【推荐1】Everyone knows about Kentucky Fried Chicken, founded by “Colonel” Sanders in his 60s, an age when most people retire. Now imagine someone who began work at the age of 78! Such is the case with a simple woman who became known as Grandma Moses.

Born in 1860 in New York, Anna Mary Robertson left school at age 12 to work in other people's homes to help support her family. She became Mrs. Moses in 1887 when she married Thomas Salmon Moses. After Thomas died in 1927, the 67-year-old widow kept herself occupied with needle work, but because of arthritis (关节炎) in her hands, she eventually turned to painting as it was easier to hold a brush.

Though she had never received any formal art training, the septuagenarian (70至79岁的人) widow began painting scenes from her childhood memories. These centered on American rural life, a simple subject matter which she captured with luminous (鲜艳的), lively colors. Her first paintings sold at a local drugstore for only US $3 to US $5 each, but she was discovered by an art collector in 1938, and soon after, her works were placed in various shows and exhibits. Described as American Primitive style, her landscapes were soon fetching US $8,000 to US $10,000. By this time, she had been given the nickname “Grandma Moses”.

The elderly Grandma Moses even became quite the celebrity (名人). President Harry Truman invited her to the White House and played the piano for her. Then, when she turned 100 in 1960, she graced the cover of Life magazine. She received accolades even after her death in 1961, with President Kennedy stating that “All Americans mourn her passing.” As for herself, Grandma Moses once said, “I knew nothing better and made the best out of what life offered. And life is what we make it, always has been, always will be." Grandma Moses left us not only with lasting art but also words of wisdom.

【推荐3】At just 19 years old, Arik Ancelin is making a name for himself in the rapping (说唱表演) world, which he hopes will pave the way for fellow artists with Down syndrome (唐氏综合征) like himself. He has already seen plenty of success with his first three albums as well as his TikTok. But Arik’s latest victory may be the biggest one yet: a co-operation with producer and vocalist DJ Nitti Gritti.

The song they created together is called “True Colors”. This true labor of love focuses on the beauty of being different and encourages listeners to follow their dreams no matter what. “It makes me feel happy because I do want a lot of people to hear that message,”Arik said. “I just want them to take this away. You can be different. I want you to be feeling good today. I just want you to be pursuing your dreams.”

To celebrate the recent release of their song, Arik and DJ Nitti had the amazing opportunity to perform it together at an Orlando nightclub, something that was an absolute dream for the up-and-coming rapper.

In addition to being a huge fan of Arik’s, DJ Nitti also wanted to cooperate with him because of his love for his own cousin, who has autism (自闭症). “It’s actually very close to my heart to be able to work on music, especially with someone with a disability. And, to treat everyone equally,” DJ Nitti said. “It’s a message that is right up my path, and it means a lot to him to sing about it. So, I wanted to help him get his message out.”

In just a short period of time, DJ Nitti has been able to do just that, helping Arik get one step closer to his dreams. “I want to be one of the biggest disability rappers,” Arik said, “and I want to be an inspiration to all types of people.”

We can’t wait to cheer him on as he does just that! Listen to part of their song in the video below, and don’t forget to share this story with friends to lift their spirits today.

【推荐1】Francis Kere was named as the winner of the 2022 Pritzker prize, architecture's highest international honor. He is the first African architect to be recognized in the influential award's 43-year history.

“Francis Kere’s entire body of work shows us the power of materiality (物质性) rooted in place,” said the Pritzker jury (评委会), “His buildings, for and with communities, are directly of those communities—in their making, their materials, their programs and their unique characters. They have presence without pretence and an impact shaped by grace.”

Born in Gando in 1965, Kere was the first in his community to attend school, sent away at the age of seven, after which he won a scholarship to study woodwork in Germany. He saw slim chances for a career in carpentry and switched to architecture at the Technical University of Berlin. For his final project he designed a primary school for his home village-and set about fundraising and mobilizing friends and family to see it built. He thought he owed a lot to his community. The project was realized in 2000, for about £20,000.

Kere’s Gando primary school set out the basic principles that would go on to define his work, using earth bricks made on site, topped with a perforated (有孔的) ceiling crowned by a thin “flying roof". He suspended his metal canopy (顶篷) above the classrooms to draw cool air in through the building's side windows and release hot air through the holes in the ceiling. The whole village was involved in construction, beginning a cooperative model of practice that he has continued ever since. The school won an Aga Khan award in 2004, taking Kere to international fame and prompting him to found his practice in Berlin the following year.

One invitation after another, Kere continues to experiment with natural alternatives to modern materials and systems, “I am constantly looking,” he said. “I am not limiting myself with a formal language.” Kere’s most ambitious buildings are still to come, despite having received the lifetime achievement of Pritzker prize.

【推荐2】Heroes come in many different shapes, sizes, and abilities. But they all have the same superpower: to lift the hopes of others. 14-year-old Caleb Prewitt of Jacksonville, Florida, had a closed mindset on what he could accomplish with Down Syndrome until he met Chris Nikic. “If we had a poster of Chris, it would be in Calebs room. Chris is Caleb's hero,” Caleb's mom Karen Prewitt said.

Last November, Chris finished a 2.4-mile swim, a 112-mile bike ride and a 26.2-mile marathon run at the Ironman Florida competition in Panama City Beach in 16 hours, 46 minutes and 9 seconds. “I don't remember when I stopped crying after Chris crossed the Ironman finish line, to be honest,” Karen said. “I couldn't help but just cry and cry. And I know that Caleb felt it, too. Those tears were there because he did it against all the odds, against all the barriers. Not only the barriers of society, but the barriers of his physical body. There were moments when we weren't sure if Chris was going to finish, and moments where we knew he was struggling during the run. And the fact that he crossed the finish line with time to spare was something I'll never forget. It felt like in that moment he was carrying the Down Syndrome community on his shoulders.”

But what Chris did next was even more herculean. He took Caleb under his wing, became an instructor, worked out with him and planted a dream. Caleb met Chris at a bike camp in Orlando. It can be difficult for kids with Down Syndrome to ride a bike because of their balance. One month after the hike camp, Caleb had mastered riding a bike. “I couldn't believe it, hut I could. He was inspired by Chris. That encounter made an impact on him,” she said. It wasn't long before Caleb started participating in triathlon clinics.

Last weekend, Caleb finished his first mini-triathlon. He is believed to be the youngest person with Down Syndrome to ever do so. He also received an invitation to compete on Florida's Special Olympics triathlon team—the same team Chris is on.

【推荐3】In November, 2021, Preet Chandi, a 32-year-old army physiotherapist(理疗师)，hoped to become the first woman of color to complete a solo unsupported hike across the Antarctic to the South Pole. Chandi announced on January 3, 2022 that she’d completed the 700-mile hike in 40 days. “Feeling so many emotions right now,” said Chandi, via her blog.“The expedition(探险) was always about so much more than me,”reads her January3 update.“I want to encourage people to push their boundaries and to believe in themselves.”

Other women have skied to the South Pole, with Norway’s Liv Arnesen the first in the world to make the trip alone and unsupported in 1994. But Chandi believes she is the first woman of color to do so.“I really hope that this does inspire people; I hope that this would inspire people to push their comfort zones and push their boundaries,” Chandi said.

While preparing for her expedition, which was undertaken as part of her active military service, Chandi became increasingly aware of how much it matters for young people to see someone like her as a role model.“I’m not really the image I think people expect to see. I’m not, even now,” Chandi said, referring to her South Asian background.“I’m told that’you don’t really look like a polar explorer.’”

On her return from the Antarctic, Chandi plans to set up an “adventure grant” for women using half the money raised through the Go Fund Me appeal for her polar trip.“It will be open to women of any age or background,”she said. “It can be for any adventure, any unique adventure they want to do and that is pushing some kind of boundary. It doesn’t have to be a polar expedition. And I really hope that this is something that will continue, year after year after year.”