Helping Children in U.S. Foster Care
Last month, a Humans of New York series followed Charell Star, a young woman who was raised in foster care after her great-grandmother became ill and could no longer care for her. She cycled through cruel homes and eventually, thanks to early encouragement from her great-grandmother, landed in a boarding school that brought new opportunities along with more challenges. What can we do to support children in the U.S. foster care system?
Are Diamonds a Girl's Best Friend?
Tiffany & Co. was likely surprised by the backlash to their new campaign with Beyoncé and Jay-Z. Paying tribute to Audrey Hepburn's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" promotional photos, the campaign showcases Beyoncé wearing the iconic yellow Tiffany Diamond that was "discovered" in 1877 in South Africa. Since the announcement, conversations about "blood diamonds" have taken flight on social media. What are "blood diamonds" and does the Kimberley Process ensure that consumers are not purchasing them?
The Rise of Extremism in Mozambique
In Cabo Delgado, Mozambique's northern province, violence has escalated to the point of needing foreign assistance. This month, at least 1,000 Rwandan soldiers deployed to Mozambique to protect civilians from Ansar-al-Sunna, an armed extremist group with alleged links to ISIS. Chance Briggs of Save the Children said, "This violence has to stop, and displaced families need to be supported as they find their bearings and recover from the trauma.” What can we tell friends about this crisis and how can we help?
Uneven Bars for Hmong Refugees
As the first Hmong American Olympian and the first Asian American woman to win gold in the all-around finals, Sunisa "Suni" Lee has soared to new heights! Americans and members of the Hmong diaspora around the world are overjoyed about Lee's Olympic accomplishments. In fact, today has been declared "Suni Lee Day" across Minnesota. Last year this time, Hmong refugees in the U.S. were facing a potential increase in deportations. Is that still the case today and how can we support them?
Bringing Indigenous Children Home
Last month, U.S. Secretary Deb Haaland published an op-ed about the terrifying history of residential boarding schools for Native American children. She wrote, "We have a generation of lost or injured children who are now the lost or injured aunts, uncles, parents and grandparents of those who live today." Some of those lost children's remains were finally laid to rest this summer, after being discovered in the U.S. and Canada. What do we need to know about this history and how can we help?
Hotter Than The Fourth of July
A heatwave has ripped across the Pacific Northwest, forcing people to visit cooling centers due to the lack of residential air conditioners in the historically temperate climate. Temperatures have soared to 118 degrees (48 °C). The National Weather Service says that "on average, more people die from heat than any other severe weather." In Canada, British Columbia’s chief coroner, Lisa Lapointe, received reports of at least 486 “sudden and unexpected deaths.” She said, "...it is believed likely that the significant increase in deaths reported is attributable to the extreme weather.” There are a number of vulnerable groups impacted, including farmworkers.