community focus, and a British soccer player is expanding his support for young people to the global level.

In Uplifting, an independent bookstore is donating books to children in need and sixteen funny animal pictures I’ve been saving for a special occasion.

Finally, in the Wrap-Up, the numbers making a difference this week are 6, 10, and 80.

The Upside

Up-And-Coming

Uplifting

The Wrap-up

6 - Native American lawmakers that won the election this week and will fill a seat in Congress come January.

10 - years it’ll take for Bentley to become end-to-end carbon neutral, according to the British car manufacturers’ latest plan.

80 - percentage of people of color-led startups backed by The Engine, an MIT-led venture investing firm that operates as an accelerator.

"The purpose of life is to live it , to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience."

ELEANOR ROOSEVELT

FORMER FIRST LADY OF THE UNITED STATES