It’s long been said that children are the future. That feels especially true right now: despite the national and global upheavals of the last few years, or perhaps because of them, the data shows that Gen Z is more ready than ever to lead. Their optimism and innovation is evident in their entrepreneurial ideas for addressing climate change and the future of work. They want to be part of something bigger than themselves, and they want to stand up for people more vulnerable than themselves. And that should give us all permission to relax and enjoy our summer. 

A new report from the Walton Family Foundation and Murmuration, based on extensive interviews with young people between the ages of 15 and 25, shows that “Zoomers” are a creative, thoughtful, and values-driven cohort. Above all else, they value the health and happiness of their family, their community, and themselves. They want to lead balanced lives of giving back, indulging in passions, and caring for the people around them. They believe that institutions should exist to serve the public — including around mental health and financial literacy — and will seek to remake ones they see as falling short of that lofty ideal. For some context, here is a link to the results of the Case Foundation’s decade-long Millennial Impact research effort that focused on understanding how millennials engaged with causes and social issues in ways that were distinct from the generations that preceded them. 

In short? As you encounter young people on your summer travels or poolside escapades, remember that they are not just the next generation. They are set to remake the world in a more compassionate and innovative image.
 

Like your regular dose of good news? We’re shifting to a monthly newsletter to bring you a more in-depth look at the catalysts for optimism we’re seeing in impact investing and inclusive entrepreneurship. Look for Breaking Good on the second Friday of each month.

For Mónica Guzmán, fearless conversations happen when we tell the story of our "how." 

Guzmán emigrated to Seattle from Mexico as a child and has spent most of her life using the power of story to build bridges between many different worlds. Her first book, I Never Thought of It That Way: How to Have Fearlessly Curious Conversations in Dangerously Divided Times, explores how storytelling can take on the challenge of toxic partisanship.

According to Guzmán, the key often lies in asking people how they came to believe something, not just why. “We don’t change each other’s minds on big questions when we talk, but we often see each other’s views as less threatening — and less divided than we thought,” she recently explained.

The book builds on Guzmán’s day job at Braver Angels, a nonprofit that embraces Abraham Lincoln’s famous appeal to “the better angels of our nature” to heal a polarized America.

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A 100% success rate is pretty rare — especially in venture capital. But that’s exactly what happened with True Wealth Ventures, a Texas-based early-stage venture fund: despite the pandemic, all of the companies funded by their first $19.1 million fund are still in business. It gets even more impressive (and inspirational) when context is added: all of its companies are women-led startups working on social and environmental issues, like mental health and sustainable harvesting. 

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