Great Falls Students Lead on Mental Health, Hip Hop Therapy Inspires & Shipping Containers Reimagined

In this episode of Good News for Lefties, host Beowulf Rochlen dives into heartwarming stories that highlight the power of community, innovation, and resilience in the face of adversity. We start in Great Falls, Montana, where a groundbreaking Peer Mentor program is making waves in mental health support. High school students are stepping up to help their younger peers navigate anxiety and depression, leading to a remarkable 95% decrease in emergency room visits for mental health issues among sixth graders. This initiative not only fosters open dialogue but also equips students with valuable coping skills through licensed therapy. Next, we explore the transformative impact of Hip Hop Therapy in Cleveland, Ohio. This unique approach provides students with a creative outlet to process grief and trauma, proving to be a lifeline for those who find traditional therapy inaccessible. With programs like COPE Dealer at Glenville High School, students are learning to channel their pain into music while building a supportive community. Listeners will also hear about the clever protests at Yosemite National Park, where activists are raising awareness against federal staffing cuts by strategically placing signs in front of live webcams. These efforts, led by the Resistance Rangers, emphasize the importance of preserving public lands and the livelihoods of those who protect them. We celebrate a listener-suggested story from Jamil in Altoona, Pennsylvania, about Bookshop.org's new ebook platform that empowers independent bookstores and offers readers an alternative to Amazon's monopoly. This initiative is a crucial step in leveling the playing field in the publishing industry. Finally, we highlight an innovative project in Arizona that repurposes former border wall shipping containers into homes for youth transitioning out of the foster care system. This creative solution not only provides much-needed housing but also symbolizes a shift towards inclusion and community support. Join us for this uplifting episode that showcases the resilience of democracy and the positive changes happening in our society! This episode is sponsored by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try and get 10% off your first month at betterhelp.com/Lefties If you have thoughts, ideas, or more good news to share, we’d love to hear from you! Call or message us at 202-656-6271, or drop us a line at beowulf@twosquaredmediaproductions.com More good daily news for democracy on Facebook , Bluesky , and Instagram . If you like Justice Matters with Glenn Kirschner, IMO with Michelle Obama and Craig Robinson, The MeidasTouch Podcast, and Pod Save America, you'll LOVE Good News For Lefties! Thanks to Rosabelle Heine and Aaron Watson for production assistance. Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/good-news-for-lefties-daily-news-for-democracy--6256627/support .