Jerren Chang: Driving Understanding, Participation and Change in Communities

May 10, 2021 Posted by: Jill Jha Jerren Chang,  SDG16,  USA

Jerren: Today, record numbers of young adults (18-34 years old) want to drive change in their communities. But longstanding structural barriers prevent them—particularly those from marginalized groups—from getting involved. GenUnity’s equitable community leadership programs support people to build their capacity to drive change. Our dream is one where every young person, regardless of background, can engage as equals in the decisions that impact their community. A community by everyone for everyone.

Omolara Fatiregun: Paving the Way for Economic Mobility and Racial Justice

May 07, 2021 Posted by: Jill Jha Omolara Fatiregun,  SDG10,  SDG17,  USA

Omolara: Intergenerational cycles of poverty are the legacy of racism in America. Poverty fuels crime, the school-to-prison pipeline, and toxic stress—all of which wreak havoc on communities of color. State and local governments spend $3 trillion every year on services that can transform millions of lives. But too often governments invest more in the police than schools; more in foster care than in prenatal interventions. And these decisions only perpetuate cycles of poverty in communities of color.

Austin Martin: Improving Literacy and Word Acquisition through Hip Hop and Music Lyrics

May 06, 2021 Posted by: Jill Jha Austin Martin,  SDG 4,  SDG10,  USA

Austin: Did you know that by the age of three, children of professionals have vocabularies two times larger than those of children from welfare families? (Hart & Risley) This creates a persistent word gap, which leads to an achievement gap, and is felt deeply by young people from lower wealth and minority cultural backgrounds. Rhymes with Reason is an e-learning app that enables essential vocabulary word acquisition via popular song lyrics.