Some highlights from the world of mindfulness, where people are seeking connection, solidarity, and compassion in a struggling world.
News stories
Good Neighbors
Gea Sijpkes directs Woon- en Zorgcentrum Humanitas Deventer, a Dutch nursing home. She knew that intergenerational friendships can reduce depression and loneliness in the elderly, and she also knew there was a shortage of affordable student housing. This led her to design an intergenerational program that offers a win-win for young and old alike: When college students offer 30 hours a month of conversation and companionship to the nursing home’s residents, they get to live in the care center free of charge. The program has been running for 12 years now, and its success has inspired other nursing homes (and even college campuses) around the world to implement similar initiatives.
A Better Social App
In a time when polarization has caused many to retreat into familiar information silos, a father-daughter duo teamed up to bring healthy discomfort back. Sandbox is an app that connects people looking to have meaningful, open conversations across a variety of current topics. First, you’re paired with someone with whom you agree in some areas and disagree in others. You get weekly topics and daily activities to share your perspectives and learn more about your partner’s. Cofounders Libby and Lee Prosch seek to reframe discussions across difference, to help people move from a sense of fear to one of adventure, and to recognize how vital good-faith disagreement is to democracy.
Stories of Love
Can “love stories” fuel constructive social change? With its Spreading Love Through the Media initiative, the Greater Good Science Center (GGSC) at the University of California, Berkeley, is exploring all facets of love from a science-informed perspective—love in our relationships, but also as a healing agent for widespread issues such as loneliness and division. The GGSC awarded 23 grants to fund articles, research, podcasts, and more that encourage “a cultural shift toward greater empathy and connection,” according to the GGSC website. The published creations will be available there, as well as on partnering platforms.
Air on the Safe Side
Making indoor spaces healthier, safer, and more accessible is a powerful act of consideration and care for our communities. Clear Air Libraries are popping up across North America, making this easier than ever—not to mention free. Some libraries offer CO2 monitors, which measure quality of ventilation in indoor spaces; others lend out air purifiers that efficiently remove airborne viruses, allergens, and other health hazards. Some libraries, such as Ohio Clean Air Coalition, even provide instructions for choosing the right air purifier for your space, based on square footage. Deep breath in…deep breath out.
Printing Possibilities
MakeGood NOLA’s 3D-printed pediatric wheelchair—the Toddler Mobility Trainer—is bright, modular, and built for kids ages 2 to 8. While the open-source design will soon be free to download and print at home, families can currently request a custom wheelchair or other assistive device through MakeGood’s tailored design services. Thanks to donor support, devices are provided at no cost. Parts are easy to reprint if damaged, and designs are shared globally to support accessibility worldwide.
The Mindful Professor
In 2023, the University of Rochester launched the first Mindful Professor Training Program to help faculty support student mental health and ease post-pandemic anxiety. Over a semester, professors learned mindful leadership—tools for self-awareness, emotional regulation, and creating calm, compassionate classrooms. “The mood in the classroom starts at the top,” says program director Rebecca Block. Participants reported a nearly 19% increase in perceived social and emotional support, as well as practicing mindfulness daily and improving classroom communication. Faculty also became more confident discussing student well-being—an essential shift as 80% of students turn to professors before campus mental health services.
Acts of Kindness
This Way to Calm
KultureCity’s “Let’s Map Neu York” is a crowd-sourced guide highlighting neurodivergent-friendly spaces across Manhattan. Inspired by the iconic Vignelli subway map, it features 125 locations meeting criteria such as low noise, soft lighting, clear signage, comfortable seating, and physical accessibility. The map promotes neuro-inclusivity and will appear citywide—in cabs, bus stops, Times Square, and on Google Maps.
Comfort Cases
Rob Scheer entered foster care at age 12 with all his belongings in a trash bag. Decades later, shocked his adopted kids faced the same, he created Comfort Cases, giving foster youth backpacks stuffed with essentials. “Every child deserves dignity and hope. Don’t give them a trash bag,” Scheer said. Over 250,000 cases have been donated nationwide since 2013.
Happy to Talk
Oliver Chan, an autistic artist, introduced “Happy to Talk” benches in Camden, UK, to combat loneliness, with placards encouraging strangers to sit and chat. Inspired by a Cardiff initiative, these benches create kindness through connection. Oliver says, “If someone is having a bad day, or can’t find a friend to talk to, it’s there for people.”