Category: National
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NARAL Pro-Choice America President Talks About the High Stakes of Women’s Reproductive Freedoms
By Emily Green Courtesy of Street Roots / INSP.ngo. Before a national television audience, Ilyse Hogue took the stage on the third night of the 2016 Democratic National Convention and did the unthinkable—she spoke publicly about her abortion. Her words struck a chord. Abortion remains a highly divisive social issue that carries with it a…
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Surge in Anti-Muslim Hate Crimes, Study Reports
A recent study from the California State University at San Bernardino has reported a surge in hate crimes against Muslims. Anti-Muslim hate crimes rose 78% in 2015 across the 20 states surveyed. The report reveals that last year was the worst year for anti-Muslim hate crimes since 2001, just after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. “Last…
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Prominent Athlete Acknowledged for Work with Struggling Youth and Families
John Wall is best known for his actions on the court, but his actions off are what caught the attention of the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty, which recently recognized him with an award. Wall, a point guard for the Washington Wizards, is the first NBA player to receive the McKinney Award, named…
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Penn State Professor Hopes to Add Voices Through Homeless Narratives
Penn State Professor Joshua D. Phillips opened his latest book, “Homeless: Narratives from the Streets,” with a Mother Teresa quote, “Today it is fashionable to talk about the poor. Unfortunately, it is not fashionable to talk with them.” Phillips’ book, which served as his graduate dissertation from Southern Illinois University, is taken from spending 2012…
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Meet Mavis, Denver’s Magical Bookmobile
By Sonia Christensen Courtesy of Denver Voice / INSP.com About a year and a half ago, Anna Kongs got the idea for Mavis the Magical Bookmobile. She was newly enrolled in library school but didn’t want to wait to complete her degree to get books into the hands of people who needed them. So she…
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HUD Issues New Guidance Around Discrimination Under the Fair Housing Act for People With Limited English Proficiency
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released a “Limited English Proficiency” (LEP) guidance that addresses how those with limited English proficiency are protected against discrimination under the Fair Housing Act. HUD announced in a Sept. 15 press release that it has created new guidelines to clarify that those seeking housing cannot be…
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Unlikely hero: Homeless man thwarts act of terror
A man who was recently homeless is being hailed a hero after alerting police to a bag filled with pipe bombs earlier this month in Elizabeth, New Jersey. Lee Parker received keys to the city and the seal of the city from Elizabeth Mayor Chris Bollwage after finding pipe bombs in a Midtown Elizabeth Train…
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National Suicide Awareness Week: How to Save a Life
National Suicide Awareness week took place between Sept. 5 and 11. We saw yellow ribbons tied around trees in memory of people lost to suicide, candle light vigils, community rides, walks and runs. The Massachusetts Coalition for Suicide Prevention, a group of suicide prevention agencies across the state, offered information on local events and resources…
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Voices of Youth Count Strives to Represent and Account for the Young and Homeless
Throughout the course of this past summer, Chapin Hall and the University of Chicago have led an initiative to better understand homelessness in youth populations across the United States. The project, called Voices of Youth Count, utilizes 22 teams strategically based around the nation whose job is to observe hot spots of youth homelessness, analyzing…
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Job, Education Access for Ex-Cons Highlighted in Federal Council’s Plans
A newly released report from the Obama administration shows that more is being done to transition former felons into society. The Federal Interagency Reentry Council, established in 2011, was tasked with creating more opportunities for those who were once incarcerated and has since increased efforts to provide this population with access to jobs, education and…