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 […]
Social Justice
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 […]
Luis Flores uses TikTok to empower immigrant small business owners
It’s sunny in Hunts Point, the Bronx, on a late Spring morning. A gentle breeze brushes against my skin and makes the leaves sway. Despite the sunshine, it’s chilly and two layers of clothing are necessary to walk around comfortably. This Bronx neighborhood is far from the glittering backdrops often seen on the social media […]
African biotech company redefines global cancer research
The pale blue walls of the day care unit in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital are covered in art: one work shows two kids, one of whom is holding onto the Nyame Biribi Wo Soro Adinkra symbol, which translates to “God, there is something in the heavens.” Below the artwork, young patients lay in rows of […]
Ghana’s LGBTQ Community Battles Discrimination Amid Political Turmoil
Ghana, a longtime symbol for the entire continent as the first African country to declare independence from colonial rule, and a model for stability in a turbulent region, is currently targeting a group of people for who they are and who they choose to be with. The LGBTQ community in Ghana has been targeted by […]
Abortions Covered in Full By NYU Health Insurance Starting This Fall
Students at NYU interviewed this past weekend were relieved to learn that abortions will now be fully covered by the university-sponsored health insurance plan starting in fall 2023, whether the procedure is elective or medically necessary. “It makes me feel a lot safer, the fact that I know I could get one if need be […]
NYU Tisch student speaks on the lack of representation on Broadway
Brandon Bautista, a senior drama student at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, has worked on different shows, including “exhibition: Fil-O-PiNOS,” which he wrote himself. While the prospect of working in the New York theatre industry excites him, he is wary of how work by people of color tends to be overlooked. He explains why […]
Living as Transgender in the Czech Republic
“I’m not lying when I say half of the people here would prefer us dead,” said Chloe Monette of Czech society’s view on the transgender population. She is the founder and president of Jsem Trans, a Czech NGO committed to education and counseling for the transgender community. “This is a very stressful environment to live […]