New Film About Sex Trafficking Celebrates the Resilience of Children
Filmmakers hope “Sold,” based on the bestselling young adult novel, will inspire empathy and action among young viewers.
YES! Article archive
Social Justice
How Can Public Schools Stop Amplifying Inequality?
Low-income communities continue to look for the best ways to improve their schools as the income gap grows across America.
Formerly Incarcerated Moms Fight for Reforms to Save Families
Two-thirds of women behind bars are mothers of children under the age of 18, and even a short stint in jail can cause them to lose their jobs, housing, and kids. Here are four policies to help prevent that.
How a Wife’s Tiny Food Shop Brought Financial Freedom and Escape from Domestic Violence
In Indonesia, a growing number of women are speaking up to report violence and finding the economic means to get out of abusive marriages.
As European Women Stream to ISIS, This Reformed Extremist Is Offering Them a Different Path
When Yasmin Mulbocus found no justice after being sexually abused, she was drawn to an Islamic extremist group she believed could protect her. Twenty years later, she’s trying to stop other women from making the same mistake.
Meet America’s New Election-Integrity Watchman
From Internet voting to automatic registration, the chairman of the Election Assistance Commission discusses what it takes to ensure honest elections.
Are Candidates Exploiting the Families of Black Victims for Votes? Sandra Bland’s Mom Says “No”
Black votes matter, but some question whether Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton’s endorsements from relatives of police brutality victims are appropriate.
24 States Put Juvenile Offenders in Solitary, But Advocates Are Trying to Change That
Studies show kids held in solitary confinement experience long-lasting psychological damage. Activists hope a wave of local and national policy changes means widespread reform is on the way.
Police Shooting Data Reveal New Tactics and Training Will Only Go So Far
To create meaningful change, we must look beyond high-profile cases and ask why certain police-civilian encounters occur at all.
Ten Counterproductive Behaviors of Well-Intentioned People
Common mistakes made in social justice conversations and how to correct them.
Life in the World’s Largest Refugee Camp
Along the Kenya-Somalia border, people have been displaced for decades. A new book profiles nine Somali refugees to explain the political forces that keep them—and hundreds of thousands more—from getting out.
When You Can’t Afford the Cost of Clearing Your Record
People who’ve done their time and paid their fines still face barriers to employment. Memphis-based Just City helps them start fresh.
People Are Happier in States That Allow Ballot Initiatives
Twenty-four states allow citizens to vote directly on policy matters, and research shows that life satisfaction is higher in them.
In a Tiny House Village, Portland’s Homeless Find Dignity
As cities search for solutions to homelessness, Portland’s Dignity Village offers 60 men and women community and safety.
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.
Love in the Time of Mania: Six Ways Americans Are Defying Islamophobia
If you watch the news, you'd think anti-Muslim hysteria is everywhere. Thankfully, that's not true.
Amid Tensions, Christians Show Support for Syrian Refugees in Dallas
As a Syrian family seeks safety in Texas, some voice outrage against the “Islamization” of America. This Sunday, I attended church services in Dallas where I found a commitment to live out the welcoming, compassionate side of Christianity.
My Mom Fled War Too: Finding Compassion for Syrian Refugees
Like refugees everywhere, my mom gave her children the gift of a better life—and an understanding of what it means to risk everything for it.
Paris Attacks and Climate Change Push Us to Fix a World of Broken Systems
The rise of ISIS, the “war on terror,” the attack on Paris—these are symptoms of a civilization in its twilight. But the displays of global solidarity show that the seeds of a new paradigm are being planted.
Can Cities End the School-to-Prison Pipeline? Relentless Organizers Are Tallying Wins
“We have always said that this is a battle of imagination over incarceration.”
Meet the Indian Women Trying to Take Down “Caste Apartheid”
Asha Kowtal and the Dalit Women's Self-Respect March traveled across Northern India to document the ongoing violence against women who were once branded as "untouchable." Now, they're raising new leaders, and finding allies in Black Lives Matter.
It Took Me Years to Believe That Black Lives Matter. Now Here’s What I Need From You
Internalized racism prevented me from seeing how the system works.
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