activism

Grassroots campaigns have proven instrumental in bringing about political, social or environmental change; you've got to start somewhere-might as well start here.

Homelessness
I love sports! Specifically the NFL and the NBA. I want to play in the NFL when I'm older. All the players are role models for many people. For example Jimmy Butler, a 3 time NBA all-star, a 3-time NBA all American, All American defensive team and the NBA's most improved player in 2015. He is one of the most consistent players in the NBA right now. But if you don't already know, he has been homeless. Kicked out of his house at the age of 13. He couldn’t get a job. But grew up to be one of the best players to play for the Bulls and the Timberwolves.
By Matthew Riet8 years ago in The Swamp
The Lucky Refugees
Ever since I was little I remember moving from country to country, crying to my parents because—yet again—I had to make new friends and a new life.
By Maria Eugenia D'Angelo8 years ago in The Swamp
To the Gentlemen That Walked Out During My Pro-Black Speech
Picture it: On January 25, 2018, my organization hosted an open mic night for students to get on stage and share their stories with one another. It provided an opportunity for people to be more transparent with one another about the good and bad things that helped make them who they are. As president of the organization, I volunteered to start the event.
By Azaria Brown8 years ago in The Swamp
World Peace
War is good for nothing; all it does is cause more war. Violence is a disease, not an attribute. Aggression can be an attribute, and there's nothing wrong with it. Peace is just giving aggression healthy outlets.
By Russell Brummer8 years ago in The Swamp
What's for Dinner? Plastic!
Imagine 25 years from now you and your family take a trip to the beach, you pile out of the car, and can hear the wave rushing to the shore. As you walk to the beach you see a couple bottles, caps and other debris littered as you walk and once you get to the beach you are slightly disappointed at the sight before you. Little to no seagulls flying around begging for food. Sandpipers nowhere in sight and every few steps you're kicking empty plastic pieces around and out of your way. Gone are the days of sea shell hunting because now the most that washes on shore is empty bottles, caps and ripped up plastic bags.
By Misha Alsleben8 years ago in The Swamp
The Standing Rock Series
This was the final day of Oceti just before they sent the military in to disperse camp... We had gathered at the other bridge where the invisible line for the reservation is now next to where Rosebud camp was...
By Harry Benedict8 years ago in The Swamp
The Standing Rock Series: The Calm Before the Storm. Top Story - January 2018.
This was during my second trip to Standing Rock; camp had grown significantly in a short time after I left from a few hundred to a couple thousand people. It was in that time we had many successive peaceful actions that were truly beautiful to be a part of. I would call this the calm before the storm, for soon they brought heavier violence upon us.
By Harry Benedict8 years ago in The Swamp
The Standing Rock Series
When this journey began, this chapter I should say, I did not know truly what to expect, but I knew it was somewhere I was meant to be. Every now and then, there are moments in life that come to you that you know that you are meant to live... Like a deep calling, it stirs the fires of passion within your soul, it's a sense of knowing...
By Harry Benedict8 years ago in The Swamp
Make America Kind Again
A lack of compassion in the United States has caused one of the greatest divisions in the country's history. There is a large group of people in this country who feel that they should only care for those who they can identify with, and that belief has destroyed what used to make people believe in society. We've forgotten how to trust and how to show compassion for other people in our society.
By Ryan Golden8 years ago in The Swamp
The Crisis That is: Net Neutrality
What is Net Neutrality? Net Neutrality prohibits any form of internet service from increasing or decreasing internet speeds along with prohibiting them from blocking certain content or websites. Internet services such as AT&T, Comcast, Verizon, and Sprint would be able to charge their customers more money in order to utilize their services, thus stating that the internet would have to be paid for just like a utility payment — gas, electricity, water, etc.
By Chloe Larson8 years ago in The Swamp
Why You Shouldn't Touch My Hair
“Don’t touch my hair, when it’s the feelings I wear.” — Solange Knowles When your hair defies gravity, and you go places where others' follicles do not, you reach a sense of dissonance for people’s wandering fingers. The bottom line being, we live in a society where it is still odd for people to see the black locks of extraordinarily curly hair coming out of someone’s skin.
By Arlo L8 years ago in The Swamp
Understanding White Privilege as a White Person
Let’s start with the basics: What is white privilege? White privilege is not something that white people participate in on purpose. It give “perks” to white people that we do not earn and that people of color do not receive. White privilege does not negate the hard work white people do to get what they have, but it does eliminate some of the obstacles that people of color face when trying to achieve the same goals. A few examples of white privilege include: being able to find band aids that match your skin and being able to easily find hair care products. It can also have bigger impacts like feeling safe in a room of mostly white people and not having to worry about getting “randomly” searched at the airport.
By Eli Will8 years ago in The Swamp