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Medicaid is a federal and state program that assists low-income individuals and families to cover medical expenses. According to the Kaiser Family Foundation, nearly 7 million people are enrolled in the New York State Medicaid, and one out of four adults ages 19-64 are Medicaid members. Ironically, there’s a particular group of individuals that has […]
Social Justice
Ezras Nashim’s Chief Operating Officer on personal life, work and balancing it all
It was a gloomy Friday in April and, for the first time, I entered the Borough Park neighborhood of Brooklyn. I was dressed in typical journalist fashion, wearing black trousers, a modest top and brown blazer — a contrast to the traditional garments worn in this tight-knit ultra-Orthodox Jewish community. I was there to meet […]
A Story of Injustice: The Unlawful Sterilization of Romani Women
In 1990, human rights activist Elena Gorolová, a Czech Romani woman, found herself in a moment of vulnerability at Vitkovice Hospital. Sedated from childbirth, she was coerced into signing papers for sterilization, unaware of its implications. Only later did she ask the attending doctor: “What is sterilization?” In response, she received an answer that would […]
How Thrifting Could Save the World
Two girls giggle by a clothes rack that reads “Women’s long sleeves,” clothes draped across their arms as they weave through shelves of semi-worn garments. A schoolgirl with a bulky book bag peeks over at the tattered record section while waiting in line for the fitting room. A guy convinces his friend to buy the […]
Animal Testing Is Inaccurate and Scientists Should Use Alternative Methods
Here’s something you probably don’t know: over 90% of drugs that prove safe and effective in animal trials fail when they’re tried on humans. In 30% of those cases, the failure is because of harmful side effects, but the other 60% flop simply because humans are different from mice, dogs, and other species widely used […]
From Catwalk to Cause: The story of Julie Anderson’s “Feminine Collective”
This is the story of Julie Anderson, a supermodel and the creator of Feminine Collective, a place for women to share their stories as the antithesis of what mainstream media offers women today. The story delves deep into Julie’s childhood and career, and how she established Feminine Collective from her experience.
Broken Promises: The Habitat of Humanity of Westchester Dispute Over Veteran Housing
In the heart of Yonkers, N.Y., Ivan Arroyo, a dedicated veteran, found himself entangled in a web of unfulfilled promises. The narrative of Arroyo, who since the 1980s had lived in public housing, unfolds as a poignant example of hope turned sour. Initially celebrated in the media as a triumphant step towards homeownership, his journey […]
Gentrification is Slowly Killing Little Poland, but Polish Culture is Being Kept Alive
Gentrification is slowly killing Little Poland… When exiting the Greenpoint Avenue subway station, Greenpointers and visitors are immediately greeted by the stereotypical image of contemporary America: a McDonald’s across the road and a Dunkin’ Donuts just a slight left turn away. However, a mere two minutes down the road from the station, there is a […]
A Lifelong Fight: Navy Veteran Alex Miller’s Journey through War, Homelessness, and Trauma
Alex Miller recognizes that he has beat the odds. “Statistics aren’t on any of our sides,” said the 37-year-old U.S. Navy veteran turned New York writer. “Most Black people sink to the bottom. I don’t know how many actually make it out.” For most of his life, Miller fought to escape the destructive effects of […]
From Empty Glasses to Open Pages: Queer Bookstores Are Changing the Narrative
For at least a century, LGBTQ people have found bars indispensable places to meet friends and lovers, organize politically, feel safe, and let loose. But in the past few decades, gay bars in the US and around the world have been closing at a steady rate, from a complex mix of factors that social scientists are […]