America, the Land of (in)Opportunity

The U.S. is hailed as a land of opportunity -- which it is. For some people. The fact of the matter is that some populations systematically have a bit more opportunity than others -- a result of historical racial and gender disparities. Here is what you can do to bring a full equality of opportunity, full access to success for all people -- particularly through help with education.

Daily

• Open opportunities to children who are at less of an advantage — check GoFundMe for children who need school supplies or money for activities

Weekly

• Because wealth of a child’s family is the greatest predictor of their future economic success, advocate for increasing the accessibility of loans to the general public — gives people more opportunities to accumulate wealth

Monthly

• Check your own privilege — try to understand what you have access to that others don’t, and try to contribute to others, if you can

Periodically

• If you’ve graduated college, donate to your alma mater — it’ll give incoming kids slightly more help in the long run

Knowing Your Rights in the Justice System

The process of criminal justice is harrowing enough for anyone caught within it without additional confusion and abuse. The fact of the matter is that, in this country, due process isn't always followed, unlawful arrests are often made, and people don't often know their rights. Here are some things you can do to change that.

Daily

• Know the law and your rights — it is not illegal to videotape interactions with the police

Weekly

• Talk to government officials about requiring police officers to explain their logic behind using probable cause to investigate a situation in detail, so they are held accountable for their actions

Monthly

• Educate others on social media about their rights
• Contact the ACLU about any disconcerting cases locally

Periodically

• Submit FOIA requests to police stations and courthouses for records of police interactions, to make sure probable cause has been established

Spreading Awareness About the Danger of Subprime Loans

Subprime/Predatory Loans

Subprime loans are given out to people in bad financial situations as a way con them into paying large amounts of money that they can't afford. Generally, loans are given to people who have a financial history that shows they are capable of paying them back. Subprime loans, however, target people who would not normally receive loans because of their bad credit reports and take advantage of their need for money by charging them outrageous interest prices. Subprime loans can increase the amount of debt someone is in, thus perpetuating financial struggle in society.

Daily

• Reach out to people and give them tips on financial literacy

Weekly

• Set up weekly meetings where people in debt are alerted about potential scams that loan giving organizations will target them in

Monthly

• Post on social media about predatory lenders, warning people not to use them
• Call out predatory lenders online; write reviews

Periodically

• If you have the power and privilege, offer another option to someone in need — crowdfunding, a loan from you, etc.

Fighting for Gender Equality

Gender inequality is still pervasive around the world -- and while the issue is many-faceted, and there's so much to be done, here we want to focus on what you can do specifically as an average person to contribute, in a small way, to gender equality.

Daily

• Raise awareness to the fact that gender inequality exists
• Show your support on social media platforms by posting data that clearly portrays gender inequality

Weekly

• Check for gender bias in the workplace — if someone is being treated unfairly, being underpaid because of their gender, speak up

Monthly

• Work to convince employers to use an unbiased interviewing method, where names and genders of the applicants are not included on the job applications (creates more equal opportunities for jobs)

Periodically

• Reflect on the role of gender in your life — try to identify and eliminate your subconscious biases
• Donate to the National Women's Law Center

Fighting Racism in America

Racism is, sadly, still a vibrant and violent force in America. It manifests in innumerable different ways -- police brutality, mass incarceration -- and the stakes are clearly high. Here's what you can do to help.

Daily

• Stand up for people who you see being targeted
• Accept different viewpoints and try to talk out any conflicts
• Connect with others to understand both sides and to educate both opinions.

Weekly

• Open up conversations within groups or clubs about race, privilege, and how different races can be allies for each other
• Don’t pretend race and racism do not exist
• Get in contact with government employees that represent one’s city, county, or state and talk to them about creating training programs for police that decrease racial bias
• Learn about racism in today’s society from a different perspective — that is, read a book, talk to someone new

Monthly

• Attend anti-racist seminars at the local SURJ (Stand Up for Racial Justice) organization to remain educated

Periodically

• Join a coalition to work for justice for local victims of police violence at SURJ
• Engage with discomfort — talk to someone with different views from your own to challenge your own biases

The 1% and The Rest of Society: Evening Out The Playing Field

Wealth Inequality, Unemployment, Low Wages

Wealth inequality is a product of many contributing factors, such as institutional racism, unemployment, low standard for minimum wages, gender discrimination, and more. In creates division in our society and means that people with different incomes have different opportunities, thus further increasing the wage gap. In order to break a cycle that is perpetuating racial and gender differences in the amount of wealth one has, action must be taken, for as long as inequality exists, someone is at a disadvantage that is embedded into society.

Daily

• Provide opportunities for people to learn higher skills that can allow them to get a higher paying job.
• Use social media platforms to raise awareness that the minimum wage is not enough to live off of.

Weekly

• Volunteer at organizations, such as a nonprofit tutoring center, that help children further their education so they have more opportunities to increase their wealth
• Set up a space where career counselors can meet with people looking for jobs so they can find ways to strengthen one’s resume and actively seek job training opportunities

Monthly

• Volunteer at local food banks, like the Open Heart Kitchen, to help those in need
• At city council meetings, advocate for higher wages
• Speak to one’s local government representatives to advocate for higher wages, higher taxes on the rich

Periodically

• Be on the lookout for GoFundMe or DonorsChoose pages in need — people who need help with basic costs, like funerals, school supplies, and more
• If you can — form a union
• Donate clothes and food through Goodwill and similar organizations to help those in need

Everyone Should Participate in Democracy

The U.S. has an astonishingly low voter turnout compared to most democracies around the world; even for national, presidential elections, which are the most prominent, our voter turnout is barely a majority. Apathy is just one cause -- systematic discrimination against certain voting populations, as well as a general lack of knowledge around less prominent elections, fuels the issue. Without full participation in democracy, though, the U.S. is barely a democracy -- here's what you can do to change that.

Daily

• Stay educated about the candidates and know their goals — visit campaign websites, social media, news articles
• Educate others about candidates and emphasize the importance that every vote counts

Weekly

• Communicate with government about imposing less strict requirements that may inhibit potential voters from contributing their political stance
• Post unbiased, easily understandable information about candidates on social media so that people are more uneducated about politics, thus more likely to vote

Monthly

• Make sure you are registered to vote
• If there isn't enough access to IDs (i.e. no nearby DMVs) in regions with Voter ID laws, offer to drive people in need -- or petition local government to make access easier

Periodically

• Around voting season, encourage people around you to vote — in person and on social media
• Of course -- go to the polls yourself, when election season comes around.

Dealing with School Segregation

School segregation is not a relic of the mid-20th century -- it is alive and well in America. School segregation harms kids because racial segregation in this country is not separate from economic segregation -- statistically, nonwhite kids are simply more likely to attend schools that have less resources, funds and staff to receive a quality education than white kids. This disparity severely harms equality of opportunity in America; it's a serious problem in dire need of a solution.

Here are some small, and not-so-small, things you can do to help bring an end to school segregation.

Daily

• Communicate with students and identify if the school is segregating
• Talk to school officials and (kindly) confront them about the problem

Weekly

• Alert local government officials, and higher powers if necessary, of inequality seen between different schools, especially if schools contain a “separate, but equal” kind of mentality
• Promote regular checks of school quality by one’s local government to ensure that students have access to the same education and resources, regardless of the neighborhood they live in

Monthly

• Attend your local school board meeting -- alert them of the issue, and ask for change

Periodically

• Campaign for school board elected officials committed to integration; vote out those who represent segregated districts

The Housing Crisis and What We Can Do About It

Housing Crisis

The Housing Crisis involves a lack of affordable housing in certain areas, like San Francisco, CA. It perpetuates gentrification, a decrease in diversity of communities, and homelessness. This issue is caused my a multitude of factors working together, such as a lack of incentive for home builders to build low cost housing and the several requirements one must fulfill before even creating homes.

Daily

• Do not stay in Airbnbs because they promote allocating housing for renting rather than building housing for people who need long term residence.
• Show support for rent control on social media platforms
• Call officials today and talk to them about the issue

Weekly

• Talk to city council members about the importance of putting a tax on short-term, rental housing → tax money can be used to build affordable, long term housing
• Petition for lowering homebuilders’ requirements and taxes to one’s local government officials so that general cost of approval for building houses goes done, thus lowering cost of housing

Monthly

• Donate to the Community Housing Partnership, Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corps, and First Place for Youth
• Push for government to allocate more funding for affordable housing at city council meetings

Periodically

• Do not support Prop 1 when voting, for it supports moratorium which does not address underlying causes of housing crisis
• Volunteer at Causa Justa

Anyone Can Help Combat Police Brutality

Police Brutality

Police Brutality is a term that represents excessive and unnecessary force used by law officers when investigating or apprehending potential suspects. On numerous occasions, police officers have brutally beaten or killed people based on speculation of how dangerous those people were. Also, because police hold a position of power compared to civilians, they can abuse that power and deny people their rights, which is often the case if police have racial bias. Ultimately, police brutality is a large issue that can be solved if people are knowledgable about their rights and start holding police accountable for their improper actions.

Daily

• Keep others and yourself updated on what is currently happening
• Communicate with people and form a protocol of safety for those who could be affected
• Give support to those who are affected

Weekly

• Lead groups where people from your community can learn about their rights and boundaries of police power

Monthly

• If you feel safe enough to do so, connect with police in your local community — take a ride-along

Periodically

• Join a coalition to work for justice for local victims of police violence at SURJ

Ways That Anyone Fight Against Mass Incarceration

Mass Incarceration

Mass incarceration is how more and more people are getting put in jail, and it is especially perpetuated by harsh mandatory minimum sentences for drug related crimes. The consequence of mass incarceration is that even people who commit low level, nonviolent crimes end up with incredibly long sentences. Ultimately, mass incarceration redirects resources away from the justice system and rehabilitation and towards making sure people go to and stay in jail.

Daily

• Contact previously incarcerated people and talk to them about their case.
• Show support by using social media platforms like snapchat and instagram.

Weekly

• Support and volunteer with programs that are involved with the re-entry of incarcerated people into society and provide guidance to them (ex. Ride Home Program)

Monthly

• Donate to the Sentencing Project, California Prison Focus
• Communicate with government officials about ending the "War on Drugs"

Periodically

• Create or join a club that helps previously incarcerated people reintegrate themselves into society — educate them about job opportunities and ways to break their disadvantage
• Start a petition
• Pay attention to local criminal trials — bring attention to ones that may lead to unfair sentencing
• Check local GoFundMe pages for people who need legal fees

Interview with Morgan McLeod of the Sentencing Project

Morgan McLeod is the Communications Manager at The Sentencing Project, a research and advocacy group dedicated to fighting issues surrounding mass incarceration in the U.S. -- we got to speak with her, to hear a little bit more about what The Sentencing Project does and how people can get involved.

The Sentencing Project is a national organization based in Washington, D.C., and such tries to effect change at that level, especially on a legislative basis. It is, however, linked up with local organizations like California Prison Focus in Oakland. To help the efforts of The Sentencing Project, make a donation or, more importantly, write to or contact your local representative.

What does the Sentencing Project do?

We’re a research and advocacy organization who works to raise awareness about issues surrounding incarceration and sentencing. We’re part of a federal-level and state-level coalition working to make legislative change.

How can average people like me help or get involved?

We’re not a volunteer or member organization — but staying on our mailing list, staying up to date about these issues, is one thing you could do. And of course, it’s important to contact your representatives and lawmakers — that’s still the most powerful thing you can do.

What don’t people know about mass incarceration that they should?

We are the world leader in incarceration — over the past 40 years, the rate of incarceration has increased astronomically, due to things like the Tough on Crime era in the ‘80s and ‘90s, and this has led to innumerable problems related to rehabilitation and excessive sentencing. 

Are people generally more aware of mass incarceration these days?

Because of the important work of groups like Black Lives Matter, more and more people know about mass incarceration. There’s so many nuances, though. The lasting effects on communities — people who are convicted can’t vote, and there’s all the issues in the process. Racial disparities in sentencing, unfair prosecution, lack of public defenders, lawyers that overcharge… there’s not enough prison programs, all of these barriers for prisoners trying to reintegrate into society.

If there’s one thing you’d say to someone who didn’t know anything about this issue, what would you say to get them to care?

Mass incarceration affects everyone. There’s a lot of people in this country affected by it. That label of ‘criminal’ sticks with people — me and my colleague today were actually talking about how, when we were younger, in middle school, we’d do things that are illegal, like, steal stuff from Target — we weren’t labeled as criminal. But when people are saddled with that label it can be very hard for them to reintegrate into their communities, to get rehabilitated. If you want your communities to be safe, and those people who are coming back to be productive members of society — if you have an interest in public safety you should care about these issues.