Diagnosed with leukaemia nearly three decades ago, The Alarm's Mike Peters is now hopeful of "a way to be cured once and for all"

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM As the weather cools and the leaves begin to turn, there is no better time to transform your home into a warm and comfy space. Decorating your home for fall does not have to be a difficult or expensive task. With a few minor adjustments, you can change the mood with the leaves and make your surroundings feel more cozy and seasonal.  To help you with this process, a few design experts give their top recommendations for creating an autumnal ambiance. From velvety blankets to scented simmer pots, these ideas will transform your house into the ideal fall hideaway. 1. Bring in warm materials and earthy colors One of the easiest ways to embrace fall is to replace summery items with snuggly textured fabrics. According to Anjie Cho, a feng shui expert, now is the moment to let go of what is no longer needed and make room for items that promote warmth. “Like the trees that let go of their leaves, let go of things to make space for new energy,” Cho says. She recommends layering your home with soft, fluffy blankets and warm-toned pillows. Colors like reds, oranges, yellows, and browns help to create an attractive fall atmosphere. “In feng shui, we bring in fire and earth element colors in the autumn to create cozy warmth,” Cho adds. Focus on living areas such as the sofa or mantel, and finish the design with autumnal flowers, colorful gourds, or pumpkins. 2. Update your artwork for the season Updating artwork is another simple way to welcome autumn into your home. Wesley Taylor, a home and lifestyle blogger, says he enjoys changing up his wall artwork as the seasons change. “I have a few leaning frames around my space that I easily update with warmer-toned art pieces as the leaves start to fall,” Taylor says.  You don’t have to go overboard with seasonal themes—think nature prints, darker tones, or even family photos that capture the mood of the season. It’s a subtle yet effective method to make your home feel fresh for autumn. 3. Add cozy scents throughout your home While soft textures and warm hues are ideal for creating a welcoming ambiance, don’t underestimate the importance of smell. Anjie Cho suggests using essential oils or simmer pots with fall-themed aromas such as pumpkin spice, cinnamon, ginger, or orange.  “Fragrance plays a key role in making your space feel inviting,” Cho says. Whether you use scented candles, oils, or simmering spices on the stove, incorporating fall scents will instantly increase the cozy factor in any room. 4. Create a warm beverage station Nothing says autumn like a nice cup of tea or coffee on a crisp afternoon. Wesley Taylor recommends setting up a designated beverage tray in your kitchen or dining room for convenient access to warm drinks. “In the fall, I’m always ready for a warm beverage, so I set up a tea tray on my kitchen island that stays out 24/7,” Taylor says. A tray with your favorite tea or coffee, cups, and sweeteners makes it effortless to prepare a warm drink whenever the mood strikes. It’s a practical and fashionable item that will keep you warm all season long. 5. Forage for natural fall decor You don’t have to go far to get lovely fall decor; often the nicest things are right outside your door. Ruthie Staalsen of Ruthie Staalsen Interiors suggests incorporating natural elements such as branches, dried blooms, or leaves to create an organic, seasonal look. “I recommend bringing in rich burgundy dried florals and touches of warm yellow and orange,” Staalsen says. Arrange these natural findings in vases or pots to create a relaxed fall atmosphere. 6. Include subtle pops of color If you prefer minimalist decor, Staalsen recommends using faint fall hues as accessories. “Bring in mercury glass pumpkins and maybe some wicker pumpkins so the color orange is not over the top in your house,” she suggests.  You may achieve the ideal blend of seasonal design and simple elegance by keeping your base neutral and adding little pops of color, such as warm-toned candles, throw cushions, or even a new bedspread. By blending comfort, scent, and style, your home will feel ready to embrace the fall season in all its cozy splendor.The post Designers share 6 simple ways to create a cozier home for fall  first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM When Goodwill of Central and Southern Indiana realized that many of the people in its job-training programs lacked a high school diploma, it recognized a chance to make a lasting difference in its community. Rather than focusing simply on job training, Goodwill made the courageous decision to establish The Excel Center, a tuition-free charter high school for adults.  The effort attempted to overcome a major impediment to employment: education. The Excel Center used state per-pupil financing to change lives for the better by providing flexible schedules, free on-site childcare, transportation assistance, and life coaching. More than a decade later, data from the University of Notre Dame’s Lab for Economic Opportunities (LEO) confirms the Excel Center’s positive performance. Graduates of the program not only get better jobs but also earn better salaries and have greater work stability than their colleagues who did not complete the program. Measuring success: job and earnings LEO researchers Jim Sullivan, Rebecca Brough, and David Phillips evaluated the economic benefits of graduating from The Excel Center. Their findings are extraordinary. Graduates had an average earnings rise of almost 40 percent within five years of applying to the program. This bump resulted in an estimated $80,000 in additional lifetime earnings over those who applied but did not enroll. Notably, these findings were obtained without any direct financing from Goodwill for the study, though Goodwill did give data assistance. Higher wages weren’t the only perk, though. Graduates also found more stable jobs, with a 22 percent rise in continuous employment in the same industry over five years. Notably, Excel graduates were 19 percent less likely to work in low-wage industries such as hospitality and were more likely to find work as pharmacy technicians, dental assistants, or in HVAC maintenance. Industry-recognized credentials for career advancement One of The Excel Center’s distinctive qualities is its emphasis on industry-accepted qualifications. Along with their certificates, students received certifications in fields such as phlebotomy, child development, and nursing support. These credentials opened the door to professions in industries such as healthcare and education, which are known for paying better incomes and providing job security. Some graduates used these credentials to enhance their studies, enrolling in local community colleges. In Indiana, 30 percent of Excel grads received college credit, compared to just 11.5 percent of their non-enrolled classmates. The wider economic impact Beyond the personal benefits for graduates, the Excel Center provides a large return on investment for the governments that sponsor it. Because graduates earn more over their lifetimes, they pay more in taxes. According to the LEO study, each additional dollar of government financing for The Excel Center provides $20 in benefits for the average student in the form of an increase in after-tax lifetime earnings. This outcome contrasts sharply with federally supported programs like Job Corps or Adult Education and Literacy, which primarily assist adults in passing a high school equivalency exam, such as the GED. According to research, while a GED can be useful, it has a limited influence on lifetime wages, particularly for women. The Excel Center’s strategy, which combines a high school diploma and career credentials, provides a more comprehensive solution. Addressing a national challenge The necessity for adult education initiatives such as The Excel Center is obvious. More than 23 million adults in the United States do not have a high school diploma or GED certificate. This education gap hinders people’s access to numerous employment opportunities and causes them to earn much less than their peers. The Excel Center concept is helping to close this gap by providing a thorough and supportive educational experience that not only awards diplomas but also prepares students for stable, well-paying jobs. A growing national model The success of The Excel Center in Indiana has prompted a nationwide expansion. Today, the program runs 18 campuses in central and southern Indiana, and Goodwill has collaborated with other regions across the country to introduce adult high schools to states such as Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Illinois, and Washington, DC. In Arizona, for example, the LEO research had a direct impact on the state’s choice to join the Excel Center. Arizona lawmakers altered state law in February 2020 to create a continuing high school program for adults, spurred on by Goodwill testimony and reinforced by LEO data. The Excel Center’s success story demonstrates that addressing adults’ educational requirements can result in long-term economic advantages for both individuals and society as a whole. As more governments consider using this model, the potential to improve lives and local economies expands. The Excel Center’s mission is more than just education; it is to effect long-term, systemic change. Jim Sullivan of LEO expressed it this way: “The Excel Center provides a pathway to higher wages and better jobs, offering adults a chance to improve their lives and contribute more to their communities.”The post Better jobs and higher wages for Goodwill’s unique high school for dropouts first appeared on The Optimist Daily: Making Solutions the News.

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