What It’s Like to Be Gay at a Christian College—Where It’s a Reportable Offense
At Minnesota’s Bethel University, homosexuality has long been considered a character flaw. But these days, students are not so sure.
Health & Happiness
This Harry Potter Enthusiast Just Came Out as Trans on YouTube—And Thousands of People Are Watching
Texas-born Jackson Bird waited 25 years to come out. Here's why he did it online.
These Minnesotans Boosted Walking in Their Small Town by 70 Percent. Here’s How.
In Albert Lea, Minnesota, residents rejuvenated their rural community through increased physical activity.
Chicago Just Became the First U.S. City to Pay Reparations to Victims of Police Torture
For nearly 20 years, officers of the Chicago Police Department tortured more than 100 people. How survivors and their lawyers won a decades-long fight.
A Brief History of Happiness: How America Lost Track of the Good Life—and Where to Find It Now
For decades, we've been taught that economic growth and buying more stuff will make us happy—while trashing the planet. The good news is, there’s a better kind of happy: It starts with meaningful work, loving relationships, and a thriving natural world.
What If Your Hometown Became “America’s Rape Capital”?
Missoula has a problem—just like every college town in America. A sociologist weighs in on Jon Krakauer's new book about sexual assault at the University of Montana.
How Lynching Shaped American History—From the Old South to Modern Prisons
For Bryan Stevensen, the largest evil surrounding African-American history isn’t slavery, but the pervasiveness of white supremacy and the difficulty we have discussing it openly.
You’ve Heard What’s Wrong in Freddie Gray’s Neighborhood. Here’s One Local’s Vision for Turning That Around
Blaize Connelly-Duggan’s vision for the neighborhood is all about community ownership and development without displacement.
Tiny Houses in Paradise! 20 Incredible Vacation Rentals on Airbnb
From caves in Spain to treehouses in Cape Town, check out Airbnb's best tiny house destinations.
Baltimoreans Celebrate Charging of Officers—But Say It’s Just First Step
“It’s not ‘game over,’ it’s ‘game on.’ Now, we can actually start to see things happening.”
Photos: Baltimore Protests Inspire Renewed Sense of Direction For Community Leaders
“If people are calling for peace, we need to push the narrative toward policies and political changes that are actually going to give people the conditions to deal with structural violence.”
Armenia’s Genocide Began 100 Years Ago Today. Here’s How the World Remembered It
If you could see my Facebook feed right now, you would understand how much this day means to Armenians like me.
“I Wish My Teacher Had Known…”—Adults on How Teacher Empathy Could Have Changed Their Lives
Teachers don't always know the challenges kids deal with outside of the classroom. Sometimes talking can make all the difference.
How I Learned to Ask For Handouts (No Matter How Weird It Feels)
Farming and writing don't bring home the bacon—why I'm no longer ashamed to ask my community to help.
Why “Broad City” Is the Perfect Comedy for the Student Debt Generation
The Comedy Central show allows millennials of a specific demographic—and even those outside of it—to laugh at the situation the 1 percent has handed them.
3 Rad Vegan Chefs Share Their Inspiration (and Recipes!)
And agree that healthy, sustainable cooking can still be delicious and enjoyed by all.
Is the Maker Movement About Hacking Society—Or Just Hardware?
At feminist hackerspaces, members are less interested in digital trespassing than in developing a safe community for experimenting, creating, and collaborating.
Young Adults Love Walking, Biking, and Buses—11 Reasons That’s Good For Everyone
Buses, trains, bikes, and walking represent more than an efficient means of getting from one place to another. They move us toward a brighter future because of the many social and economic benefits they foster.
These Gorgeous Photographs Show Indigenous Americans Without the Stereotypes
Three years ago, Matika Wilbur set out on an ambitious undertaking: a vast road trip across America to photograph members of all 562 of America’s federally-recognized tribes.
A Baltimore Public School Teacher Explains Why It Pays to Put Kids in Control
What do Shakespeare’s plays tell us about how to run classrooms in an unequal society?
How #FergusonSyllabus Helps Teachers Discuss Police, Racism, and History
“Teachers are better prepared because #FergusonSyllabus created a space for exchange among educators about best practices and materials for illustrating the best and worst of our democracy.”
Can Empathy for Birds Make Us Happier? Ten Breakthroughs in the Science of a Meaningful Life
Last year, scientists found that gratitude makes us financially smarter, mindfulness reduces racism, a little sadness makes for healthier people, and compassion for birds could help tackle climate change.
How to Grow Oyster Mushrooms at Home (and Get Plenty of Flavor and Protein for Free)
You don't need a garden to grow mushrooms—any cool, shady space will do, even a cupboard or dark corner.
How “Granny Flats” and Suburban Downtowns Are Creating a Different (and Better) Kind of Density
Density has become a dirty word in some circles because people associate it with big, ugly buildings. Luckily, there are other ways to get people living close together.
Restorative Justice at Work: How This Indigenous Wood Carver Is Finding Peace After a Seattle Officer Killed His Brother
Rick Williams asked for calm when protesters demanded justice for his brother, who was shot and killed by a Seattle police officer. But he realizes that "the only way you can help change the system is show them you are a human being."
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