As the US stretches to nearly a full month of a pandemic-related economic shutdown, the number of people who filed for unemployment benefits has reached more than 26 million. Lines at food banks recall images captured during the Great Depression. Today’s pictures are in color and depict expanses of cars or casually dressed people donning masks.

Among these grim images and disheartening statistics, however, optimism shines through. Stories of organizations and innovators choosing to do the right thing in the hardest time provide hope. 

In early April 2020, larger financial institutions including Morgan Stanley, Bank of America and Citigroup, vowed to hold off on making layoffs. Even smaller organizations are committing to keep staff on. Not surprisingly if you’re familiar with the Entrepreneurs’ Organization (EO), plenty of these organizations are led by EO members.