The Sunshine Report – What It Is, How It Came into Being…

Karen and Jay share thoughts on the founding, the purpose and the positive, exciting future of the American Sunshine Movement!

Each week we share the Sunshine Report. It comes out on Friday. Filled with positive energy, optimism and a ‘can do’ spirit. Hopefully an uplifting interlude to brighten your day – and put a happy exclamation point at the end of your week. But what’s it all about? How did it come into being? And how is it tied to a larger purpose? Well, the answer lies in an interesting development that in a way started seven years ago. But in another way, harkens back to an earlier time in our country. You see, I grew up in Newport, New Hampshire. A small town, not unlike the thousands of other towns across our country where families thrived, small businesses populated the main street, kids could play safely in neighborhoods, and towns came together to celebrate successes as well as to help each other out in moments of need. A true community spirit permeated throughout, and there was a sense of well-being and intergenerational progress. Then something happened. Factories started closing down or moving away. Shopping malls and then Amazon and the internet began to erode the bustling shops on the main street. As jobs disappeared and the economy cycled downward in these towns, a sense of hopelessness filled the air. And that’s where opioids and substance abuse crept in – only making the situation even worse. Since the 1970’s, there seemed to be a continuous slide in the wrong direction. This was true for my hometown – as well as small towns and communities all throughout America. So, it was in 2018 that my wife Karen and I decided to try to change all this – starting in my hometown. The idea just came over us while driving down the main street in my hometown – feeling a sense of mission. An optimism and a belief – actually a ‘faith’ and a ‘can do’ spirit – that Newport, New Hampshire could achieve a glorious comeback. So, right then and there – we started. We founded what we called the ‘Sunshine Initiative’ – totally dedicated to the revitalization of Newport. Well, here it is seven years later, and it has SUCCEEDED! Way beyond our dreams and aspirations. The town of Newport has been reborn – all driven by the efforts of an optimistic, hard-working community. Jobs are back, there is a beautiful new community center in place, housing coming online – a refurbished opera house, a dog park and so much more. But, most of all – a positive spirit and a true sense that all is possible! And it was in this way that the Sunshine Report was also born. When the Sunshine Initiative was just starting out, we began this weekly newsletter. It was meant primarily as update or report on the progress of our revitalization efforts. Over time it has developed into much more than that. Really a means of communicating the power of positive energy. As we now take the lessons learned in Newport and began sharing them in a systematic way with small towns and communities across America, the Sunshine Report will continue to be key part of our efforts in transforming our great country – with the goal of helping every individual to have the opportunity to fulfill their full potential. We invite you to join us in our efforts – in so doing, continue to enjoy the positive spirit of the Sunshine Report!

Quote of the Week

"There is a special sense of place and purpose in small-town America—an enduring rhythm of community, tradition, and hope." — Tom Brokaw

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