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Life throws challenges at us every day. Pushing through personal struggles and structural barriers isn’t always easy, but it’s key to creating better futures for ourselves and our communities.
Several of the stories we feature in this month’s issue of Breaking Good remind us that resilience is critical not just for overcoming hurdles, but also for emerging stronger from it.
This month, we spotlight an advocate who truly exemplifies what it means to be fearless. We also feature entrepreneurs who are breaking barriers to build successful, market-changing companies. We hope these stories inspire any of our readers facing their own big, hairy problems.
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Growing Stronger from Tragedy
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On January 14, 2012, Wesley Hamilton’s life changed forever when he was shot in his abdomen, causing a spinal cord injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down.
In the first few years following the injury, Hamilton says he became dangerously overweight, depressed, and suicidal, but his love for his daughter helped him turn his life around. He began eating healthy and lifting weights, losing 100 pounds within a year and eventually competing in body-building competitions.
Hamilton soon realized he wanted to use his experience to help others, so he founded Disabled But Not Really. The nonprofit empowers people with disabilities to take their health back into their own hands and regain confidence.
What truly sets Hamilton apart is how he emerged stronger from his injury and has been vocal about its profound positive impact on his life — he even publicly thanked the man who shot him. He has inspired countless people through his TED Talks and an appearance on Queer Eye, has been honored as a CNN Hero, and was awarded $1 million on Good Morning America to help grow his nonprofit.
“Everything happens for a reason,” he said in an article. “The man who shot me saved my life. Once I embraced my reality, I was able to free my mind and transform my life into what it is today. This transition taught me how to be fearless.” |
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New Study: Green Companies Outperform the Market
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| A new study suggests good news for impact investors focused on environmental sustainability: Companies that earn at least one-fifth of their revenue from environmentally focused activities outperformed the broader market by approximately 12% over the last ten years. The value of these companies, which form the “green economy,” has reached $10 trillion. |
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Black Founders Strive to Overcome Funding Barriers
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| Black founders continue to face structural challenges in accessing capital, but two recent stories recognize signs of progress. Black-founded startups raised $643 million in the first quarter of 2026 — the highest quarterly total since 2022. Separately, a new index celebrates the first 200 Black women founders to raise $1 million in venture capital funding in the U.S. We will continue to track progress and follow those who are working to dismantle the persistent barriers Black founders face. |
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| Building the American Dream |
| The Forbes Most Successful Immigrants list spotlights 250 extraordinary entrepreneurs, innovators, executives, and cultural leaders. Coming to the U.S. from all over the world, they have had a widespread impact on the United States. The founders featured on the list have built technology companies, cleantech businesses, real estate empires, and major consumer brands such as Duolingo, Panda Express, Power Rangers, DoorDash, and Roku — just to name a few. |
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Inspiring Future Conservationists
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| If you find yourself in Washington, D.C. this summer, step inside the new National Geographic Museum of Exploration to gain a glimpse into some of the most legendary expeditions of the last 138 years. But the unique, immersive experience doesn’t just celebrate history; it aims to bring to life National Geographic’s mission — to use the power of science, exploration, education, and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of the world — to inspire the next generation of conservationists and explorers. Sounds like a great place for Breaking Good subscribers to visit! |
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