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His name is Beauregard Jackson Pickett-Burnside (Beau to his fans), and he believes in karma – specifically, the Karma Box Project. The middle-aged pug, with his trademark dangling tongue, is companion to Brooke Lampert, a local chef, caterer and community food philanthropist. This winter, the pair has added filling Karma Boxes to their philanthropic mission.

It’s hard to believe that it was five years ago that nearly 10,000 Northern Nevadans converged on downtown Reno for the first Reno Women’s March. The mood was decidedly agitated that year, yet collaborative and hopeful as women and allies joined peacefully together to vocalize their desire for equality - for Indigenous women, women of color, LGBTQ women - for mothers, sisters, aunts and grandmothers to have every opportunity afforded to men.

Wouldn’t it be nice if there were a place on the internet to read all of the happy, positive, celebratory thoughts about COVID vaccines? 

Turns out: You’re here! 

Our area is made special by the impressive collection of family-owned stores, local restaurants and skilled artisans sharing so much of their diverse talents and offerings with us. No doubt you’ve walked away from the salon thrilled with a perfect haircut; you’ve likely talked for days about that perfect cocktail from Death and Taxes; maybe you’ve tried to recreate mochi from your favorite night of sushi (wait, maybe that’s just me — my family makes mochi on New Years!).

Today we're catching up with longtime contributor Marie Baxter, who frequently shares stories with Just the Positive about the incredible community service performed every day at Catholic Charities of Northern Nevada.

The turmoil of 2020 brings to mind a passage from the Book of 1 Peter:

“These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold.” — 1 Peter 1:7

Through the trials brought about by a global pandemic and economic uncertainty, our faith in our community—and its faith in us—stayed genuine.

When we think of 2020, most of our poignant memories will be less than positive ones. And yet, there were some amazing bright spots. For one middle school teacher in Las Vegas, one of those bright spots was purchasing his first home with his wife with some help from Nevada Housing Division's Home Is Possible^TM For Teachers Program (HIP For Teachers), making him the 1,000th Nevada teacher to use the program.

Sandy Raffealli learned a lot from her father, Bill Pearce. He taught her about the automotive business, certainly; but just as importantly, he taught her about the importance of giving back to the community.

“My parents both came from working-class families and lived through the Depression,” she says. “Their early contributions were of their time. Later, as the dealership became successful, they were able to support groups like the Salvation Army and the Boys and Girls Club in additional ways.”

Most people know the Elf on the Shelf to be a holiday tradition, but Reno nonprofit, Urban Roots, has applied its own spin to the custom with The Elf Herself.

While Dr. Barry Frank has been retired from his pediatric practice for six years, he is still caring for the community.

The doctor has donated nearly $60,000 to Northern Nevada HOPES over the last several years, supporting the organization’s comprehensive medical, behavioral and wellness support service. His recent $40,000 donation has helped fund a new Gender and Sexual Health Care Clinic at the community health center.