Sustainability is often called the "career of the future," yet many hesitate to pursue it. This week's Purposeful Progress video addresses the top five barriers preventing people from working in sustainability, such as uncertainty about where to begin, job availability, or compensation.

If you've considered pivoting into sustainability but feel stuck, this video offers guidance. Learn how to leverage your skills and passions to create a meaningful impact in this vital field.

For more resources, explore Leslie's books at lesliedavenport.com. To go deeper, sign up for the online course, "Sustainability For Changemakers," at shannonlovgren.com.

The Creative High documentary follows nine artists in recovery from addictive behaviors, showcasing how the creative process transforms their tumultuous search for identity and freedom.

Through hip-hop, theater, dance, rock and roll, photography, and painting, this film reveals how diverse art mediums inspire resilience and celebrate the human spirit. Directed by Dianne Griffin.

The Bullard Center, MH Reach, and the Sunnyside Redevelopment Community Organization hosted an Environmental Toxic and Maternal Health Mini Tour in Houston's historic Sunnyside neighborhood. This initiative aimed to examine environmental and maternal health challenges, connect participants with experts on pollution and climate justice, and empower advocacy.

Attendees visited critical sites impacted by air pollution, concrete batch plants, metal recycling facilities, and rock quarries. They witnessed firsthand how environmental hazards disproportionately affect marginalized communities and maternal health outcomes. The tour concluded with a call to action, encouraging petitions to influence policy and advance research, serving as a catalyst for environmental justice.

Learn more and get involved: https://www.thescro.org/

Chief Arvol Looking Horse is the 19th Generation Keeper of the Sacred White Buffalo Calf Pipe and Spiritual Leader of the Great Sioux Nation (Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota Oyate). Since the 1970s, he has worked to reconcile traditional healing and western medicine, a challenging endeavor he admits is ongoing.

This concise story of the Pipe was featured in the National Geographic special, "Story of God," narrated by Morgan Freeman.

Beit T'Suvah is a Los Angeles-based addiction rehabilitation center. It helps individuals find meaning and purpose in recovery through spiritual guidance and connection with a higher power. Each resident receives support from a spiritual counselor.

Admission requires an open mind and a willingness to address a spiritual void, not adherence to any specific faith. The center welcomes all who seek a path to lasting recovery.

Rabbi Mark Borovitz and Harriet Rossetto, key figures at Beit T'Suvah, are highlighted in an accompanying video short.

The Recovery Cafe Network (RCN) trains and supports groups in establishing recovery communities based on its model. The Network facilitates mutual learning and resource generation among its members.

Explore more Recovery Cafe stories here.

Earth Island's New Leaders Initiative hosted a virtual Eco-Anxiety Panel on September 12, 2024. Climate psychologist Leslie Davenport moderated the event, which featured Brower Youth Awards Alumni.

Alumni Rachel Barge, Mackenzie Feldman, and Hamid Torabzadeh shared insights into eco-anxiety, offering coping strategies and discussing ways to overcome its challenges.

Dr. Judith Orloff, a *New York Times* bestselling author, teaches how to ignite empathy and intuition at work. She helps sensitive people thrive in an insensitive world, showing them how to manage emotions and intuition to avoid overload and burnout.

A psychiatrist and empath on the UCLA faculty, Dr. Orloff blends traditional medicine with intuition and energy awareness. She treats empaths and highly sensitive people globally through her private practice. Her work has been featured in O Magazine, Forbes, CNN, and NPR.

For more information, visit drjudithorloff.com. Moderated by Susie Ade.

Keri Norris, PhD, JM, MPH, MCHES, will discuss "Addressing Health Equity using the MISTAH model." She serves as Chief of Health Policy and Administration at The Fulton DeKalb Hospital Authority, where she leads the Community Health Awareness and Prevention Office and other key programs.

Dr. Norris previously worked at the CDC as a health scientist, evaluator, and epidemiologist. She possesses extensive experience in eliminating health disparities for vulnerable populations in the United States and has served as adjunct faculty at several universities. She is also the author of two books, including #KeriOn.

This talk was part of a TEDxEmory event. Learn more about TEDx at https://www.ted.com/tedx.

Video courtesy of the Omega Institute.

Anthony Kapel "Van" Jones (born September 20, 1968) is an American news commentator, author, and non-practicing attorney. He co-founded several nonprofit organizations, including the Dream Corps, a "social justice accelerator" that operates three advocacy initiatives: #cut50, #Yeswecode, and Green for All.

The Climate Reality Project is a global organization dedicated to educating the public about the climate crisis and advocating for solutions. Founded by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, it aims to catalyze a worldwide response to this urgent environmental challenge.

Through various initiatives, including training Climate Reality Leaders and engaging in public awareness campaigns, the project empowers individuals and communities to drive meaningful change. Discover more about their mission and how to get involved at climaterealityproject.org.

Solomon Hsiang is an Associate Professor of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley.

He explains the correlation between people's health and temperature.

On April 23, 2018, Talks at Google hosted Elizabeth Rosner, who discussed her book, "Survivor Café: The Legacy of Trauma and the Labyrinth of Memory."

Rosner's book delves into the complex inter-generational aftermath of war and atrocity, combining personal narratives, interviews, and extensive research. Praised as "breathtaking" by Pulitzer-prize winner Viet Thanh Nguyen, it offers an intimate look at the individual and collective inheritance of history.

The book is available for purchase from Amazon or your local bookstore.

Northern New Mexico is grappling with a devastating heroin epidemic.

Lupe and Pedro are dedicated to helping homeless addicts, providing street outreach to offer tenderness and hope.

This video, a gift from Sustainable Human, explores a revolutionary idea for post-mortem body care. It highlights artist Jae Rhim Lee's innovative solution: a special burial suit seeded with toxin-eating mushrooms, addressing the unsustainability and existing toxins in current funeral practices. Learn more about this concept on the official landing page for 'A Sustainable Death'.

The video features animation and editing by Steve Agnos (contact him at steve@clubsodapro.com for video work). Sustainable Human invites you to support similar projects or collaborate with their global team of volunteers. You can also help caption and translate this video.

In his TED Talk, "What Really Matters at the End of Life," palliative care physician BJ Miller explores our deepest desires for comfort, respect, and love as life concludes. He offers profound insights on creating a dignified and graceful end-of-life experience for patients.

This moving presentation challenges us to reflect on death and how to truly honor life. TEDTalks feature leading thinkers sharing ideas on technology, entertainment, design, and more. For closed captions and translated subtitles, visit ted.com/translate.

*Painted Nails* explores the hidden dangers faced by nail salon workers. It highlights Van Nguren, a Vietnamese worker whose health problems, including miscarriages, resulted from toxic chemicals. She courageously became the first worker in over 30 years to testify in Congress against the cosmetic industry.

The film immerses viewers in Van Hoang's bustling San Francisco salon, a vibrant community for diverse women. Clients enjoy unique acrylic designs and a caring environment, proudly displaying their identity.

Produced by Dianne Griffen and Nhung Pham. Learn more at paintednailsmovie.com.

Doug Fine is a best-selling author, comedic investigative journalist, and solar-powered goatherder. He has reported from five continents for major outlets including the Washington Post, New York Times, Wired, and NPR. A former New Yorker, he now lives at the Funky Butte Ranch in Silver City, New Mexico.

At TEDx ABQ in September 2013, Fine discussed the "I-gene," our indigenous connection to nature. He emphasized the importance of getting outdoors to awaken this gene, enabling us to thrive in both the natural and digital worlds.

Mark Plotkin discussed his book, "Medicine Quest: In Search of Nature's Healing Secrets," at Google on August 29, 2006. This event was part of the Authors@Google series.

Dr. Plotkin's book is available from Amazon or your local bookstore.

Global yoga teacher, activist, and UCLA-trained anthropologist, Shiva Rea, invites us to embody the energetic heart. She encourages an interactive exploration to rediscover inner fire within our bodies.

Rea's teachings delve into the power of rhythm, flow, love, and the heart's electromagnetic field, empowering individuals to connect with profound inner energy.

This material was published on March 10, 2014.