Californians are big believers in the American dream, and for generations, California has been the home of new ideas and new inventions.   Read more...

Freshbrain.org is a beta release of a website aimed at high school students with the goal of giving them the opportunity to learn by doing. The website provides tools and ideas for students to learn new skills and gain experience and grow creatively in an online environment.

The creators of the website say that because technology is evolving so quickly, it is difficult for public school systems to keep up and provide a solid education in that area. Therefore, students are not educated properly in this area and may not be encouraged to "explore, engage and create." FreshBrain wants to fill that gap.   Read more...

The Food Chain is a UK based organization that provides help (including diet and nutritional service) to those suffering from chronic illnesses as a result of HIV related illness.

Recently, the organization won Optimist World's Charity Christmas Competition 2008 for their work during the holiday season.   Read more...

Faced with global issues such as poverty, genocide, climate change, financial collapse, greed, and corruption, it's easy to feel powerless. We want to do good and change the world, but too often feel paralyzed by the fear that individuals can't make significant impact. ZenBiz Radio with Allan Holender is a new kind of talk radio for good! ZenBiz Radio is a media project about making a difference : Inspiring interviews with "zentrepreneurs" who are creating a new world of business for good! Zentrepreneurism is a wake-up call, a call to action, to change, to re-invent and to harness each and every person's unique ability to help build a better world for business.

ZenBiz Radio is an engaging, informative, and empowering radio show with interviews and conversations with zentrepreneurs from around the globe, some well-known and others less so, who have been inspired to do their part to effect meaningful social change. These notable advocates, activists, and social entrepreneurs share the causes they are passionate about and give advice on what each of us can do to positively impact our employees, communities, and those of others around the world.   Read more...

You've gotten the memo that red wine is good for you, right? When consumed in moderation, wine contains antioxidants that are beneficial to good health. They're known to prevent high cholesterol..and maybe even diseases like cancer.

Instead of getting a little tipsy on one or two glasses of red wine a day, you can check out Embodi. Emodi is "Specially designed to give you all the benefits of red wine without the alcohol." Their website says, "All natural Embodi is the only healthy drink to take advantage of the full antioxidant power of the red wine grape." They say their product is perfect for those who want to get more out of life.   Read more...

Huey Johnson, founder and president of the Resource Renewal Institute (RRI) - a nonprofit organization that incubates ideas and practices for environmental sustainability - compliments the Dutch system of environmental regulation, recommending elements of their plan to the U.S. Johnson finds the Dutch system exemplary, from the "passion" of protesters to the amount of power given to NGOs.   Read more...

Bestselling author and editor David Cohen presents What Matters: The World's Preeminent Photojournalists and Thinkers Depict Essential Issues of Our Time , a book of photo-essays that aims to "convert outrage into action."   Read more...

ARK is a new line of clothing fresh from Northern Ireland. It was created by an 18-year-old boy with the idea of inspiring people who wear the clothes to be kind to others each time they wear the brand...to commit one "Act of Random Kindness".

The ARK website unassumingly states, "So I have this idea. I'd love you to join me in it. I've started a clothing line with a purpose other than profit. The name, the movement, is ARK - Acts of Random Kindness." Cameron suggests the following ways to help someone while you're wearing an article of ARK clothing: "by someone a coffee, give up your seat on the bus, help a drunk home."   Read more...

Last year I released my movie "Soy Adina" about two women raised in different worlds - an immigrant folk dancer from the Andes, and a modern dancer from Queens, NY - who return to Peru to reconnect with their roots through a astonishing world of traditional dance and celebration.

Last week I made my own reconnecting journey, from New York to Vermont to visit old friends Chandra and Erich. One freezing day we went to the Putney food coop, where I met Ode editor Carol Greenhouse who told me about this exchange forum! I think Ode readers will relate and enjoy Soy Andina.   Read more...