American writers with a humane world view

As friend WS has noted, and I agree, the vast majority of short stories, particularly American stories, are about outsiders and misfits, are often sorrowful or even tragic, ironic or even cynical. The same holds true, to a lesser extent, to American literature in general - the quintessential American hero being Huck Finn heading out for the territories or Holden Caulfield all alone (not Tom Jones, Pip, or Emma finding his or her place within a welcoming society). But there are some contemporary American writers who provide a more inclusive, welcoming, humane, and even uplifting world view - or at least world glimpse - without being saccharine, sentimental, or trite. Like all great writers, each of these writers presents a range of moods and ideas, so some of their stories may not quite or may not at all fit in with this mode, but these are writers worth exploring for an inclusive, yet still distinctly American, world view:

Charles Baxter, an old friend of mine from grad-school days, who writes beautifully about people facing moral and personal crises and dealing with their issues in sensible and mature ways

Four writers known for their wit and humor:

Antonya Nelson
Lorrie Moore
George Saunders
Ann Beattie (The New Yorker Stories collects most of her best) 

Edward P. Jones, only one story collection that I know of, about the lesser-known side of life in the capital city

Louise Erdrich, though best-known for her novels, her stories as well re-create an entire culture of life on a prairie reservation - a creation equal in scope to Yoknapatawpha

Jhumpa Lahiri, excellent stories mostly about the children of immigrants from India and their issues of family ties and the yearning for assimilation

So, here's a start. Further suggestions?