If They Die of an Overdose, Drug Users Have a Last Request
Thousands of drug users across the country signed their names to a sort of last will and testament, requesting that prosecutors not file homicide charges against their loved ones.
Political Power
YES! believes in the fundamental right of people to determine their own political future, and reports on efforts to expand access to democracy and voter enfranchisement, while also acknowledging the limits of electoral politics, and “democracy” as it has been used as a bludgeon by imperial powers.
World to Flint Kids: We Still See You
An 11-year-old social media celebrity collects thousands of encouraging letters from around the globe to remind her Flint schoolmates they are not forgotten.
Harry Belafonte and ‘The Long Road to Freedom’
On the anniversary of the March on Washington, we revisit an interview with the musician and civil rights activist about his anthology of Black music.
When School Is Based on What Kids Want to Learn
With self-directed education, students become their own teachers. But the biggest learning curve may be for parents.
Meet the Indigenous Women Keeping Native Businesses Close to Home
Entrepreneurs have limited access to capital and business education on the reservation. A Navajo incubator wants to change that.
U.S. Cities Issue IDs to Protect Undocumented Immigrants
A growing number of communities have implemented municipal identification programs, and not just in politically progressive areas.
Water Protectors Take Action to Keep Pipeline Out of Black and Indigenous Communities
An encampment of protesters in Louisiana is resisting the crude oil industry, whose environmental disasters disproportionately affect the poor and people of color.
How Native American Children Benefit From Trauma-Informed Schools
Students in these communities are disproportionately affected by trauma. When they act out, adults with training ask, “Is there anything I can do to help you?” rather than “Why are you acting this way?”
Lawyers Turn to Activism as Civil Liberties Come Under Attack
A new generation of social justice attorneys has risen to defend against the hard-line policies of the Trump administration, from immigration and abortion access to voting and gender rights.
Citizens United | Native rights | Immigration | Reproductive rights | Activism | Gender justice | Democratic reforms | Local power
How to Reclaim the Narrative—and Power—in Post-Truth America
Hope plus action and investment equals revolutionary muscle. Now is the time for the progressive majority to set the terms of the conversation.
How Colleges Can Support Students Recovering from Substance Abuse
The key to sobriety is giving students experiences that go beyond pub-crawling or tailgating.
Student Debt Anxiety Is Hard on My Mental Health
In the last 10 years alone, the number of people like me who owe at least $100,000 in student loans has quadrupled. But here’s how we can cope.
Women of Color Face Significant Barriers When Running for Office. But They’re Finding Support.
How winning campaigns are working to overcome the sexism and racism nonwhite candidates face.
The College Mental Health Crisis in 10 Sketches
As schools respond to the 30 percent increase in demand for counseling, artist Ella Baron gives a glimpse inside some students’ experiences.
To Build These Homes, We Chose an All-Women Crew
The Mudgirls collective redefines expectations about what a construction site is supposed to look like—child care, breastfeeding breaks, and all.
Families of Interned Japanese Americans See Parallels to Detentions at Border
Debates over confining migrant parents and children stir activism in a new generation of Japanese Americans.
Women’s Rights Are Center Stage in One Kentucky Community
A local theater group tackles stigma and prompts conversations in a state where abortion is steadily under attack.
You Want to Know Who America Is, Pay Attention to Who She Was
We’ve been here before.
Caravan of Grandmothers Heads to Mexico Border
The group leaving from New York will onboard other “grannies” and allies along the way to support migrating families.
This Boot Camp Trains Young People to Fight Plastic Pollution
Youth activists ages 11 to 18 return home to educate their communities about how to curb the crisis.
How Issues in the South Affect the Entire Nation
The South is a proven testing ground for regressive policies and practices that often make their way to the rest of the U.S.
5 Reasons Salmon Are an Environmental Justice Solution
We need wild salmon—and not just because they’re tasty. They are an indicator of ecosystem health.
Thomas Paine’s Truth-to-Power Message in 1776
Paine’s writing was as uncompromising as a modern blog with the edgy wit and precision of a Twitter thread.
How One Woman Stood Up to Border Patrol When They Boarded Her Greyhound Bus
She was loud and made sure everyone knew that what was happening was illegal.
Cooking Stirs the Pot for Social Change
Preparing food—and letting others in our communities cook for us—is how we become good citizens who engage with the communities around us.
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