Good News of the Week: August 12 – August 16, 2019

If you want to keep a smile, don’t turn on the news.

It seems like we are constantly bombarded by negativity and depressing stories in the media, which can easily cause us to lose faith in humanity.

Although there are a lot of negative messages out there, there are also many positive things happening daily.

Check out the stories below to see how celebrities and other public figures use their influence to effect change and positively drive our society forward.

MUSIC MOGUL JAY-Z TEAMS UP WITH NFL TO TACKLE THE LEAGUE’S TENSIONS WITH PLAYERS OVER SOCIAL JUSTICE

With just days remaining until the official start of football season, the National Football league (NFL) announced a new partnership with rapper, activist, music mogul, and businessman Jay-Z.

Through the agreement, Jay-Z will influence the Superbowl half-time show, which is one of the most widely viewed television events of the year, with nearly 70% of televisions in U.S. homes tuned in to the broadcast.

NFL reps say they hope the deal helps “nurture and strengthen community through music and the NFL’s inspire change initiative.”

The NFL, it’s commissioner, and some team owners have come under fire in recent years for their reactions to controversy involving players kneeling during the national anthem.

That has prompted several popular music artists to reject invitations to perform during the Super Bowl half-time show. 

In addition to helping advise and coordinate the Super Bowl half-time show, Jay-Z’s new deal also makes him the headliner of the NFL’s new social activism campaign ‘Inspire Change.’

‘According to the NFL website, Inspire Change was designed to foster economic and educational advancement, improve police and community relations, and support criminal justice reform. 

2020 PRESIDENTIAL HOPEFUL BERNIE SANDERS SITS DOWN WITH RAPPER CARDI B TO DISCUSS ISSUES IMPACTING MILLENNIAL VOTERS

If you follow Cardi B on Instagram, you might recall a post she published a few weeks ago, asking fans which political issues they are most interested in and what questions they’d ask our next president if given a chance.

The rapper was polling fans for questions to ask during an upcoming meeting with presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders.

In a sit-down interview, Sanders and Cardi B discussed wages, the economy, and unemployment.

During the discussion, the rapper reflected on her childhood in New York and felt it was hard to make enough money to pay rent, get transportation and eat.

Sanders acknowledged the importance of this issue, saying tens of millions of people are living on what he describes as “starvation wages.”

Sanders is a senator in Vermont who ran for president in 2016.

He is among 20 Democrats vying for a chance to challenge Donald Trump for the presidency in 2020.

GRAMMY AWARD WINNER VISITS OHIO CALLING FOR GUN REFORM

Singer and Songwriter John Legend are best known for his soulful ballads and electrifying lyrics.

Most people don’t realize this music superstar is from the small Midwest town of Springfield, Ohio – located about 30 minutes northeast of Dayton, Ohio.

This community was rocked by a recent mass shooting. 

During his visit, the Ohio native spoke out about gun violence.

Legend joined Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley during a brief press conference imploring residents to take action.

He encouraged people to contact legislators, speak out and protest the laws that make it possible for assault weapons to get into the wrong hands.

The singer also suggested a ban on selling semi-automatics and other military-style weapons.

He also called on the U.S.

Senate to address a gun background check bill passed in the House of Representatives five months ago.

During this visit to his home state, Legend supported local businesses in the Oregon District and performed a few of his songs at a local bar.

NFL FOOTBALL TEAM PROVIDES LARGE DONATION TO SUPPORT YOUTH SPORTS TEAM IMPACTED BY FIRE

A building fire scorched nearly all the uniforms, pads, and helmets worn by players on the Magnolia High School football team.

The public school in Anaheim, California, experienced a building fire impacting their equipment room.

About a month before the start of the season, the team’s coach learned of this loss.

News of the fire spread throughout Orange County, and eventually, the news got on the radar of the Los Angelo chargers.

The Chargers invited players and coaches of the Magnolia High School team to training camp, where they presented the team with a $10,000 donation to replace the equipment lost in the fire.

Former long-time Chargers broadcaster Hank Bauer is an alumnus of Magnolia High School, giving the team an extra special connection to this area high school.

WWE SUPERSTAR TITUS O’NEIL, NYC DJ, SHAWN G HELP 20,000+ STUDENTS & FAMILIES IN TAMPA, FL

At first glance, wrestling, healthcare, and education may not seem to have a lot in common, but in Florida, leaders in these three fields come together in a big way to benefit local students.

With the help of a crew of volunteers and supporting agencies, WWE Superstar Titus O’Neil donated more than 15,000 backpacks to students in Hillsborough County, Florida.

This one-day event provided more than just school supplies.

Several community organizations volunteered to provide free dental work, haircuts, immunizations, and physicals for students on-site.

This helps save parents time and money, making sure their kids have a one-stop-shop to get back-to-school ready.

O’Neil says he organized this event to get kids excited about the new school year.

He says it’s an honor to help provide this experience for students and help their families with key resources, as he was once in their shoes.

“I grew up in a single-parent home under very unfortunate circumstances, and [there are] many things that we couldn’t afford.

My mom couldn’t afford eyeglasses, she couldn’t afford physicals, so sometimes we were excluded from playing sports,” O’Neil said.”

Leaders with the Hillsborough Education Foundation say an estimated 98,000 families in the county need help to pay for school supplies.

The back-to-school drive led by O’Neil helps meet the needs of a significant portion of that group.