The Power of Diversity

"SAT's New 'Adversity Score' Will Take Students' Hardships Into Account" by Anemona Hartocollis, The New York Times

The College Board recently announced the addition of a new rating to the SAT exam. Referred to as an “adversity score,” the record will be based on factors including crime rate, poverty, and school quality in the student’s neighborhood. The adversity rating will not be factored into the final test score, but it will be sent to universities for consideration during the selection process. In terms of diversity and inclusion within college campuses across the nation, this may be a step in the right direction.

"In Historic First, Chicago Inaugurates Lori Lightfoot As Mayor" by Becky Vevea and Alex Keefe, NPR

Lori Lightfoot made history when she was sworn in as the City of Chicago’s first black female mayor and first openly gay mayor. On the day of her inauguration, Lightfoot voiced her desire for Chicago to be a city that “holds equity and inclusion as [its] guiding principles.” Lightfoot’s victory marks what could be major progress in diversifying the nation’s leaders.

 

Slavery and Its Aftermath

"Searching Out the Hidden Stories of South Carolina’s Gullah Country" by Mary Stewart Atwell, The New York Times

On St. Helena Island in South Carolina, the Gullah Geechee culture still persists. Descendents of West Africans, the Gullah Geechee claim a unique language and their own traditions, making them a distinct part of African culture. Long after the abolition of the slavery which brought the Gullah Geechee to America, their cultural influence remains intact. But Alwell explains that it is important to remember the history of what brought them here and what they have endured since.

 

Water, Equity and Security

"US farmers count cost of catastrophic 'bomb cyclone' in midwest" by Susan Cosier, The Guardian

States of emergency were declared in Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Wisconsin, and Minnesota in March after millions of acres of farmland were flooded. More than a month later, cropland was still submerged in water across the midwest. The “bomb cyclone” that caused this devastating setback is one of many extreme weather patterns that we can now expect as a result of climate change. Focusing on redistributing this flood water to areas of drought is becoming more of a priority than ever.