Half of America’s Workforce Has No Retirement Plan—But Illinois Has a Fix
Economists see the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program, designed for private-sector workers, as an innovative complement to Social Security.
YES! Article archive
In North Dakota’s Booming Oil Patch, One Tribe Beat Back Fracking
The Turtle Mountain Band was among the first tribes to ban the drilling process. Here’s the difference it made.
How to Stop an Oil Train: The Hearts-and-Minds Climate Defense That Won Over a Courtroom
The Delta 5 loss was actually a big win. “Frankly, the court is convinced that the defendants are far from the problem and are part of the solution to the problem of climate change.”
New York’s “Carwasheros” Push for Safer, Fairer Workplaces
Car washes are the “wild, wild West” of workplace regulation. The Car Wash Accountability Act will improve that—if it is ever implemented.
Big Oil and Gas Want Them Out, But One Small Clan Is Standing Up to Pipeline Expansion
A First Nations clan is bringing pipeline projects to a grinding halt—simply by occupying their traditional lands.
Our Continued March to the Mountaintop
In his speech delivered in Seattle, YES! reporter Marcus Harrison Green acknowledges that realizing King’s dream will require more than kind words and promises.
The Bravest Response to Fear
From strangers on the street to Muslim refugees—why we should embrace the humanity of people we may fear.
Why Are Bathrooms the Place to Air Our Politics?
From issues of gender-bullying to discrimination against homeless people, safe and reliable bathroom access is a hot political topic these days.
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.
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.
Help Fund Powerful Stories to Light the Way Forward
Donate to YES! today.