The Brilliance of Using Pillowcases to #GiveRefugeesRest
A human rights campaign to protest Islamophobic rhetoric sent message-scrawled pillowcases to 31 governors who expressed support for refugee bans. And more are on the way.
YES! Article archive
What the Oregon Standoff Is Really About
The people occupying a wildlife reserve in eastern Oregon say they’re speaking for ranchers. But a closer look shows they’re associated with movements most people find alienating. If we want to build any solidarity with those living in rural areas, we need to understand the difference.
How This Black Student Used Documents and DNA to Find Her Slave Ancestors
Like many African Americans, Lakisha David wanted to trace the roots of her family, who for years were documented only as property. Here’s how she did it.
Help YES! Cover Politics
Lost in the noise about the horse race are signs of real progress. If you can track them down and write well about them, we want to hear from you.
How Do You Explain Where You Came From When Your Grandparents Were Immigrants?
As a child of Indian immigrants, Rupa Shenoy has learned when strangers ask her where she’s from, they don't want to hear “Iowa.”
Every 30 Seconds a Latino in the U.S. Turns 18. The Challenge Is Getting Them to Vote
If they vote more, Latino youth can be a powerful force in coming elections.
3 Ways to Bring David Bowie’s Spirit to Your Social Change Work
David Bowie pushed boundaries, challenged norms, and helped pop culture become more inclusive. Here’s how to keep his legacy alive.
Canadian Company Sues U.S. for Blocking Keystone XL—and Shows How the TPP Can Hurt Climate
Environmentalists have worked for years to get governments to regulate fossil fuels. Here’s how trade deals like the Trans-Pacific Partnership make that even harder.
Uber’s Immigrant Drivers Look Forward to Better Pay—and Bigger Voice
A union for Seattle Uber drivers means finally having the right to a two-way conversation with their multibillion-dollar employer.
In Photos: The Seed-Saving Farmers Who Pass Down Land to Their Daughters
In northeastern India’s mountainous state of Meghalaya, youngest daughters inherit the land—and the ancient food heritage of their mothers.
What’s the New Economy Look Like? Here’s What Our Artists Did With Your Ideas
Pictures of windmills and farmers markets are great, but they don’t capture the diversity and radicalism of the movement. So we asked readers like you for poster ideas and handed them over to two of our favorite artists.
A Neighborhood Revolution in a Pot of Soup
After living in the same town for 14 years, I decided it was finally time to meet my neighbors. My secret? Soup night.
Why Do Boys Dress as Warriors and Girls as Princesses? It Starts With the Books They Read
Research shows that children develop their understanding of things like gender and race before the age of 5 from the characters they meet in stories.
How Filipina Beauty Queens Are Lobbying for Trans Rights
In the first episode of their new documentary series, A Woman's Place, filmmakers explain how transgender beauty queens are lobbying for their rights outside of pageants.
Our Favorite Books on How to Live a Happy and Meaningful Life
Thinking about your New Year’s resolutions for 2016? Here are 13 of this year’s most thought-provoking and useful nonfiction books on the science of a meaningful life.
Project Fatherhood: Uniting the Men of LA’s Toughest Communities
In the Watts neighborhood of Los Angeles, Project Fatherhood helps end the cycle of absent fathers and gives men a place to discuss what it means to be dads, partners, and sons in one of the city's roughest areas.
Six Hopeful Breakthroughs from 2015
Despite conflicts and crises at home and abroad, 2015 offered glimpses of the road to a more just, compassionate, and sustainable world.
How Sustainability Almost Ruined Christmas
As a new parent I tried to delight over stocking stuffers, wrapping paper, and battery-powered plastic thingamabobs. But none of it made me happy.
Was 2015 the Year Big Food Began to Lose Its Sway?
Companies like Coca-Cola and Monsanto were called out for conflicts of interest, leaving many in the public health sector to wonder if next year transparency might become the new normal.
Filipina Trafficking Survivors Launch a Co-op—And They Own Their Jobs
After Judith Daluz escaped from an abusive employer and reunited with her children, she struggled to make ends meet. So she started a cleaning business with other Filipinas—where she’s her own boss.
A West Virginia Family Leaves Coal for Local Food—And Wants to Help Others Do the Same
In a place where coal’s legacy has left residents struggling, one family has a vision of a healthier future.
Why We Should Care What Climate Scientists Think
As a scientist at the Paris agreement discussions, I hoped to see a fruitful collision of the climate scientist and climate activist. I expected strong words regarding science and broader social change.
Black Activists Need Black-Only Spaces. Here’s Why We Should Respect That
What the media are missing in the controversial call for safe spaces.
These Girls Founded a Savings and Loan Club in Kenya’s Biggest Urban Slum
Halima and her friends had to stay home from school when they couldn’t afford sanitary pads. So they launched their own businesses and pooled their money for investment.
What Star Wars Taught Me About Being a Mindful Parent
After years reporting on the science of mindfulness, I now realize that the practice of moment-to-moment, nonjudgmental awareness darts in and out of the series. But as a kid, I just wanted to blow stuff up.
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