Overview of CNN 5 Good Things
This episode of CNN 5 Good Things (host: Christobo Polanco) collects short, uplifting news stories and human-interest pieces, with a focus on athletes making history at the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics and several feel‑good features: education gains in Mississippi, a suicide‑prevention letter project, oyster restoration in Dublin Bay, and a heroic 13‑year‑old who saved his family at sea.
Stories covered
Olympic milestones and athletes
- NHL players returned to the Winter Olympics after missing the past two Games; New York Rangers forward Vincent Trocheck expressed excitement about "best on best" competition.
- Layla Edwards (22) became the first Black woman to play on the U.S. Olympic women’s hockey team; she helped Team USA beat the Czech Republic 5–1 in a preliminary game and hopes to inspire young Black girls to pursue hockey.
- Tallulah Pru (17), a Filipino‑American, is the youngest athlete and the first woman to represent the Philippines at the Winter Games; she’s competing in giant slalom and slalom and says global Filipino support has been overwhelming.
Mississippi reading turnaround
- Mississippi dramatically improved fourth‑grade scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) after legislative reforms beginning in 2013 focused on early literacy.
- The state adopted the "science of reading" approach (phonics, vocabulary, comprehension), raised academic standards, and deployed literacy coaches to train teachers.
- Raw NAEP rankings rose to 9th in reading and 16th in math for fourth graders; when adjusted for poverty and socioeconomic factors by the Urban Institute, Mississippi ranked number one for fourth‑grade reading and math.
- Local educators stress the gains are a "marathon, not a miracle," noting continued challenges (teacher shortages, extending gains to older grades).
Reasons to Stay — a suicide‑prevention letter project
- Ben West (London) launched ReasonsToStay.co.uk on the anniversary of his brother Sam’s suicide. The site hosts hopeful, vetted letters written by strangers to people in crisis.
- The initiative rapidly drew hundreds of thousands of letters and has already been credited with helping at least one person avoid suicide.
- The project highlights how simple, compassionate words from strangers can offer an immediate lifeline.
Oyster restoration in Dublin Bay
- The Green Ocean Foundation reintroduced ~18,000 oysters to Dublin Bay to restore lost shellfish populations.
- Oysters filter water (about 190 liters per oyster per day), improve water clarity, support seagrass/seaweed growth, boost fish habitat, and help protect coasts from storm surges.
- The project is largely grassroots and volunteer‑driven; similar restoration efforts are underway elsewhere.
Teen saves family at sea
- In Western Australia, 13‑year‑old Austin Appleby swam roughly 2.5 miles (4 km) in rough seas after his family’s kayak/paddleboard trip turned dangerous, then ran over a mile to get help.
- Rescue crews later found his mother and two younger siblings safe. Austin said he kept positive images (e.g., Thomas the Tank Engine) in his head to persevere.
Key takeaways
- Representation matters: historic Olympic appearances can inspire new generations (Layla Edwards, Tallulah Pru).
- Early, evidence‑based literacy reforms and sustained teacher support can produce measurable gains even in high‑poverty contexts (Mississippi example).
- Small, local, and volunteer‑led environmental actions like oyster restoration can have outsized ecosystem benefits and counteract climate despair.
- Simple human connection can save lives: the Reasons to Stay project demonstrates rapid, scalable impact from compassionate outreach.
- Individual courage under duress (Austin Appleby) can make the difference in life‑or‑death situations.
Notable quotes
- Layla Edwards: “I want to represent my country at the highest level, playing the sport I love… I hope a little Black girl sees me on TV and thinks, ‘I can do it too.’”
- Mississippi Superintendent Lance Evans: “If you pour into the teachers, they can pour into the students.”
- Ben West (Reasons to Stay): “We potentially stopped what happened to our family from happening to someone else’s family… that is one of the most incredible things that I will ever be a part of in life.”
- Austin Appleby on his survival mindset: “I was thinking of Thomas the Tank Engine… trying to get the happiest things in my head.”
Resources and links
- Reasons to Stay: https://reasonstostay.co.uk (read or write letters)
- U.S. Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- International support: International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and Befrienders Worldwide (for local crisis center contacts)
Note: the episode also includes short promo segments and ads.