The Latest - YES! Magazine

Women at Farmers Market photo from Shutterstock

3 Ways to Jumpstart a Community-Grounded Economy

By centering on race, seeing community members as experts, and changing policies, we can build an economy that benefits everyone.

Anthony Giancatarino | Nov 10, 2015

This Maine Co-op’s Trying to Bring Fresh, Local Food to 10,000 College Students

For the past 10 years, University of Maine students have been fed by a giant corporate food distributor. If Maine Farm & Sea Cooperative wins the next contract, they’ll send millions of dollars to local farmers and fishermen instead.

Jonah Fertig | Nov 9, 2015

Cooperatives | Wealth and inequality

What If We Owned the Internet Together? It’s Time to Bring the Co-op Revolution to the Web

The flourishing of farmers markets and credit unions demonstrates a longing for business that serves the common good. Can it infiltrate the Amazon-dominated, Uberized Internet?

Nathan Schneider, Trebor Scholz | Nov 9, 2015

Compost Your Corpse? This Woman Wants to Make It Legal

Katrina Spade, creator of the Urban Death Project, talks about human composting and why she's trying to make it legal in Washington state.

Maureen O'Hagan | Nov 6, 2015

Climate

Capitalism vs. Climate: Naomi Klein’s New Film Takes Us From the Current Crisis to the World We Want

In "This Changes Everything," Naomi Klein lays out how industry interests are opposed to those of ordinary people—a point climate activists have had trouble communicating and been reluctant to fully embrace.

Kate Aronoff | Nov 5, 2015

How Lentils Started an Underground Food Movement

Renegade farmers in Montana break from a long history of Big Ag and harmful monocrops.

Raj Patel | Nov 5, 2015

Wealth and inequality

We Asked Our Favorite Illustrators What Debt Means to Them

Here's what they gave us, from comics to collage.

| Nov 5, 2015

A Quarter of Pakistani Girls Are Married Before They’re 18. This Film Shows What That Feels Like

In her directorial debut, Afia Nathaniel brings the reality of Pakistan's child bride crisis to American audiences.

Leigh Finke | Nov 4, 2015

Clean elections

5 Ways Voters Stood Up to Big Money, Despite Losses

From campaign finance reform to protecting small business, Tuesday's elections had a few big victories.

Araz Hachadourian | Nov 4, 2015

The Color of Food: How Gardens and Farms Can Help Us Heal From a History of Racism

When we work together, share meals together, and laugh together, we’re repairing relationships with the soil as a community.

Natasha Bowens | Nov 3, 2015

Don’t Just Divest, Reinvest—From Fossil Fuels to a Healthy Economy

Reinvestment could also unite students organizing for other forms of divestment, like prison divestment and divestment in solidarity with Palestine.

Meaghan LaSala | Nov 3, 2015

Ben Newhouse with solar array. Photo by Mary Hansen.

Renewable energy

As State Pols Resist Obama’s Climate Plan, West Virginians Build Renewables Anyway

So far, the state isn’t stepping up to build a solar-powered future. That leaves the bulk of the work to residents.

Mary Hansen | Oct 31, 2015

Clean elections

Can Seattle Boot Big Money Out of Elections By Giving Everyone “Democracy Vouchers”?

Early results show Seattle passing the Honest Elections ballot initiative. Voters will receive four $25 “democracy vouchers” every election year, which they can donate to the campaign of their choice.

Marcus Harrison Green | Oct 30, 2015

Will the New Economy Be Capitalism, or Something Else? Join Us for a Discussion on November 9

To debate this crucial issue in the new economy, we’re co-hosting a panel on November 9 with experts in the field. Please RSVP and join us!

| Oct 30, 2015

Cooperatives | Wealth and inequality

How Creative Finance Launched Worker-Owned Co-ops In Post-Sandy New York

Half of small businesses don’t make it past the first five years, and owners lose everything trying to pay off the loans. The Working World lets co-ops stabilize before repayment even begins.

Araz Hachadourian | Oct 29, 2015

The Crunch illustration by Jennifer Luxton.

Sustainable food and farming

Can Reddit Bring the Campfire Ghost Story Back to Life? (And Other Scary News to Chew On)

Man-made space trash is headed for Earth; there is science to back up why we love horror movies; and campfire stories are reimagined for the tech era.

| Oct 28, 2015

Goodbye McMansion, Hello Simple Life: What I Learned From Thoreau

The philosopher’s lessons include how to let go and find happiness—even after crippling debt and a heartbreaking divorce.

Kaci Yoh | Oct 26, 2015

I Owed My Parents Everything—But My Son Will Owe Me Nothing

Why family debts shouldn’t be about money or expectations, but about love.

Shin Yu Pai | Oct 26, 2015

Colorado Pushes for Universal Health Care That’s Governed by the People

Next year, residents will vote on replacing the Affordable Care Act with ColoradoCare, a plan that works like a cooperative. In a purple state like this, it just might work.

Nathan Schneider | Oct 23, 2015

Patient finance illustration by Jennifer Luxton.

Local economies | Jobs

Why Slower Money Is the Key to a Real Economic Recovery

An exciting crop of organizations are financing businesses in a way that creates real wealth. Here are a few ways to scale them up so that they can truly challenge Wall Street.

Keith Harrington | Oct 23, 2015

Do We Even Need International Borders? (and Other News to Chew On)

Opening borders can have unexpected benefits; studies show alarming links between air pollution and dementia; and Native Americans talk about illegal immigration.

| Oct 21, 2015

Wealth and inequality | Citizens United

The Interest-Free Lending Circles That Help Friends and Families Do DIY Loans

Who needs banks when you have communities? And organizations like Mission Asset Fund have even figured out how to use the system to raise credit scores.

Liz Pleasant | Oct 21, 2015

Help Fund Powerful Stories to Light the Way Forward

Donate to YES! today.

Current Issue

The “Work” Issue

FALL 2022

Current Issue

The “Work” Issue

FALL 2022

Current Issue

The “Work” Issue

FALL 2022

Inspiration in Your Inbox

Give the Gift of YES!

Current Issue

The “Work” Issue

FALL 2022

Inspiration in Your Inbox.