Kaitlin Davis is a social worker in Oklahoma who drives close to nine hours round-trip in the flatlands to meet face-to-face with foster children. With a shortage of foster families, especially in rural areas, long-distance placements are stretching a child welfare system that aims to help youth navigate sudden loss. Davis shares her Brief But Spectacular take on building hope for better futures. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

At the beginning of this year, the community of Altadena was one of several devastated by wildfires in California. Gina Clayton-Johnson, the founder of Essie Justice Group, lost her home and some irreplaceable family treasures. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on putting the pieces back together. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Kayla Stuart is a Tennessee-based urban forester who leads the organization Tree CPR to create healthier. stronger communities as climate change escalates. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on the power of trees. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Joseph Martinez is the longtime school principal of Carpenter Community Charter in Los Angeles. Families know him as the principal who literally picks up trash in the morning and dresses up for school plays, but also as the steady hand through fires, immigration fears and lockdown drills. Here's his Brief But Spectacular take on bringing hospitality to education. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

At the Men's Central Jail in downtown Los Angeles, a new children's library inside the visitors' center is giving kids a place to read and learn during the often long waits to see their loved ones. Tonight, a grandmother and her 10-year-old grandson share their Brief But Spectacular take on connecting through reading. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

In this season of gathering around the table, we hear from self-proclaimed proud "AG youth" Anixia Davila from Salinas Valley, California, known as the "salad bowl of the world." Davila shares her Brief But Spectacular take on what she's learned about leadership, responsibility and community through farming. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Sometimes, the right learning environment can change everything. For Courtney Irwin, that place was a youth development center in Salinas, California. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on how cooking and community helped her find her way. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

For decades, David Kelley has helped people unlock their creativity. A pioneer of design, he founded the Stanford d.school as a place for creative, cross-disciplinary problem solving. He reflects on the journey that shaped his belief that everyone has the capacity to be creative and his Brief But Spectacular take on creativity and design. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Dana Vanderford and Fred Theus work together in Los Angeles County's homelessness prevention unit. It uses AI-driven data to identify people at risk of losing their homes and offers support that can help prevent homelessness. They share their Brief But Spectacular take on preventing homelessness before it happens.

PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy