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The Power of Diversity

"How The Times Gave 'Gay' Its Own Voice (Again)" by David W. Dunlap, The New York Times

Until June of 1987, the word “gay” was prohibited from The New York Times, reflecting and perpetuating a majority of intolerance toward the LGBT+ community. Today, we celebrate the milestone decision not only to begin allowing the use of the word, but to recognize members of the community as who they really are.

"Fight Over Census Documents Centers on Motive for a Citizenship Question" by Michael Wines, The New York Times

The Trump administration continues its lengthy battle with Congress over the decision to add a question about citizenship to the U.S. census. Many question Trump’s motives for the new query, claiming that his intention is to cause an undercount in Democratic areas, to the advantage of Republicans when determining voting rights. Regardless of the motive, however, the addition of this census question would likely result in an underrepresentation of our nation’s diversity.

 

Slavery and Its Aftermath

"'A plunder of black wealth': Predatory housing contracts gouged Chicago's black homeowners, new report says" by Carlos Ballesteros, Chicago Sun Times

In the 20th century, black homeowners in Chicago were harmed by racist real estate practices; unfair evictions were frequent and prices for black buyers were marked up 84% on average. This is one of the countless examples of American slavery’s lasting impacts, as well as one of the reasons why so many inequities still exist today.

 

Water, Equity and Security

'This is a wake-up call': the villagers who could be Britain's first climate refugees" by Tom Wall, The Guardian

In the Welsh town of Fairbourne, rising sea levels caused by climate change are making it more difficult to preserve homes against the elements. The circumstances in this small corner of the earth may seem insignificant, but they serve as a frightening preview of the future of places all over the world.

 

The Future of Work

"They Were Promised Coding Jobs in Appalachia. Now They Say It Was a Fraud." by Campbell Robertson, The New York Times

When a nonprofit that pledged to teach individuals how to code arrived in West Virginia, many were hopeful. Some even quit their jobs or left school to pursue a path in computer programming. But after nearly every student dropped out of the coding class, deeming it a fraud, many are in the process of suing the allegedly deceitful nonprofit. While teaching more citizens how to code is a goal that we should strive for, fraudulent organizations threaten to interfere with this ambition.

 

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The Power of Diversity

"Knock Down The House" (2019)

Focusing on four women who ran for U.S. Congress in 2018, “Knock Down The House” highlights the importance—and the difficulty—of diversifying the nation’s leaders. The Sundance Film Festival award winning documentary tells the stories of Amy Vilela, Cori Bush, Paula Jean Swearengin, and Alexandria Osacio-Cortez—now Representative of New York’s 14th district.

Watch on Netflix

 

Slavery and Its Aftermath

"Moonlight" (2016)

In 2016, Barry Jenkins delivered a powerful film that explored themes including masculinity, love, and the intersection of race and sexual orientation. Dramatic and thought-provoking, “Moonlight” holds the capacity to captivate and move viewers of any identity.

Watch on Netflix, or rent or buy on Amazon Prime Video

 

Water, Equity and Security

“Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret” (2014)

“Cowspiracy: The Sustainability Secret” uncovers one of the biggest—yet most ignored—threats to the planet’s health, exposing the food industry as a leading cause of climate change and water consumption. Shocking and unsettling, “Cowspiracy” challenges one of the world’s largest businesses and forces viewers to face the discomfort of learning about the impacts of their own lifestyles.

Watch on Netflix

 

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The Future of Work

"Can Work Be Dignified in an Automated World?", EdSurge On Air (2019)

The Center for Social Solutions’ founding director, Earl Lewis, was featured on “EdSurge On Air” to speak about the future of work and the dignity of labor. It is estimated that between 400 million and 800 million individuals will be put out of work by 2030 as a consequence of automation. Johnson and Lewis speak about the impacts, implications, and possible solutions to the consequences of new technology.

Listen on Spotify or Apple Podcasts