Swandeh Terhide

A photo of a man with a cane sitting on the ground at a bus stop sparked a wave of compassion and a drive to improve public seating. This moment of discomfort gave rise to a local movement in Berkeley, California. It began when Darrell Owens noticed his neighbor, recovering from surgery for chronic leg pain, forced to sit on the sidewalk while waiting for a bus. Owens, who had long complained about the lack of bus benches in Berkeley without any response from the city or AC Transit, took a photo of the scene and shared it on social media. The post caught the attention of Mingwei Samuel, a local software engineer who had been building benches inspired by the Public Bench Project—a nonprofit that installs and donates benches to foster community-oriented public spaces. Samuel offered to move one of his benches to that bus stop. Soon, Samuel’s bench was installed at the spot, and he shared a photo online showing the problem solved. His post quickly went viral, garnering over 100,000 likes and spreading goodwill throughout the community. This sparked the creation of a movement. Owens and Samuel, who had been strangers just weeks before, teamed up to start the SFBA Bench Collective. They launched a simple website where people can join the cause, report bus stops lacking seating, or request benches. So far, the collective has installed around 77 benches at local bus stops, all compliant with AC Transit and Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Each bench costs approximately $70, and the group focuses on placing them at the busiest stops. Their efforts have led to a playful rivalry with local transit authorities, who sometimes replace the collective’s benches with official city-installed ones. Owens sees this as a success, saying it means the city has taken responsibility for providing seating to its citizens. The movement has gained momentum beyond Berkeley. A climate activist volunteer posted a video of a bench-building event that received 3.2 million views, inspiring similar initiatives nationwide. Social media continues to fuel the cause, with many groups advocating for better amenities to support public transit users. Samuel noted that the energy to do good has grown since the last election, with more people organizing bench-building weekends. What started with a single bench in Berkeley has blossomed into a nationwide effort to make public transit more comfortable and accessible.

Yesterday marked a truly heartwarming day at Benue State University, as a distinguished son of the Benue Valley graced both the academic and healthcare wings of this prestigious institution. His visit was more than just a ceremonial appearance—it was a powerful gesture that touched many lives in different, meaningful ways. At the university’s learning citadel, 16 students erupted in joy upon learning that their tuition fees had been fully covered. Meanwhile, at the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, patients and their families found relief and hope as their medical bills were taken care of, easing the burden of healthcare costs. KiddWaya, the celebrated son of renowned business magnate Terry Waya, has long been in the public eye for various reasons. This time, however, he chose to shine through an act of kindness that arrived just when it was most needed – a timely and impactful generosity no doubt. As we often say, when the universe blesses you with abundance, it is both a privilege and a responsibility to help those in need. By lifting others, we walk in their shoes, elevating their spirits to a frequency where they experience the effect of hope and positivity. After all, when we support each other, everything else falls beautifully into place.

Millions of Americans have found inspiration through Tony Robbins, but many have received something even more vital—their next meal. Robbins, deeply committed to addressing food insecurity in the U.S., recently marked a milestone by providing his one-billionth meal through his Feeding America initiative. Building on this success, he launched the ambitious 100 Billion Meals Challenge to combat hunger worldwide. The 100 Billion Meals Challenge aims to unite nonprofits, philanthropists, and businesses to deliver 100 billion meals globally over the next decade. Already, Robbins and his team have secured commitments for 30 billion meals, demonstrating significant progress toward their goal. This initiative extends beyond providing meals; it seeks to foster partnerships that support sustainable agriculture, coordinate large-scale food donations, and address emergency food shortages. For Robbins, hunger is a personal cause. Growing up in a food-insecure household, he vividly recalls receiving a Thanksgiving meal from a stranger at age 11—a moment that inspired his lifelong dedication to ending hunger. His efforts have transformed into large-scale initiatives like the 1 Billion Meals Challenge in partnership with Feeding America, which has provided nearly one billion meals to Americans. To expand the global scope of his mission, Robbins enlisted David Beasley, former head of the World Food Programme (WFP) and Nobel Peace Prize laureate. Together, they aim to address acute hunger affecting over 350 million people worldwide—a staggering increase from 80 million in 2017. Their approach includes innovative solutions such as partnering with agricultural industries like Uralchem, which pledged 55,000 metric tons of fertilizer to support Sri Lanka’s farming needs. The challenge has attracted diverse supporters, including Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and organizations like the American National Pasta Association. These collaborations highlight the power of collective action in tackling global hunger. Robbins’ initiative underscores his belief that even small acts of kindness can spark transformative change—just as one meal did for him decades ago.

One of the most extraordinary stories of forgiveness began 25 years ago, centered on a California woman whose daughter’s tragic death inspired change in South Africa—and in her grieving parents’ lives. Amy Biehl, a bright and determined Stanford graduate, traveled to South Africa on a Fulbright scholarship during the tumultuous final days of apartheid. Passionate about justice, she worked tirelessly in the anti-apartheid movement, helping to register black voters and addressing the dire poverty in township communities. Amy believed that economic reform was essential for meaningful societal transformation. On one fateful day, while giving two colleagues a ride home, Amy became the target of four angry youths who had just attended a rally where militants called for violence against white settlers. Despite her companions’ desperate pleas, identifying her as “a comrade,” Amy was stoned and stabbed to death on a road in Guguletu township—a place her parents would later call “The Spot of Hope.” Devastated but inspired by Amy’s diaries, Peter and Linda Biehl left their affluent Orange County home and traveled to Cape Town. There, they visited the townships where Amy had worked and spoke with her friends about the region’s challenges, particularly unemployment. Determined to honor their daughter’s legacy, they used donations pouring in for her cause to launch numerous development projects. These included welding workshops, sewing initiatives, a print shop, a bakery, construction training programs, sports facilities, and adult literacy classes—all aimed at uplifting the community. The most remarkable chapter of their journey, however, was their relationship with Amy’s killers. “People say, ‘I couldn’t connect with those who harmed my loved one,’ but forgiveness is about liberating yourself—letting go so you’re free from hate and bitterness,” Linda explained. “Reconciliation is different; it’s hard work.” Their path toward reconciliation began with guidance from Bishop Desmond Tutu, who was leading South Africa’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission. The Biehls understood that amnesty would be granted to those whose crimes were politically motivated and chose to participate in the process as a way of supporting the nation’s healing. Unexpectedly, two of Amy’s killers sought out the Biehl Foundation after their release from prison. They wanted to contribute to the community projects that were bringing jobs and hope to Guguletu. “We didn’t expect to have a relationship with them,” Linda said. “But we admired their courage in wanting to help despite being criticized by some former comrades for ‘selling out.’” Through forgiveness and reconciliation, the Biehls turned unimaginable loss into a powerful legacy of hope and transformation.

Revenge seemed like the obvious path. Tina Crawford’s world was shattered in 2014 when her only son, Ira Hopkins, was killed during a senseless robbery on his 35th birthday. Overcome with grief and rage, Crawford initially yearned for retribution—an eye for an eye. However, by the time the two men responsible for Ira’s murder were sentenced in a Delaware courtroom, Crawford had begun to consider forgiveness. At the hearing, she addressed the judge, saying, “I have forgiven the people that have done this to our family because my God tells me to, but what they did was wrong and hateful, and they must pay with whatever you decide.” One of the perpetrators, 18-year-old Jy’Aire Smith-Pennick, who had participated in the robbery but did not fire the fatal shots, received a 20-year prison sentence. What followed was an extraordinary story of reconciliation and transformation. After the sentencing, Crawford discovered she knew one of Jy’Aire’s aunts and later met another. The three women stayed in touch, and soon Crawford extended an olive branch to Jy’Aire himself. She invited him to write her a letter, which eventually led to phone calls. Through their conversations, she learned about Jy’Aire’s troubled past: homelessness during much of his youth, the loss of his mother at 14, his father at 17, and his stepmother at 18. These hardships had driven him to the streets, where he began selling drugs and ultimately took part in the robbery that claimed Ira’s life. Over time, Crawford became a source of support for Jy’Aire during his incarceration. She encouraged him to pursue education and self-improvement. He earned a high school diploma, followed by an associate’s degree. He also became a certified peer specialist, counseling fellow inmates and even preventing suicides. Jy’Aire wrote a public apology letter to Ira—a powerful step in his journey of redemption. Seven years into his sentence, Jy’Aire appeared before the Delaware Board of Pardons in October 2024. Dozens of supporters attended to advocate for his release—including Tina Crawford herself. Speaking before the board, she acknowledged her pain: “That man hurt me. He took something from me… I lost a son.” Then she added something remarkable: “But in the process, I gained one.” The board unanimously commuted Jy’Aire’s sentence. A few months later, he walked free. But their story didn’t end there. Together, Tina and Jy’Aire are now working on a nonprofit called the IRA Foundation, named after her late son. The organization aims to equip at-risk youth with practical skills like carpentry, photography, music production, and more—offering them opportunities that could steer them away from destructive paths. In an extraordinary turn of events, Tina Crawford and Jy’Aire Smith-Pennick have come together to honor Ira’s memory by helping others avoid similar tragedies. As one CNN article perfectly summarized: “Jy’Aire says he will protect Tina until the breath leaves his body. The son without a mother is now watching over the mother without a son.”