Please note…the issues raised in this post also affect individuals who do not identify with traditional gender identification. Gendered nouns and pronouns were used in this post because the women whom I met, and whose experiences I reference in this piece, were cisgendered. It is important that I acknowledge that the inequities raised in this post exist for members of the LGBTQ community, individuals who identify as gender non-conforming, as well as individuals who identify as gender-fluid--members of these further marginalized communities must not be forgotten. Volunteering for a local non-profit that supports homeless children in NYC opened my eyes to inequities that often exist under the surface--sidelined by the more immediate and pressing issues that families who...
SOULMUCH is a startup venture that has found a solution to the logistics of rescuing restaurant food waste and repurposing into healthy snacks such as our vegan, gluten free cookies that do not contain artificial sweeteners or oils, and contains 10 grams of protein. When working in the restaurant industry you see first hand how much nutritious food is being thrown away. The restaurant industry wastes on average 84.3% of unused food according to the Food Waste Alliance. When food is thrown away into a landfill, it creates methane which is 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Food waste is one major contributor to greenhouse gases, and has added to the climate crisis we are currently in. In addition,...
One of the fundamental tenants of reproductive justice, as described by SisterSong, is to choose whether to have a child. If a person chooses to have a child, that child is entitled to grow up in a safe and healthy environment. When we connect the dots between environmental and reproductive justice, we can easily see these two spheres of justice overlap in more than one dimension. As a reproductive justice and environmental advocate majoring in international studies, I’ve come across countless examples of the need for comprehensive reproductive care—not just for the benefit of humans, but for our ecosystems as well. For example, studies have shown that women leaders and state peace are correlated, meaning more women leaders often lead...
So, you’ve bought your metal straw and you believe in the sustainability movement, but where do we go from here? I’m thinking politics. There is no reason that you cannot be a political leader influencing the direction of our country. I have a few keys to help you do this by expanding your influence. The first key? Let’s get educated. Listen to podcasts and read the news (I mean visit the CNN, NY Times, etc. website and read the real story). You can easily incorporate these into your routine by listening to a 30-minute daily news podcast on your walk to class. You can also keep a news app on your phone that sends you quick notifications of major events...
My name is Chasejamison Akilah Manar-Spears, aka Dzifa, and I am one of the co-founders of Roots Collective. My commitment to this work blossomed from my personal stand that LOVE should be a guiding force towards a sustainably liberated earth. I understand and appreciate that everyone has their own definition of love. To clarify, this is my own definition: Liberation of the mind, body, and spirit through compassionate and authentic leadership Operation based on equity and collectivity Validation and valuing our differences, and the truth of all life everywhere Elevation above the status quo with an expectation of reciprocity With these values in mind, I aligned with an amazing team of advocates, organizers, and creatives. I met them all on...
