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With Valentine’s Day right around the corner, it’s an apt time to reflect on the power of love to spur action — and not just over-the-top romantic gestures like a boombox serenade.
Whether it's for our family, neighbors, friends, country, or planet, love can inspire fearless acts of kindness and revolutionary change. It drives activists, leaders, innovators, and everyday people to protect the things they care about most.
As Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once wrote, “Love is the greatest force in the universe. It is the heartbeat of the moral cosmos.”
We have no doubt that love is a driving force for so many of the changemakers that we spotlight in Breaking Good. Enjoy this month’s collection of stories!
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Proving There’s No Age Limit on Changemaking
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Dr. Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” has shown the world that you’re never too old to be a changemaker. Ten years ago, at the tender age of 89, she began a walking campaign from Fort Worth, Texas, to Washington, D.C., to push for Juneteenth to be recognized as a national holiday.
Lee walked 2.5 miles in cities across the United States to symbolize the 2.5 years between the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation and the day slaves in Galveston, Texas, learned they were free. She then delivered a petition with more than 1.5 million signatures to Congress.
Lee’s crusade helped lead to the recognition of Juneteenth as a federal holiday in 2021. Her efforts have been honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom, a Nobel Peace Prize nomination, eight honorary doctorates, and even a Barbie doll in her likeness.
"I hope my story encourages the next generation to never underestimate the power of one voice," Lee said recently. "As I often say, one person can start a change, and that can change the world." |
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| Impact Investing Finds Common Ground |
A Dutch pension fund experiment shows that support for impact investing can cut across political lines. The fund partnered with academics to find a better way to integrate members’ beliefs into its investment strategy.
Through an in-person assembly for 50 retail worker members and a larger voting process for the entire membership, they discovered widespread support for increasing impact investing efforts. With the discovery that support is high across the political spectrums of the participants, the project challenges the notion that impact investing is inherently divisive.
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Reviving Black Wall Street for the Digital Age
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| Inspired by the legacy of Tulsa’s Greenwood district, entrepreneurs in Texas have established a new Black Wall Street — a modern movement built for the digital age. Founded in 2015, it connects Black entrepreneurs through collaboration, creating a shared ecosystem of mentorship, funding, and resources. By bringing fragmented support systems into one space, the platform aims to spur collective economic growth by helping founders overcome historic barriers to capital, connections, and business knowledge. |
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| 50 Inspiring Founders |
| The 50 leaders spotlighted on Causeartist’s Social Entrepreneurs to Watch come from diverse backgrounds and industries, but they have one thing in common: a commitment to solving society’s most complex problems. Check out the list to read the stories of inspiring individuals tackling challenges related to financial inclusion, clean energy, healthcare, workforce development, housing, and more. |
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100 Years of Celebrating Black History
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This year marks a century of federal recognition of Black history in the United States. What began as a week of observance in 1926 has expanded into a month-long celebration of Black Americans’ contributions to our nation.
Looking for ways to commemorate the month? We’ve uncovered several resources to learn more about Black life in America and celebrate Black culture, including a story collection, book recommendations, and a film guide. |
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