To Strike Back at Hobby Lobby, Crafters Re-Knit the Wall Between Church and State
The campaign has collected 700 hand-knitted bricks to dump on the Supreme Court steps to protest its infamous decision.
Democracy
Worried About Online Surveillance? Use Your Library
Librarianship may be shaped by the broader society, but it is also marked by opposition to a dominant commercial culture.
Gay Marriage Went From Unthinkable to Inevitable. Here’s What It Means for the Change You Want to See
The momentum behind the legalization of gay marriage came from grassroots action, not from court cases.
Protecting the Truth: The Japanese American Legacy Project
Many Japanese Americans were incarcerated in concentration camps during World War II. Densho is preserving their stories and the cultural knowledge that comes with them.
Red and Blue States Agree on Taxing Corporations More (And Lots of Other Stuff)
When you ask Americans specific questions about the policies they support, it turns out we're not so polarized after all.
How Mischief-Makers Built Australia Through Pranks and Protests
In his new book "How to Make Trouble and Influence People," Iain McIntyre offers readers an alternative version of Australian history.
Anti-Homeless Spikes? Heartless. Cementing Over Them? Ingenious.
Londoners have made their feelings clear about a corporate "solution" to the problem of homelessness—and the company listened.
Glenn Greenwald on Government Snooping: Why It’s Dangerous and What We Can Do About It
When it comes to stopping NSA surveillance, it may be more effective to write to Facebook and Google than to government officials.
First He Came Out as Undocumented. Then As Gay. Here’s What It Means For Immigration Debate.
Felipe Matos told his story in three words: "I am undocumented." It was an act of desperation—but it gave him a sense of agency and power.
Return of Hometown News: Old-School Reporters and Citizen Journalists Unite to Bring it Back
Filling a void left by big city newspapers, online projects combine community news, journalism, and conversations with our neighbors.
Zydeco and Justice: Louisiana’s Hyperlocal KOCZ Builds Community and Self-Reliance
Low-power FM radio stations bring a much-needed focus on local issues and culture.
Watch the Beautiful One-Minute Ad Asking the Washington Football Team to Change Its Name
With the owner of the team vowing "NEVER" to change its name, Native American tribes around the country launch a national campaign to do just that.
Meet the Solutionaries: Kids Skip Scary Climate Coverage to Focus on Local Changemakers
These high school students created a series of podcasts to tell the stories of inspiring people in their community.
Language Matters: How #YesAllWomen Named a Problem With No Name
If you lack words for a phenomenon, an emotion, a situation, you can’t talk about it—which means that you can’t come together to change it.
Seattle Wins $15 Minimum Wage—Will Your Town Be Next?
Activists built support for the ordinance by demonstrating that it would reduce poverty in the city.
The Boomers “Failed” Us: Climate Activist Tim DeChristopher on Anger, Love, and Sacrifice
First the anger, then the love—overcoming generational anger to find the courage required for the difficult work ahead.
Tennessee Tied Teachers’ Jobs to Standardized Test Scores. Here’s How They Pushed Back—And Won.
The teachers found their careers at risk when an erratic statistical tool became a key measure of their success.
From Stand-up to Twitter, A New Generation’s Fresh Take on Storytelling
Today's storytellers show that each of us can be part of something more powerful, diverse, and creative than we might have imagined.
How Stories Shape Our World
This issue of YES! looks at the ways new voices are being heard, and at how their stories are transforming our culture.
Meet 6 Nutrition Blogger Moms Who Crashed the McDonald’s Shareholder Meeting
Current trends suggest one in three kids will develop Type 2 diabetes as adults. These moms told McDonald’s CEO Don Thompson what they think about the fast food industry targeting their kids.
Our Economy Wants You to Be In Debt—5 Things You Can Do to Take Charge
We pored through a debt-resistance manual created by former Occupiers to bring you these practical tips.
Portland Is First U.S. City to Divest Funds from Walmart
The initiative also prohibits the city from purchasing Walmart bonds in the future.
The War on Drugs Destroys Lives—Here Are 6 Things You Can Do About It
The movement to end the violence through the decriminalization of drugs has never had so much momentum. And it's never been easier to get involved.
Meet the Girl Who Sparked Brown v. The Board of Education With a High School Walkout
The stories of people behind the landmark decision—like that of 16-year-old Barbara Rose Johns—are even more compelling and inspiring than the sea-changing ruling itself.
Can We Keep the Internet Free?
The struggle to save the world's greatest communication network.
Our Vision to Create the Best Stories Imaginable
Our monthly newsletter uplifts relevant pieces from our archives and new solutions journalism from other publications.
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