Vietnam War

• But I want you to know tonight that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.” Twenty-two hours later, he was assassinated.
• He was not optimistic that he would reach the “Promised Land,” yet he was hopeful about the ultimate goal.
• Self-help books on optimism are lined with hacks – like imagining your greatest possible self or focusing on the best-case scenario.
• It is a mindset that helps people endure challenges, tackle them head-on and keep their eyes on the goal – a virtue that King and other community leaders exemplify.

We, not me

• Hope is stronger than optimism at predicting academic success and people’s ability to cope with pain.
• Plenty of scientific evidence suggests that hope improves individuals’ health and boosts their well-being.
• Centuries of spiritual and philosophical work describe hope as a virtue that, like love, is a decision, not a feeling.

The myth of time

• He faced repeated waves of criticism, and, at the time of his death, fewer Americans approved of him than of the Vietnam War.
• In “Letter from a Birmingham Jail,” King lamented the optimism of moderate white Americans who said they supported his goals but took little action.
• There is a “strangely irrational notion that there is something in the very flow of time that will inevitably cure all ills,” he wrote.

King was not alone in leveraging virtuous hope for justice. Brazilian educator Paulo Freire described hope as an “existential imperative” that promotes action. Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison, called hope a “powerful weapon.”

Forged in adversity

• I study virtuous hope in a South African Zulu community, where there are few reasons for optimism.
• This is the part of the country where HIV is most widespread, with the percentage near 50% in some communities.
• These individuals demonstrated an unwavering focus on striving for a better future, often unglued from expectations of personal success.
• Like King’s, it manifests in hardship and is refined in adversity.
• Hope enables communities to march for justice and democracy even while tasting the danger of dictatorship, apartheid or oligarchy.

Kendra Thomas receives funding from the John Templeton Foundation

• HIRAM, Ga., Feb. 13, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Caring Transitions, the nation's leading provider of senior relocation and transition services, announces the launch of its newest location just outside Atlanta, serving Dallas, Hiram, Powder Springs, and the surrounding communities.
• Caring Transitions of Powder Springs & Dallas, GA, is owned and operated by husband and wife teams Renee and Kevin Pritchett and Tammy Diehl, and Jay Whitaker.
• The decision to establish the business stemmed from Renee's unexpected discovery of CTBIDS, Caring Transitions' online auction platform, while antique shopping.
• Caring Transitions currently has more than 300 franchise locations serving families across the country.

• With 115m viewers watching the game last year in the US, 30-second ad spots go for a reported $7m (£5.5m).
• These days, “Super Bowl ads” are highly anticipated in terms of creative, memorable storytelling that hits home.
• Successful ads leverage the massive platform not just to grab eyeballs, but to reinforce brand values through authentic, engaging stories.
• Our research showed that employees who believe in the brand will go out of their way to do good.

When brands don’t read the room

• Reducing environmental harm and standing up for social issues are two examples of consumer expectations of favoured brands, some of which may be tempted to jump on the bandwagon.
• But soon after, Gillette, in its attempt to play the social activist card, launched its “is this the best a man can get?” campaign.
• In a dramatic two-minute ad, aspects of toxic masculinity, including bullying, sexism and sexual harassment post-#MeToo were addressed.
• The consumer base ends up feeling alienated by the brand’s perceived hypocrisy and inauthenticity.

Evolving narratives

• Research shows that storytelling increases reader identification with characters, shifts attitudes and beliefs and creates more lasting memorability than straightforward delivery of information.
• Unlike explicit messaging which can feel inauthentic, getting lost in a story can inspire emotions and shape beliefs in a subtle, organic way.

Digital immersive storytelling

• We propose using immersive digital storytelling techniques for brands to craft and validate the authenticity of their messaging.
• Interactive digital media enables more participatory story experiences between brands and audiences.
• Working with a company to showcase their sustainability efforts, we created an immersive storytelling experience using extended reality technology.

The authors do not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and have disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

• Now 54, and over 90 countries and territories traveled, Holt has certainly made good on her promise.
• "Solo travel saved my life when I hit rock bottom," says Holt, who is Executive Producer and Host of the series.
• "Filming season 2 reminded me of why I fell in love with solo travel in the first place," says Holt.
• "Not only does solo travel expand your worldview, it also opens your heart to the vastly different lived experiences of others.