In my blog entry on “What Is News?”, I suggested that traditional news sources do not do a good job of keeping us well informed because they overlook so many important, positive stories. Let’s remember that they are in the business of selling newspapers, magazines or programs, and that they feature the stories they know we will pay attention to. If we, their audiences, start paying more attention to success stories and good ideas than we usually pay to disasters, they will start reporting more positive stories.

There are many sources of news today, some of which deliberately share good news. Here is a somewhat random list of good news at global, regional and local levels, and my sources. If you feel moved to do so, add your own list. Or, if you live in Southern Maine, and want to post some positive stories happening in the area, you can do it at Good News Portland.

- Founded by Sister Mary Scullion and Joan Dawon MCConnon in 1984, Project H.O.M.E. is a housing, employment, education, and healthcare organization breaking the cycle of homelessness and poverty in Philadelphia. The program now consists of 447 housing units, three businesses that provide employment to clients, economic development initiatives, a home ownership program for the working poor and a state-of-the-art learning center offering comprehensive education and occupational programming. It earned national awards in 2004 and 2005, and has been selected by HUD as a model program. (Sources: Maura O’Brien, program intern, and World Wide Web)

- In one day, on May 3, 2008, 50,000 volunteers literally cleaned up the country of Estonia. This was the culmination of an exciting grassroots campaign called Let’s Do It. The campaign successfully mobilized 4% of the population of Estonia to clean up 10,000 tons of garbage, a task that everybody said was impossible.  It would have taken the government three years and 22,500,000 euros.  Instead, it was done in a day and for 500,000 euros. (Source: World Wide Web)

- Did you know there are stock markets that act as clearing houses to connect worthy projects with donors, including The South African Social Investment Exchange? In its first three years, SASIX, as it’s called, has brought in $2.2 million for a total of 53 projects. Bovespa is a similar exchange in Brazil, and other efforts are underway in India, New Zealand, Portugal, and Thailand. (Source:  Ode Magazine)

- Backyard Farms in Madison, Maine is expanding, adding 75 new jobs in the next few months. This highly successful venture resulted from economic development/promotion efforts of the community and a strong community-company partnership. (Source: Mainebiz, May 18th and June 1st issues, 2009.)

- Rob Evans, owner and chef of Hugo’s restaurant in Portland, ME won the prestigious James Beard Foundation award for Best Chef in the Northeast on May 4th, 2009. (Source: Mainebiz, June 1st issue)

- Sherida Mkama is one of many success stories for FINCA, an organization that provides microloans to individuals in underdeveloped countries and routinely achieves a rating in the top 1% of best run charities. Not only has she been able to put her business (selling tomatoes at the local market) on a profitable footing and pay for her children’s education, she has found a sense of hope and courage she never had before. (Source: World Wide Web)