Civics 1/2

Tuesday, January 2, 2023

Share

New to URL Media? Subscribe below to receive our weekly newsletters.

News and information about politics, government, civic participation and engagement from the URL Media network.

Happy New Year!To start off the new year, we'd like to say a few words about this newsletter. As we approached the U.S. primary elections in late 2022, we felt our readers needed a special newsletter that would provide them with top political news headlines across the URL Media network. Since then, the special series newsletter has evolved into a weekly curated news product that covers more than election coverage and touches on various themes, including civic participation, engagement and history. This year, on the heels of a very important presidential election in November, we’re keeping an eye on network coverage and will continue to iterate to focus on engaging younger voters and voters of color. What we know is that civics is at its core about the power of people. With this in mind, we’ll be thinking about how to continue to center the needs of voters’ in every newsletter. We’ve also started curating election-related coverage on the homepage of our newly designed website (look to the right!) and would love for you to stay plugged in there too. So we ask what issues are front of mind heading into the elections this year? Drop me a line at [email protected]! We look forward to serving you in 2024. — Ariam Alula

The Mni Sota Fund provides financial services to Native American homeowners and entrepreneurs in Minnesota. Pictured here is Kit Fordham and Kevin Harris who are part of the team at Mni Sota Fund. Credit: Aaron Nesheim for Sahan Journal

New home mortgage loan program will help Native families build generational wealth: By the end of 2024, a nonprofit in Minnesota's Twin Cities aspires to close 100 mortgage loans for Native Americans in the area, reports Sahan Journal. The group, Mni Sota, which was established in 2012 to address the needs of Native people in the Twin Cities, is expanding its services later this year by adding a community development financial institution that will evaluate loan requests and provide other financial services to Native American homeowners and entrepreneurs. Currently, only 40 percent of Native Americans in the Twin Cities area own homes compared to nearly 70 percent of the overall population. Read more here.

Real-life Super Heroines: Latinas overlooked by historians: True to its mission to challenge inaccurate media narratives about Latinas as well as reclaim and reshape the modern Latina experience, Luz Media (re)introduces readers to five extraordinary women who deserve recognition for their contributions to American society. 

They are Helen Rodrígues Trías, a doctor and activist, who advocated for women's health and reproductive rights and became the first Latina to preside over the American Public Health Association; Dolores Huerta, a union leader and civil rights advocate, who confronted labor injustices and co-founded the United Farm Workers Association in 1962; Ana Mendieta, a conceptual artist from Cuba, who explored identity, land and femininity through her work; NASA Astronaut Dr. Ellen Ochoa, who became the first Latina to reach space in 1993; and Sylvia Rivera, who dedicated her life to fighting for equality and visibility for transgender communities. Learn their legacies here.

Two Haitian American officers draw from their roots to push for police reform: In an op-ed published by the Haitian Times, two Haitian American law enforcement officers write about their newfound perspective and empowerment as a result of exploring the history of their ancestral country and the Haitian Revolution. The officers and police reform advocates, Derby St. Fort and Edward Raymond, say this foundation serves as a powerful melody that enriches their outlook."The Haitian Revolution, with its emphasis on justice, unity, and empowerment, reminds us of the impact of collective action. This collective spirit propels us to diligently work towards redefining policing, focusing on the root causes of problems faced by communities, and ensuring lasting, positive change." Read their full op-ed here.

Plus: Haiti marks 220 years of independence with parades, fanfare in Haitian capital

Vandalism targeting a West Philly mosque: Before the new year, a man was caught on camera spray painting religious symbols at a mosque in West Philadelphia, including the Star of David and the peace sign. Several local CAIR (Council on American-Islamic Relations) members are now calling on law enforcement to investigate the incident as a possible hate crime. AsAmNews has the surveillance video here. 

💡 Discover the stories that make a difference in our world. Visit our newly revamped website and be part of the change. Check us out here!