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Derek Burnett

Derek Burnett

Articles

When Hurricane Helene Hit, Asheville, North Carolina, Banded Together—And Became 2025’s Nicest Place in America

Asheville has always been a special place. But after a devastating event, residents rallied to support one another … and provided a blueprint for what real cooperation and kindness look like.

The Story Behind the Stories at Reader’s Digest

Confidence in journalism is at an all-time low. Here’s what we do to get the reporting right.

Plagued by a Youth Suicide Epidemic, Provo, Utah, Worked Together to Find a Remedy—and Became 2024’s Nicest Place in America

Provo, Utah's third-largest city, built a blueprint to help combat disproportionately high suicide rates in young people in the western United States. Its cornerstones? Prevention and hope.