If you find good news for democracy, equality, and the planet, share it with us here!
This week’s good news reminds us that democracy is built through steady acts of community and intentional stewardship. No matter what’s happening at the National level, people across the country are showing up to protect rights and create the legacy we want to leave behind. Here are a few stories that may not make the biggest headlines—but deserve our attention.
- The Native American Youth and Family Center in Portland, OR regains stewardship of Indigenous land on behalf of the area’s tribal communities.
- Lumbee Tribe voters reject a constitutional amendment that would have shifted community decision-making power away from voters.
- GA: Thanks to advocacy from Georgia residents, grassroots organizations, and legal groups, the state’s General Assembly adjourned a special legislative session without any redistricting plans intended to erase representation for Black voters and other voters of color.
- OH: Gov. Mike DeWine (R) vetoes a bill that would require a photo ID to vote by mail.
- VA: The Institute for Justice appeals a ruling that upheld Norfolk’s citywide license-plate surveillance network, challenging its constitutionality in the Fourth Circuit.
- New York City outlines a plan to achieve a 30% tree canopy across the city by 2040 to advance environmental justice, mitigate the effects of heat, and improve quality of life.
- Immigrant advocacy and legal aid groups sue the administration over delays in renewals for DACA recipients that are causing people to lose their jobs, livelihoods, and hard-won immigration status.
- The number of people on death row in the U.S. drops below 2,000 for the first time since the 1980s.
- 100% of net proceeds from ticket sales for Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields Festival will be donated to charities advocating for the rights and well-being of women and girls.
- A study by the Trust for Public Land finds that every $1 invested in community parks and recreation returns an average of $3 in local economic benefits each year.
- In California, utility-scale solar energy outpaced gas on 82% of all days from January through May 2026.
- The Lost Trees of Willow Avenue by climate activist and writer Mike Tidwell will be featured on the PBS series Sacred Ground with Tim Daly, which focuses on the work of North American climate activists.
Warmly,
Jen Hofmann
Founder and Director
Americans of Conscience