Cheers! It’s Friday again — a chance to embrace, and even taste, some of the good things going on in the world. Today we visit Iceland, where an ancient booze is making a sweet comeback. And we check out a tour in Cairo specifically for cuddling homeless dogs and cats (pictured). We also step inside a unique community space in Mexico that welcomes queer seniors with food and friendship (and sometimes tech support).
| These celebrations of dance and culture happen all year round in North America. It’s a sultry summer evening when Darla Black steps out in front of hundreds of onlookers at the Oglala Lakota Nation Wacipi Rodeo Fair, the annual powwow on South Dakota’s Pine Ridge Reservation. A survivor of domestic abuse and former tribal leader, Black talks passionately about what can be done to reduce violence against Native women and girls on and off reservations across North America. Powwows are important events for meaningful discussion on issues facing America’s aboriginal communities. But they’re also a celebration — one that can be experienced by Native Americans and nonnatives alike. | READ NOW |
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| | The small, two-room space offers a marginalized community a space for friendship, food, education and even tech support. It’s a sunny afternoon in Mexico City, and outside a brightly colored storefront by the Xola metrobus station, a rainbow flag glows in the sunlight. Inside, I’m greeted by Samantha Flores, an 87-year-old transgender woman. This place is not only the culmination of her years as a dedicated activist in Mexico City’s LGBTQ community, but it’s also a one-of-a-kind space for a group of people who need it most. Vida Alegre is a drop-in day center for LGBTQ seniors, and it’s the only one in Mexico City. Which is a big deal: Discrimination against the community is rampant in the city, and safe spaces tend to cater to the youth. Many older people in Mexico live with their children and families, but LGBTQ seniors may not have traditional families to support them. Vida Alegre offers this often-ignored community a candy-pink haven — providing everything from meals to exercise classes; from connection opportunities to help with everyday life tasks. | READ NOW |
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| | A woman's touch is exactly what on-screen champions need. |
| | Skip the pyramids and grand museum and spend some time with an appreciative kitty or pup. |
| | Brittney Carter is earning notice with killer freestyles she records simply on an iPhone. |
| | The drink of the Vikings is coming back to Iceland. |
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