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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
As Ghana aims to plant 10 million trees in a single day, environmentalists decry “greenwashing.”
As the sun beams down on the city of Accra, students, teachers, local residents and national officials have come together for the yearly celebration of Green Ghana Day. The rainy season seems to pause as African drums, flutes, saxophones, and suspenseful beats blast the song “Welcome Home” by legendary Afro-rock band Osibisa. People are led […]
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.
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 […]
The Hidden Hunger of Transgender Men
On a hazy morning in April, Daniel-José Cyan, a 26-year-old from the Bronx, opens his deserted fridge to find a single piece of moldy mozzarella cheese. He holds it up to the light and knowing he had to eat something, against his better judgment, takes a bite. “Even looking in the fridge can cause me […]
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 […]
Beyond Barbie: How Art Could Save Your Vulva – and Your Sex Life
Sophie Sandberg stands in the dim light of her bedroom, holding a mirror between her legs, trying to get a clear look at the shape of her vulva. “I remember thinking it wasn’t how it was supposed to look,” she says. “And it wasn’t attractive. There were different colors. And being 14 at the time, […]