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

Tiffany Yu is the founder of Diversability and author of "The Anti-Ableist Manifesto." After a childhood accident left her with a permanent disability, Yu dedicated her life to creating communities where people with disabilities of every kind can be seen, supported and celebrated. She gives her Brief But Spectacular take on embracing disability pride. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Matthew Rantanen grew up in Washington State, near Nez Perce, Coeur d’Alene, Colville and Spokane communities — an experience that shaped his decades-long work expanding broadband in Indian Country. Rantanen has been a leading ally in tribal digital equity and shares his Brief But Spectacular take on the power of connection. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

After struggling to find doctors who properly treated her own menopause symptoms, Joanna Strober created Midi Health, a virtual clinic designed for the millions of women navigating this significant life transition. She gives her Brief But Spectacular take on revolutionizing women's health care. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Lori Weise is a longtime activist affectionately known as the "Dog Lady." As the founder of a downtown Los Angeles dog rescue, she's dedicated to helping the unhoused stay united with their pets. She has a Brief But Spectacular take on rethinking rescue. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Byron Kominek returned to his family's Colorado farm with a bold idea: grow crops and harvest solar energy. At Jack’s Solar Garden, Byron has transformed hay fields into a thriving hub, demonstrating how farming and clean energy can grow side by side. He gives us his Brief But Spectacular take on agrivoltaics. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Comedian and illustrator Mo Welch has built a career blending sharp humor with emotional honesty. Her recent special, "Dad Jokes," explores her childhood with a largely absent father, culminating in a road trip to reunite with him after 20 years. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Older LGBTQ adults face a number of challenges, especially when it comes to finding housing and care. SAGE, a national advocacy leader in this space, created a system of training programs for care providers. H.O.M.E. housing director Nikki Moustafa and SAGEcare trainer Britta Larson highlight how the training has improved their abilities to support residents. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Sarah Silverman is known as one of the sharpest, most fearless voices in comedy, pushing the art form in new directions. In her new Netflix special, "Postmortem," she talks about losing her father and stepmother just weeks apart. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on saying goodbye. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy

Kalina Silverman is a storyteller who's transforming how we connect with each other. Her "Big Talk" project turns simple conversations into profound exchanges and has reached millions. Recently, Silverman turned her attention to documenting the stories of California wildfire survivors, helping raise millions in relief. She shares her Brief But Spectacular take on big talk. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Darrick Hamilton is an economic scholar and director of the Institute on Race, Power and Political Economy. Growing up in Brooklyn, he witnessed firsthand how economic circumstances shaped communities, inspiring his groundbreaking work on "Baby Bonds," government-funded savings accounts provided to children at birth. He shares his Brief But Spectacular take on building a birthright to capital. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders

Our Brief But Spectacular is shining a light on three aspiring builders from a hands-on vocational construction program in Salinas, California. Many of the students there are pushing past significant personal obstacles as they learn to frame walls, pour foundations and design homes with sustainability in mind. They share their Brief But Spectacular take on building a brighter future. PBS News is supported by - https://www.pbs.org/newshour/about/funders