Category Archives: Intentional Communities

Ed Talk is a biweekly opinion column. The views expressed are solelythe authors.

People assert social engineering to oppose ideas to increase the socioeconomic diversity within our schools or neighborhoods. Where has this indignant outcry been as Arlington County policies socially engineered us into the segregated neighborhoods and schools we have today?

Social engineering is always applied as though it is necessarily bad. The fact is, all public policies and practices socially shape our communities. Is it social engineering per se that people object to? Or the intended results that potentially threaten their status quo?

Arlington Countys development and zoning regulations and housing policies reinforce and perpetuate the same impacts of redlining from decades past. Concentrating affordable housing for the lowest income levels in a few specific areas of the county has created segregated neighborhoods and, by consequence, segregated schools.

We have socially engineered ourselves into a situation whereby some schools require a broad range of supportive services not traditionally provided by a public school. To support families, Community in Schools programs are implemented in high-needs, high-poverty schools. Arlington has done so at Carlin Springs Elementary School, and there is support for expanding that model to others.

Some argue it is more efficient to bring services and resources to the schools near where many people in need live and where their children are enrolled. This is not necessarily a bad idea. But even if this is the preferred model, what about children and families in need at more affluent schools where a Community in Schools program is unlikely to be implemented?

A more equitable approach would be to ensure that all services and supports are accessible by any student in need at any school in the district. Intentional segregation should not be implemented for the sake of efficiency. People should not have to live in low-income neighborhoods zoned to a specific school offering the unique services they need. Affordable housing should be sufficiently available throughout the County. Disadvantaged families should be able to send their children to any school and receive the same assistance in accessing the services and programs they need.

Instead, APS has introduced this Community in Schools approach and is likely to implement it in only select schools in the future. The problem is that this along with the Countys continuation of its historical housing policies and practices creates a self-perpetuating cycle. The County continues to concentrate on affordable housing in the same few areas and then special efforts by APS and community resources must be diverted accordingly. Families must live in certain neighborhoods and send their children to specific schools because that is where the housing and services they need are most accessible and where there is help to connect them to the programs and opportunities they rely upon. The more this cycle is reinforced, the more difficult and unlikely it is that steps will ever be taken to break it.

This also creates extra considerations and costs when school redistricting is necessary. Families do not want to lose the supports at their current school by being reassigned to one that does not offer them. Boundary changes can result in significant differences in a schools demographics that change the schools instructional needs in ways it is not prepared to meet, unnecessarily limiting redistricting and administrative options in efficiently managing the overall system.

Over the years, there has been much discussion about increasing diversity in our schools, ultimately ending with the assertion that nothing can be done until the County changes its housing policies. Even if the policies change, the impacts will be long in coming. High proportions of Arlingtons most disadvantaged children will remain on the west end of the Pike concentrated in the three elementary schools, one middle school, and one high school those neighborhoods are districted to. In the meantime, APS and Arlington County should:

APS, County leaders, and community members give a lot of lip service to equity for all students and all residents. The most expedient and effective way to true equity is through integrated communities. Thats going to take a lot of social engineering or rather, re-engineering.

Maura McMahon is the mother of two children in Arlington Public Schools. An Arlington resident since 2001, McMahon has been active in a range of County and school issues. She has served on the ThomasJefferson, South Arlington, and Career Center working groups and currently serves as president of the Arlington County Council of PTAs.

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Ed Talk: Social Engineering Was Not Always a Bad Thing - ARLnow

CHATHAM, NJ - Chatham High School senior Naila Ismail has been honored for her exemplary volunteer service with a President's Volunteer Service Award.

The award, which recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, was granted by The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program. Chatham High School nominated Ismail for national honors this fall in recognition of her volunteer service.

Ismail is a National Honor Society President and member, President and co-founder of Green Team Sustainability Club, Gold Award recipient through the Girl Scouts, and Captain of the CHS and Club Volleyball teams. In the summer preceding 11th grade, she interned at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School in the area of drug resistance and infectious diseases, and, last summer, Ismail attended an eight week long Mini Med program at Rutgers in the spring of her junior year, while maintaining excellent grades in high school, and graduated from the program with honors. Ismail also designed the curriculum and taught an engineering enrichment class at the elementary school called "Make It or Break It" over the past two years, which has been a huge success. She is also the finalist for the PEO Stars Scholarship.

For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Ismail chose to tackle the issue of single-use plastics within the Chatham community. In her application for the President's Volunteer Service Award, Ismail said, "Recognizing the need for greater awareness of the detrimental effects of single-use plastic bags, I decided to tackle this issue within the Chatham community for my Girl Scout Gold Award. The support from the community far surpassed my expectations; I was able to collect over 1,000 pounds of plastic film, equivalent to more than 80,000 bags, in just over the course of six months."

Ismail explained the main purpose of my project was to raise awareness within the community.

"I achieved this goal by providing easily-accessible plastic bag recycling bins and sharing my initiative through the local newspaper, posters, and social media, which helped me to share my message to a wider audience," Ismail said. "I worked with my town's councilmembers, Environmental Commission and high school Green Team, which I founded two years ago, to advocate for and help pass the single-use plastic bag ban ordinance."

Chatham High School Principal Darren Groh said Ismail's Gold Award project is a great representation of how Ismail's concern for a change in the community can have a more global effect beyond Chatham.

"Her efforts are creating awareness within Chatham as similar changes are being made all around the country," he said.

Ismail's counselor at CHS, Andrea Murphy said, Ismail's strengths and accomplishments are many but thoughtful nature and social responsibility stand out.

"I have been inspired and equally impressed with Naila's initiative and her intentional approach to raising awareness, education, and increasing sustainability programs within both her school and surrounding community." she said. "Naila's passion and perseverance are clearly evidenced through her hard work and collaboration with the Chatham Borough Environmental Commission and council members in passing the 'Ban the Bag' ordinance."

In its 25th year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), recognizes middle level and high school students across America for outstanding volunteer service.

"Across the United States, young volunteers are doing remarkable things to contribute to the well-being of the people and communities around them," said Prudential Chairman and CEO Charles Lowrey. "Prudential is honored to celebrate the contributions of these students, and we hope their stories inspire others to volunteer, too."

Prudential Spirit of Community Award application details were distributed nationwide last September through middle level and high schools, Girl Scout councils, county 4-H organizations, American Red Cross chapters, YMCAs and Points of Light Global Network members. These schools and officially-designated local organizations nominated Local Honorees, whose applications were advanced for state-level judging. In addition to granting President's Volunteer Service Awards, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards selected State Honorees, Distinguished Finalists and Certificate of Excellence recipients. Volunteer activities were judged on criteria including initiative, effort, impact and personal growth.

"Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life," said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. "These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate."

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Chatham Senior Honored By The President - Chatham, NJ Patch

COVID-19, the coronavirus.

The global pandemic has dominated the news for the last few months, with coverage increasing each day as cases continue to emerge in the U.S., and while these are definitely unprecedented times that we are currently facing, the resilience and creativity of communities across America is uplifting to experience.

There are so many acts of kindness taking place, as well as an outpouring of concern for neighbors, friends and family that really reinforces the love that we all have for our communities and country.

Here in the small town of Shippensburg, a lot of people were eager to share their thoughts about the new norm we are all experiencing.

In a time like this, people are seeing and realizing the importance of financial stability and having saved an emergency fund, Derek Herb said. No one can predict a pandemic or an illness or injury that may force one to be laid off or lose their job. Having an emergency fund and budgeting for emergencies is a very important practice.

Bev Kabula, who works for Orrstown Bank in Shippensburg, said, I am very thankful for an employer that has done everything possible to keep their employees (of an essential business) safe and healthy, while still serving our clients and meeting their needs. It has really shown me (and all of us) that they truly do care about everyones well being.

On a personal note, she said she thinks the parents who are working from home and are able to spend time with their children in this way is time they will treasure for years to come!

I dont know if there is a positive directly related to the virus itself, Pam Herb noted. But I do think that with the restrictions in place with public gatherings and encouraging people to stay at home, families are spending more time together and doing more activities and just having quality time together, something they may not always have the luxury of doing in everyday life. With the hustle and bustle of every day, and everyone doing their own thing, families dont have often have the opportunity to even sit down and eat supper together.

She said hopefully families will take this time to really realize how important it is to spend time together, and then continue to do so once this is all over.

My heart breaks for those falling victim to this virus and for those who are losing family members because of it, Shelly Varner said. I am also sad for our kiddos losing their routine of school and being with their friends, BUT, I am very grateful for the time that I get to spend with my son, Cam, and my entire family!

In addition, she shared, Religious or not, I feel the message is loud and clear to take this time and enjoy/appreciate your family! Life is way too short, and the future is uncertain, not to mention, unknown, so I really hope that people are taking this time to count your blessings and be thankful for what you have here and now!

In uncertain times such as these, its not uncommon for people, faith-based or not, to turn to a higher power for guidance and understanding. Local pastors are certainly doing their part to calm peoples fears and bring a different perspective to these uncertain times. Of those I spoke with, they were also happy to share their thoughts and reflections.

Pastor Steve Livermore of Messiah United Methodist Church said the coronavirus has taught him that connections with people are not hampered by social distancing.

Going through difficult times together with a mindset to not let those difficulties overwhelm you makes human bonds stronger. Intentionality to stay close to people when they cant be in physical proximity has brought out creativity in people.

He said he has learned more about new forms of social media in the last two weeks than he has learned in the last 10 years of his ministry because he has needed to in order to maintain and strengthen his pastoral relationship with his congregation.

He added, People are being very intentional about helpingwhere they can in this crisis. They are stepping up so they can contribute something to ease the burdens that others are carrying.

He believes as Christians, I think this is a time where we are learning in a new way the value of our faith in Christ. We are relying on our relationship with the Lord in a different way, perhaps, and are finding the value of His presence with us is far greater than we may have experienced before.

Pastor Dale Detweiler of the Shippensburg Church of the Nazarene said he wasnt sure this pandemic has caused him to look at life any differently, but it has reminded him to stay focused.

This is really concerning and a very scary situation, he said. For many people life is changing, and normal has been disrupted. We can panic in times like this, but I am reminded to stay focused. As a pastor, I say this life is not about you and I, it is about God and what God is calling you and I to be. I am reminded in this time of uncertainty to focus on what has called me to be, and I echo that thought to all who believe in Him.

He said he is echoing this same thought to his parishioners. I know that God is with us at this time, and He wants to help us. We can put our faith and trust in Him during all of this, but we also have a responsibility to do our part and use our common sense by following guidelines and rules set forth for us, and so on. He said God is definitely with us, but we also have a part to play in getting through this pandemic. He said we have to be a non-anxious presence to our people.

Detweiler said there are two things he is doing intentionally to help ease peoples minds and be a calming factor in all of this.

I am calling people on the phone and talking with them, and if possible, I use FaceTime to connect with people so we can actually see one another. I also make sure and ask to pray with them, he said. He said he also tries to share Scripture verses of encouragement on social media and via text message.

In closing, he wished to share a bit of Scripture to encourage others during this uncertain time.

Because of the Lords Great LOVE, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. -- Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV.

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Sharing positive reflections during these very uncertain times - The Shippensburg News-Chronicle

Mayor Lori E. Lightfoot and Chicago Department of Business Affairs and Consumer Protection (BACP) Commissioner Rosa Escareno today announced guidance for Chicagos residents to be aware of and avoid consumer fraud related to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak, including false advertising, phishing and price gouging. Following an increase in reports offraudulent practices, BACP is reminding consumers to report suspicious consumer fraud activity to the City by calling 3-1-1 or through the Citys CHI311

While a reasonable price escalation due to increased demand or decreased supply may occur in the current environment, price gouging on things like medicine and other essential items will not be tolerated by the City of Chicago, said Mayor Lightfoot. Today we are reminding residents to report activity immediately, so the City can take action immediately. We are sending a clear message that those who prey on the fears and vulnerabilities of our residents to profit during this time of crisis will be penalized to the fullest extent possible.

Price gouging is an intentional price increase that goes beyond what would be considered fair or reasonable. In the month of March, BACP has received 190 complaints of price gouging, compared to only two in all of 2019. The majority of complaints are for household or health items such as toilet paper, tissues and hand sanitizerwith some complaints related to food and beverage products, as well. BACP evaluates each complaint based on relevant factors, such as prices prior to the Illinois Disaster Declaration and prices at nearby stores, and will impose fines of up to $10,000 per offense.

Now is the time for all of Chicago to come together for the health of our community, said BACP Commissioner Rosa Escareno. We will not tolerate bad actors that think of their bottom line instead of their fellow Chicagoan during times like this. I will not hesitate to hold these businesses accountable.

To ensure Chicagos residents are protected from fraudulent practices, BACP recommends the following tips to keep scammers at bay:

During this unprecedented crisis, we have to take every action possible to ensure Chicagos residents are not exploited through misinformation on fake vaccines or price gouging for essential resources our communities need, said CDPH Commissioner Dr. Arwady. For the most-up-to-date information on how to prevent COVID-19 and keep yourself safe, residents should adhere to the advice of public health experts, not the scammers seeking profit from fear.

In addition to BACP, consumers can also submit complaints to the Illinois Attorney Generals Offices website or by calling the Consumer Fraud Hotline (1-800-386-5438).

To learn more about COVID-19, including how to stay healthy during the outbreak, please visit http://www.chicago.gov/coronavirus.

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MAYOR LIGHTFOOT AND BACP ENCOURAGE RESIDENTS TO BE CAUTIOUS OF CONSUMER FRAUD AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK - Chicago Defender

During this troubling time, its easy to panic, its easy to go stir crazy with cabin fever, and its easy to feel like youve lost your sense of community.Thats what Docs owner Tony Brown was hoping to avoid.Now is the time when the community needs a safe spot, a place they can go they know is clean, and a place they can enjoy the company of others.That place, he said, is Docs Casino Sports Bar Grill.We dont have the disease here, Brown said. We sanitize and sterilize the tables, the chairs, all flat surfaces anything that comes to the table was cleaned by the service staff.Brown told this to the News-Argus on Thursday morning. On Friday, however, Governor Steve Bullock announced measures to close all dine-in food services, alcoholic beverage businesses and other activities that pose enhanced health risks.Both young and older Montanans, in urban and rural communities, have tested positive for coronavirus, making it even more clear that this virus impacts us all and that these actions are imperative to protecting our friends and neighbors, Bullock said in his directive, which officially went into effect Friday, March 20, at 8 p.m.Brown was aware of the concerns. He checked updates on the virus several times a day. He was also aware of the restrictions to prevent groups of 10 people or more from gathering. Hed shut down Bingo and other upcoming events Nevertheless, Bullocks announcement caught him off-guard.I understand the government needs its money, but this is going to hurt us all, Brown said. This is tough. We dont have any cases here. If we did Id understand, you know? Our plan was going to workand they crapped all over it.Brown believed in keeping his place open for the sake of social solidarity.

This community is a family, Brown said Thursday, and now is the time to be around family. By supporting local businesses, people stay united and comforted, and they also avoid picking up the virus out of town.The new rule from Bullock may close the doors for Docs, but there are still opportunities for people to support small businesses, and Brown suggests they do so.If people go to Billings or Great Falls to shop, there is potential they could pick up the virus and put the community at risk. There have been cases, Brown said. Hopefully if people stay here, it wont come here.Despite the surprising news, Brown said a lot can be learned from this experience, adding that he hopes Docs can be an example people in the community will be more intentional when it comes to cleanliness and heightened awareness of their surroundings.It takes 28 days to change a pattern, he said. This is our opportunity to stay clean.As of press time, Brown said he was undecided about staying open for take-out orders.

Brooks MarketIn order to ensure the health and safety of her customers, Brooks Market owner Debbie Rankin has closed the dining room.Were doing take-out orders only, she said. We have one person up front and one person making the food.Rankin said no one told her to shut down, but she shares the communitys concern and wants to do her part to slow down the potential spread of the coronavirus.Rankin said she knows these are the right moves to make at this time, but she wonders how long this will be the case. How long is shutdown sustainable?Im hearing there is a possibility kids wont get to go to school this year, she said. If thats the case, this is going to get worse. Without schools and daycare, how can my employees work?Despite a looming outbreak and a closed dining room, Rankin said business has still been good.Weve been getting a fair amount of takeout orders, she said. We can keep afloat.

Eagles ClubNew Eagles manager Teresa Lamphier is looking out for her customers and employees during this trying time.The health and safety of our customers and employees is our highest priority, she said. We continue to monitor the coronavirus situation closely, and we are following the prevention guidelines offered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.A former co-owner of the Bar 19 and the Montana Tavern, Lamphier said she has high standards of cleanliness, maintenance and sanitation. She hoped to keep the bar open longer, but when word came from Bullock to shut down on Friday, she had no qualms about cooperating.Spend one-on-one time with the people you love, Lamphier said. Be productive and tackle that project youve been meaning to do. Read a good book. Check on your elderly neighbors. Be kind to others and have fun.Lamphier said she has also canceled all scheduled gatherings of 10 or more until Wednesday, April 1. Taco Tuesday is not open to the public, but cook Randy Berry will provide curbside service while the closure is in effect.Well give it a try and see how it goes, said Berry. I dont know how long the closing is going to go on for but it could be a while.We want to do our part to be socially responsible, added Lamphier.This is nothing to mess around with.Lamphier encourages the public to take care.Its a strange world right now, she said, but not without hope.

McDonaldsAs of Tuesday, McDonalds nationwide moved to drive-thru and walk-in take-out only.Through this unprecedented and challenging time for families and individuals, McDonalds will do our part to continue to be a place people can count on to deliver a familiar, comforting and delicious experience, no matter where they are, McDonalds USA President Joe Erlinger said in a news release Tuesday.According to Erlinger, ensuring the health and safety of the people and their respective communities is the companys highest priority as the United States quickly mobilizes to slow the spread of COVID-19.Erlinger added that McDonalds has some of the highest standards of cleanliness and are closely working with national and local government and health authorities to ensure they are taking all the right steps.Local McDonalds owner Pete Peterson said he believes in the organization and will abide by their recommendations. Other fast-food restaurants are taking similar precautions.

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Restaurants trying to adapt during early stages of pandemic - Lewistown News-Argus

NEW YORK (NEWS10) State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) Commissioner, Basil Seggos, is reminding New Yorkers to take proactive measures to help reduce conflicts with bears as the weather begins to warm.

After a relatively mild winter, bears are emerging from their dens and have begun seeking out food sources,Commissioner Seggos said.Unfortunately, people sometimes make it easy for bears to find food near their homes. Fish and Wildlife staff at DEC have received reports of bears getting into garbage and pulling down bird feeders to eat the seed. Its important that homeowners take measures to prevent bears from easily accessing these unnatural food sources.

The DEC is reminding people it is illegal to feed bears whether intentional or unintentional due to careless practices around peoples homes which can have negative consequences for entire communities.

The DEC advises people who live in areas with bear habitats, which includes much of Upstate New York, to remove items that attract bears such as bird feeders, loose garbage, and pet food by April 1.

The DEC says taking these steps helps to live responsibly with black bears, protect people, property, and the bears themselves. Allowing bears to naturally find food keeps them safe and out of harms way which reduces negative interactions with people and their property.

For additional information about how to reduce human/bear conflicts, visit the DECs website here.

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DEC reminding people to help reduce human/bear conflicts by taking proactive measures - NEWS10 ABC

This article is the third in a series of articles published by NPQ, in partnership with the First Nations Development Institute (First Nations), that lift up Native American voices to highlight issues concerning environmental justice in Indian Country and identify ways that philanthropy might more effectively support this work.

When a South Dakota court gave a green light to the Keystone XL pipeline last January, it also opened the door to further abuse, rape, trafficking, disappearances, and murdering of American Indian women. Often philanthropy likes to create defined categories such as environmental justice or gender justice. But the real world of American Indians is not so neatly arranged.

In December 2019, I testified against TC Energy (formerly known as TransCanada) in South Dakota water board hearings on permits for the companys use of water to build the Keystone XL pipeline. Although I do identify as a water protector, environmentalist, and land defender, I was testifying as something elseas an Indigenous survivor of trafficking.

Why? Because the pipelines temporary work camps (also known as man camps) are certain to bring a rise in violent crime, and gender and sexual violence, to the neighboring areas, which include several American Indian communities throughout South Dakota and Montana. While the water board sought to make decisions about water use, ultimately, they were making decisions about human livesand whether or not a pipeline was worth widespread abuse, rape, trafficking, disappearances, and routine deaths of Indigenous women and children. In January 2020, they decided it was.

While it has long been acknowledged by Indigenous peoples that violence against our lands is deeply tied to violence against Indigenous people (especially women and girls), the world outside our communities still largely sees the fight to protect the environment and the fight to protect women and girls as two separate battles.

But this siloed approach does not reflect our realities. Philanthropy, if it wishes to support us, must understand how land-based gender and sexual violence affects Indigenous peoples and why the struggles to preserve our land and our bodies are two faces of the same struggle.

One of the most commonly understood ways in which environmental issues intersect with gender and sexual violence is in the rape, sex trafficking, and high rates of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) prevalent in areas where extractive industries are concentrated. A well-known example is the Bakken oil field of North Dakota and Montana, where rates of sexual violence dramatically increased after oil booms struck rural communities.

Our organization, Sovereign Bodies Institute (SBI), jointly published a report with Brave Heart Society on this issue and the potential social impact of the Keystone XL pipeline in late 2019, titled Zuya Wicayuonihan: Honoring Native Women. Among its findings: across the Dakotas, Montana, and Nebraska (where the pipeline is to be built), four-in-five MMIWG cases in counties impacted by Keystone are unsolved, 92 percent of unsolved cases were outside tribal jurisdiction, and one-in-five cases occurred in counties where the pipeline is to be built or where other pipelines already exist. Even more disturbing, the report states that across the region, Indigenous men who kill an Indigenous woman are 150 percent more likely to be arrested and convicted than white men who have committed the same crime, and only one in two white men who are suspected of killing an Indigenous woman are held accountable by the justice system.

As I shared in my testimony against the Keystone XL pipeline, these impacts are far-reaching and create a toxic social form of pollution that takes generations to clean up. Man camps associated with extractive industries can also bring an increase in drug trafficking and use, which can create even more violence.

One of the survivors who shared her story with us is part of a broader ripple effect of an oil boom she never witnessed. Her trafficker grew up seeing his mother sold to oil workers. From a very early age, he was exposed to the sex trade, drugs, extreme poverty, and systemic neglect from educational, juvenile justice, and child welfare systems. A great distance away, and over 20 years later, he was diagnosed with severe post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), struggled with substance abuse, had been incarcerated several times, and was perpetuating violence himself. The social impacts of extractive industries cannot be understated. It is a violence that is nearly impossible to contain and takes lifetimes to heal.

Environmental degradation also has a disproportionate impact on reproductive health in Indigenous communities. For example, Mavis McCovey recalled in her autobiography, Medicine Trails: A Life in Many Worlds, that herbicides the Forest Service sprayed on federal lands adjacent to tribal communities led to widespread miscarriages, and the communities did not have any births for years. As an elder and medicine woman, when she reported this violence to the Forest Service, she was told the miscarriages were probably due to meth use, not the herbicide. This herbicide was similar in composition to Agent Orange, and when its use was discontinued, women were able to carry babies to term again. Navajo women have raised similar concerns due to the impact of uranium mining on their territory, and Din No Nukes, through their radiation monitoring project, mapped the health impacts of such pollution on Navajo womens bodies in a powerful infographic.

Environmental degradation also has a powerful impact on community mental and emotional health, especially among Indigenous youth. It should not be a surprise that the destruction of sacred sites, customary gathering sites, and homelands has a negative mental health impact on Indigenous peoplesand yet this impact largely goes unacknowledged in discussions on social impact of environmental degradation. For youth, this is compounded by high rates of youth suicide and self-harm, victimization, lack of opportunity, and criminalization.

Simply put, the ongoing effects of colonization create a world that many Indigenous youth just dont want to live in anymore. These effects include a lack of clean drinking water, surroundings riddled with toxic waste or extraction sites, extreme distance from resources for help, high rates of health problems like cancer due to pollution, and high rates of food insecurity. Centers for Disease Control data demonstrate that American Indian and Alaskan Native youth commit suicide at rates more than 3.5 times higher than those among racial/ethnic groups with the lowest rates.

To many, what American Indian youth face may sound like post-apocalyptic conditions, but they are the realities of many Indigenous communities, and our youth pay a disproportionate cost by growing up in a world where these conditions are made to feel inevitable. It stands to reason that kids are healthier mentally and emotionally when their surroundings are healthy, and yet environmental justice remains compartmentalized from efforts to protect and care for Indigenous youth.

All of these issues come together to create what may be the worst impact of environmental violencean erosion of our land-based practices and identities as Indigenous peoples that creates a loss of what grounds us in who we are. These practices and traditions have teachings that work to prevent violence, and they are lost when we no longer engage with them in the ways we used to.

Many Indigenous organizationsin their violence prevention, youth empowerment, and healing programsoffer land-based programming as a critical resource for the communities they serve. These groups recognize the intersections between environmental and community health. Its time for many in philanthropy to catch up. Land-based gender and sexual violence against Indigenous people is an environmental justice issue. Land-based violence and suicide prevention is front-line environmental justice work. Any environmental justice efforts that fail to account for the social impacts of environmental violence will be incomplete.

So how can philanthropy recognize this? First, funders must understand that efforts to address these issues are often crisis driven and urgent in nature. This means that Indigenous organizations doing this work need access to rapid-response funding and grant application processes that honor the time commitments and constraints of those who have the boots on the ground. Grant applications should not be overly laborious; those of us doing this work are serving communities in crisis with acute needs and are frequently put in the position of running constant triage.

For the same reason, flexible or general funding is most useful. Work addressing land-based gender violence is often fluid and shifts as community needs and priorities shift, and as the violence occurs over time. The funding supporting these efforts must also be able to shift with it. General funding allows us to make quick decisions while on the ground, respond to crises as they emerge, and cover costs of critical items that may not otherwise be covered by project-specific funding. For example, some of the MMIWG families we serve have acute needs that persist for years beyond the initial incident of violence. These needs have included emergency financial assistance in caring for children of missing or murdered parents, rapid response community support spaces after instances of violence, assistance in accessing emotional and mental health supports, and safety planning for runaway youth.

Situations like these have an additional teaching for fundersmuch of the work in this field is inherently confidential. The vast majority of our day-to-day workings as an organization are never shared on social media or in our promotional materials. This is because we are protecting survivor and client confidentiality. And this is done for many sound reasons. Among these are the fact that we are working to address violence that has ongoing criminal investigations, because in many instances the perpetrators are still in the community; because we are targeted for retaliation and harassment; because Indigenous communities have a right to keep their data and information on the violence they experience to themselves; and because our work is saturated in graphic stories and experiences of trauma, and it would be irresponsible to share that vicarious trauma with those not equipped to process it in a good way.

The majority of our work are things that could never be in a brochure or public report. Funders need to understand this and be willing to support our work without expectation of violating the confidentiality our work needs.

This brings me to my last point: this work is built entirely on relationships. Funders have to be discerning in which organizations they invest in and support, make an effort to build relationships with Indigenous organizations and communities, and uplift organizations that are led by those most directly impacted by the violence. In the case of work on MMIWG, for example, the issue has become a hot topic and hundreds of projects have emerged among nonprofits, grassroots organizing circles, tribes, universities and colleges, and research centers. While this topic understandably has a sense of urgency to it, funders must be willing to be intentional and deliberate in selecting which projects and organizations to work with, and support work led by survivors of violence and MMIWG families. The work that needs the most support is grassroots, boots on the ground, led by those directly impacted.

As survivors, we have critical expertise. And as community members, we have crucial relationships in place that make the work effective. We know better than anyone what the needs are and how to meet them, because they are our needs too.

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Our Bodies Are the Front Lines: Responding to Land-Based Gender Violence - Nonprofit Quarterly

My eyes widen in fear every time I scroll on Twitter and read the newest coronavirus-related headlinesso I turn to Instagram. It's business as usual on the appan influencer's sponsored post nestled in between a dog meme and yet another event canceled tour or panel or movie due to the current global pandemic. Between the news cycle churning out information about the virus at light speedand all the misinformation being circulated simultaneouslyTwitter theorists and faux comedians' non-stop commentary on the state of the world and no definite expiration date on our current social distancing experiment, your girl is exhausted.

I've found it increasingly difficult to cope with the wave of emotions I'm experiencing right now, leaving no room for optimism. Now isn't the time to abandon my self-care routine, but here I am on Cheez-It binge refreshing Twitter for the umpteenth time. But during a period of physical isolation, what does self-care even look like?

Determined to practice a little extra self-care, I polled a few health and wellness experts to share their self-care routines and tips for those who could use some help.

"The essence of my self-care during this time is mindful awarenessbeing intentionally present with seemingly mundane tasks, savoring small moments of peace and connection, and responding compassionately to myself and others. It is so easy to be "on autopilot" and jump out of bed and rush into the day. In the morning, I take an intentional breath and feel the ground under my feet one step at a time. I drink a glass of water before my cup of coffee and visualize the water nourishing my body. I spend a few moments looking outside (or stepping outside if it is warm enough) to take in nature around my house and witness new signs of lifebuds on trees and blooms on flowers. I limit looking at the news to five minutes or less. I am intentional while getting ready by continuing to tend to personal hygiene and dressing in work clothes (at least on top) since I am working from home. Staying on top of my getting ready routines" sends messages to our mind and body that we are safe and worth taking care of. The opposite, self-neglect, send messages of unease and unworthiness. I also regularly post self-regulation skills on my Instagram and have found that creating community around self-care is very uplifting."

"Part of my self-care is checking in on my neighbors, running to the grocery store for them as needed, and gifting tinctures and teas to people in my communities who need them. I also love conscious breathing. Breathwork is a powerful practice for centering back into oneself. There is so much happening in this current crisis and its easy to get stuck in anxiety and trauma responses. When I engage my breath consciously, I have an opportunity to slow down, check-in with myself, and be present with all the emotion and fear while also bringing ease to my nervous system. A great breath to try when you are feeling anxious and overwhelmed, or when youre trying to fall asleep, is called box breath. Inhale through your nose for 4 counts, hold it for 4 counts, exhale through your mouth for 4 counts, hold it again for 4 counts. Repeat."

"Cooking has probably been the most essential part to me taking care of myself during this time. What we eat not only impacts how are body functions with regard to our immune systems but it also impacts how we feel and our bodies ability to manage stress. During the day, Im on the internet and bombarded by the news and latest developments the global corona crisis. It helps to keep a CBD joint within arms reach. If ever I feel overwhelmed, I just set everything aside and take a nap or a long bath with infused bath salts or an infused bath bomb. Listening to jazz music also allows me to relax and keep calm. The goal is to get 8 to 10 hours of sleep so Im well rested and ready to take on the day tomorrow."

We may not be able to see each other physically, but communicating with your friends and family by scheduling calls and Facetime, as well as checking in regularly via text or email, makes us feel a little closer. Also, allow yourself do nothing. There's a lot of pressure right now to be productive and while accomplishing things while we're stuck home is great, it's also okay to just let yourself be for a bit as we adapt to this new normal. Sometimes, self care looks like hanging on the couch and binging Netflix."

My self-care routine is the thing I look forward to and helps me feel a sense of calm during these uncertain times. Every morning I start my day with probiotics and vitamin C then I drink a large glass of water with apple cider vinegar. Then, I move into 30 minutes of movement, whether its a walk down the street or a Kira Stokes workout via her app. My night time beauty routine is my moment to really pamper my skin. I'm alternating masks every other day while sipping on turmeric tea or red wine.

"I've been finding a new daily rhythm using low cost, low technology tools that both release anxiety and boost immunity. I like meditating for 10 minutes twice per day or using ear seeds to help calm my nervous system or taking epsom salt baths each night before bed. I've also leaned into the proliferation of online yoga, meditation, and fitness classes; gratitude journaling to reduce stress and improve mood, and I can't think of a time when we've all needed that more than ever."

"I always like to let light into my home in the mornings. I always open my windows to let fresh air in as well as making my bed so Im less tempted to get back in. I always play Lo-fi beats as they relax me and the lyrics dont distract me from my own thoughts. Lighting a candle or burning incense is a great way to calm your space too. Set yourself a simple task whether its reading a new book, doing laundry, spending 15 minutes meditating, watching a series, journaling, doing 10 minutes worth of emails or just sitting down. Our minds find comfort in accomplishment but it doesnt have to be anything over the top. This is a great time to make peace with things you were too busy to. Have you forgiven lately? Or said an apology? And if you are still on your hustle, stay safe and avoid any contact with people; dont feel bad for creating boundaries or politely saying no if someone tries to hug you or shake your hand. You have to look out for yourself and your health."

"As a health professional, a mom, and someone who is currently six months pregnant, this time has been filled with some anxiety and stress. I like to think of self-care in 4 key areas: food, movement, mental, relationships."

Then, evaluate each item and practice the art of letting go by giving away the item, or the art of gratitude by thanking the item for its continued service. This active meditation of letting go and gratitude empowers the person with a sense of purpose and stability which quells fear and panic in a world that feels very unstable right now."

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Wellness Experts on Their Best Self-Care Tips for Feeling More in Control - ELLE.com

With a pandemic rampaging across the country and the world, the stock market falling and rising like a roller coaster at full throttle, Congress passing $2 trillion dollars in economic stimulus to avoid a depression, and the president openly defying the consensus of experts in public health, just keeping up with the news requires sharp focus on the biggest headlines. But that shouldn't prevent you from pausing for a few short minutes to read a remarkable essay recently published by the conservative religious magazine First Things.

Authored by the journal's editor R.R. Reno, "Say 'No' to Death's Dominion" manages to distill something important about the character of conservative American Christianity in the Trump era. For years now, commentators have tried to make sense of how so many people who profess devotion to the teachings of Jesus Christ can square that faith with fervent support for what the Republican Party has become in recent years. Usually the answer has to do with the president's embrace of the pro-life movement, along with his facility at antagonizing secular liberals.

But Reno aims to go further. In a recent book, he gave a modulated endorsement in classically Christian terms to Trumpian nationalism and populism. And now, in the form of a pithy opinion column, he offers readers a theologically inflected defense of the Fox News line on the coronavirus: Don't shut down the country because of a pesky little virus, even if it means a bunch of people die. For those looking for a primer on how conservative Christianity in the United States might look in the future, Reno's essay is the place to go.

On a first read, my initial reaction to Reno's piece was to be stunned that the editor of a magazine that has always been steadfastly pro-life had made an argument implying that Christians should respond to mass death with a collective "meh." (Full disclosure: I worked as an editor at First Things from 2001 to 2005 and quit after an ideological falling out with its late founder and editor in chief Richard John Neuhaus.) Whereas FT has long held that abortion is always wrong in every circumstance because human life has absolute intrinsic worth, Reno seems to argue something very different.

In Reno's view, "physical life" is merely one good among many. Indeed, to hold that life should take precedence over other goods, like "justice, beauty, and honor," is, he claims, a form of "sentimentalism," and nothing less than evidence of death's, and Satan's, expanding dominion over our culture and civilization. This would seem to clash rather violently with the premise of the pro-life position. After all, if physical life can be overridden by other considerations, then we're no longer thinking about morality in terms that justify absolute (unconditional) strictures against terminating a pregnancy. Put somewhat differently, if justice, beauty, and honor can trump the protection of physical life, then why not the personal autonomy of the pregnant woman? It would seem that Reno has fatally undermined the foundation of his own absolute opposition to abortion.

Yet Reno anticipates this objection and implicitly addresses it head on by making a crucial distinction early on in the essay. The anti-abortion fight, he asserts, is a "battle against killing." Imposing draconian public-health measures in order to protect our families, communities, and nation from a potentially fatal illness is, by contrast, "an ill-conceived crusade against human finitude and the dolorous reality of death."

Abortion is about killing. Public health is about dying. That difference is everything for Reno.

Ending a pregnancy is a great evil because it is the intentional taking of an innocent human life. But other forms of dying that happen by nature (a virus killing its victim is a natural process), like deaths that follow indirectly from social and economic structures that prevail in the United States, are matters of moral indifference. Yes, they're unfortunate. It is fitting to mourn them. They require "triage," as Reno repeatedly puts it. But that's life. People get sick. They die. Bad things happen. Get used to it.

Interestingly, Reno points to some of the greatest inequities in the U.S. medical system the fact that we "ration health care by price, waiting times, and physician discretion" and sees them as additional evidence in favor of his central claim. To treat these distinctively American norms and institutions as a given is to accept the way things are meant to be in a universe governed by God. To treat them as marked by problems or injustices that cry out to be fixed or reformed, on the other hand, is "demonic."

The implications of this outlook for public policy and self-government more broadly are quite astonishing. Imagine a busy suburban intersection where a car accidentally plows into and kills several children walking to a nearby school. Should the governing township respond by hiring a crossing guard or building a bridge over the thoroughfare to prevent the wrenching event from being repeated? By Reno's logic, the answer is no. Life is unfair. The world is unjust. Children sometimes die. That's why we have the Eucharist and the rosary to console us while we await the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and ward off the temptations of Lucifer.

Those who doubt that Reno's claims end in precisely such resignation and passivity in the face of suffering and death should pay close attention to the final third of the essay, where he compares our current efforts at halting the spread of the coronavirus very unfavorably to the way Americans responded to the Spanish flu a century ago. "Their reaction was vastly different from ours. They continued to worship, go to musical performances, clash on football fields, and gather with friends. Unlike us that generation did not want to live under Satan's rule, not even for a season."

They were models of Christian courage, while we "cower in fear."

What Reno neglects to say, perhaps out of unconcern, is that this insistence on going on with normal life in the face of a dangerous contagion a little over a hundred years ago resulted in the deaths of well over half a million Americans at a time when the population of the United States was less than a third of what it is now. Reno apparently believes it would be vastly better for a couple million people to die over the coming months than for us to shelter in place for a few weeks.

Reno calls this Christianity, but it is more accurately described as American libertarianism raised up into a theological first principle. Individuals are absolutely forbidden to take a human life at any stage of development following conception because to do so violates that person's rights. But any effort to think in communal terms, to use state power to mitigate mass suffering, or protect our fellow human beings from harm, is "specious moralism," an unacceptable, satanic imposition on the rightful order of things.

So much for love of neighbor. So much for the common good. So much for sacrificing a little individual liberty for something bigger and nobler than ourselves.

Just as our current president swept into office on talk of putting America first and ended up treating the nation's highest office as a vehicle to advance his own power and wealth, so R. R. Reno set out to defend Christian nationalism and finds himself instead justifying indifference to the suffering and death of his fellow Americans and calling it the will of God.

Which just might make Reno's divinization of pitiless, rugged individualism the perfect religious complement to a Republican Party that's been thoroughly remade in the image of Donald Trump.

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A pro-lifer shrugs in the face of mass death - The Week

Day after day, premiers have announcednew restrictionson Canadians' civil libertiesthattheysayare criticalto limiting the spread of COVID-19.

But it is thechief medical officers at their side who provide the science buttressingthe calls for sacrifice.Some havebecome stars in their own right, displaying a kind of televisual bedside manner that combines a reassuring, fact-based approach with occasional levity.

Quebec'schief doctor, Horacio Arruda,recently shared his weekend self-isolation planto bakePortuguese tarts, whileAlberta's Deena Hinshaw recently worea periodic-table-themed dress that lit up social media.

The scientists are pushing aside athletes and other entertainersfor thepublic's attentionascitizenstry to navigate through unprecedented times.

Behavioural scientist Samuel Veissiere, a McGill University professor of psychiatry, saidthat confronted witha vague sense of impending doom,peoplewant to reduce uncertainty.

"They want meaning, and they are looking to people they perceive as experts to give them answers in terms of what's going to happen," Veissiere said in an interview Friday. "People want stats, numbers. They want answers."

Before the pandemic, academics often lamented the public's loss of trust in institutions and inexpert knowledge, Veissiere said. But that might be changing.

"People are becoming a little more humble," he said. "I think they are becoming aware of just, perhaps, the limitations of individualism and how important it is to work together as a community, including in identifying reliable sources of information."

These are some of the key figures helping Canadians comprehendan unfamiliar, invisible enemy.

Dr. Theresa Tam, Canada

The country's chief public health officer knows pandemics, and what it takes to fight them.

Each day, Tam's steely, distinctive voice reminds Canadians that there's little public health officials can do on their own,and everyone has a role to playin protecting the community from COVID-19.

Her mainjob is to provide advice to the federal minister of health,and she is responsible for heading the Public Health Agency of Canada.

She is also the main co-ordinatoramong public health agencies across the country. In a system where each province manages its own health system, perhaps her most important job is to be Canada's unifying and rallying voice in the fight against COVID-19.

Internationally, she has advised the World Health Organization on infectious diseases like Ebola, Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and poliovirus.

Born in Hong Kong, Tam got her medical degree in the United Kingdom before completing her pediatric residence at the University of Alberta and a fellowship in pediatric infectious diseases at the University of British Columbia.

Dr. Bonnie Henry, British Columbia

When Henry, B.C.'s provincial health officer, cried during a press conferenceat which she confirmed two elderly peoplehad contractedCOVID-19in a long-term care home, her compassion and resolve was described by colleagues and friends as a galvanizing moment in Canada's fight against the global virus.

Henry paused to compose herself before warning that Canada's elderlyare most at risk from COVID-19, and she urged everybody to do what they can to protect the vulnerable.

Thosewho know Henry say she is both knowledgeable and battle-tested. Appointed to the position in 2018,she is an experienced virus hunter who has battled SARS, Ebola, H1N1 and polio during her career.

Henry headed the B.C. Centre for Disease Control on an acting basis during H1N1 and is the author of "Soap and Water and Common Sense," a guide to staying healthy in a microbe-filled world.

Former B.C. health minister Terry Lake calledher "the voice of reason and calm."

Dr. Deena Hinshaw, Alberta

Hinshaw, Alberta's chief medical officer of health, has become the reassuring face of the response to COVID-19, delivering daily web updates to thousands in a Spockian tone, urging calm while not shying away from the fatal consequences of ignorance and indolence.

In doing so, Hinshaw has become a pseudo-celebrity in her own right. Twitter blew up with concern last week when Hinshaw announced she was self-isolating after waking up with cold symptoms. She delivered her update from home that day and was back at the podium the next day after testing negative for novel coronavirus.

When she wore a dress patterned on chemistry's periodic table, the garment's Victoria manufacturer received a slew of orders for it.

Some on social media are calling for her to be the next parade marshal for the Calgary Stampede.

Dr. Robert Strang, Nova Scotia

Strang was no stranger to Nova Scotians before the COVID-19 pandemic, having frequently spoken out on prominent health issues.

The province's chief medical officer since 2007, Strang has been a passionate anti-smoking advocate, and last May he lent his voice toa successful campaign to have rugby reinstated in the province's high schools.

In recentdays, he's used his authority to monitor social media and admonish thosespreading rumours and false information aboutthe novel coronavirus. He also took people to task for attempting to "out" others who weren't self-isolating upon their return from vacation, urging the public to leave the detective work to health officials.

Strangcompleted his community medicine residency in 1997 in British Columbia. He worked in that province as an associate medical officer of health until 1999, when he moved to Halifax.

Dr. Horacio Arruda, Quebec

When Arruda recently told Quebecers that he would spend part of the weekendbaking to take his mind off the COVID-19 pandemic, it was his way of lightening the daily barrage of bad news about the spread of the novel coronavirus.

Arruda's colourful language and his stern but fact-based approach to the province's pandemic response has endeared him to many Quebecers.

Photos and videos of him are circulating widely on social media, including an imageof his face edited onto a photo of actor Will Smith, whose character in the 2007 movie, "I am Legend," fights a viral outbreak in a post-apocalyptic dystopia.

"I don't want to distress people. I don't want to make people anxious," Arruda recently said. "Don't be anxious. If you're anxious, call somebody, try to have an activity that you love. Everybody is different. It could be yoga, it could be music, it could be dancing .... Just be innovative."

Arruda, 59, the province's director of public health since 2012, played a central role after the Lac-Megantic rail disaster that claimed 47 lives. A medical specialist in community health,he has focused on epidemiology and the prevention and control of infectious diseases.

Dr. Jennifer Russell, New Brunswick

Russell has been put under the spotlight as her province navigates through a state of emergencyimposed Thursday by Premier Blaine Higgs on her recommendation. The province's chief medical officer of health since 2015, Russell has a background working for the Canadian Forces and Veterans Affairs.

She weaves directives to citizens about avoiding mass gatherings and implementing social distancing with calls for people to stay connected with one another by phone or through social media, to eat well, exercise and take deep breaths.

"It is up to us to take actions that will slow the spread of the virus, and give our doctors, nurses and other health-care professionals the best chance to cope with its impact," Russell saidlast week.

Dr. Brent Roussin, Manitoba

Roussin, Manitoba's chief public health officer, recently told reporters he would work every day until the COVID-19 pandemic is under control.

Roussin and Lanette Siragusa, chief nursing officer, have drawn praise for providingup-to-date information about the spread of the virus in the province.

Roussin's calm demeanour and straightforward answers in the province's daily online briefings have been noted. He takes time to discuss the unique challenges COVID-19 poses for Manitoba's Indigenous population and has held a specific news conference to discuss how northern First Nations communities can stay safe during the pandemic.

A specialist in public health and preventive medicine, Roussin worked with the federal First Nations and Inuit Health Branch and was a medical officer of health for northern Manitoba before taking up his current position.

Dr. Eileen de Villa, Toronto

Toronto's top public health doctor is usedto making headlines.

De Villa has previously commanded coverage for criticizing Ontario's loosened alcohol regulations and calling for the decriminalization of all personal-use drugs in Canada, saying drug use should be treated as a public health issue rather than a criminal one.

Shealso called gun violence a growing public health concern, prompting the Toronto Board of Health to ask the prime minister to ban the sale of handguns.

Since COVID-19 was first reported in Canada in late January in a Toronto-based patient who had recently returned from China, de Villa has urged calm and vigilance instead of panic and apathy.

A recent video clip of her laying outthe dos and don'tsof social distancing do stay home, don'thang out with friends or go shopping attracted much attention online, and a Twitter account has been created celebrating her stylish scarves.

Dr. Janice Fitzgerald, Newfoundland and Labrador

Fitzgerald has urged residents to practise social distancing to protect others in the community while reminding them to exercise, tend to their mental health and check in onfamily and friends.

On Friday, she told people it's normal to be afraid and assured them health officials are working to protect them.

Newfoundland and Labrador's interim chief medical officer of health hasattracted praise from politicians for leadingher small staff through theprovince's pandemic response, and she has become popular on social media.

"We removed the title 'interim,' but she hasn't signed a contract yet, and I don't know whether that's intentional or not," Health Minister John Haggie joked Friday. Premier Dwight Ball suggested there would be widespread support for keeping her in the job.

Dr. Brendan Hanley, Yukon

Hanley studied medicine at the University of Alberta, the University of Liverpool and the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health.

He came to the chief medical officer job in Yukon from being chief of emergency at the Whitehorse General Hospital, where he still practises part-time.

His experience includes practices in rural and inner-city locations around Canada and internationally. He has spent many years working in the Canadian Arctic. He hasalso seenregular service withDoctors Without Bordersand other relief organizations.

During his time in Yukon, Hanley has worked to create partnerships in the territory's small and far-flung communities to strengthen its overall public health system.

Dr. Saqib Shahab, Saskatchewan

Shahab, Saskatchewan's chief medical health officer since 2012, has been the calm face at the front of Saskatchewan's response to COVID-19.

He's been on the front lines of Saskatchewan's public health since 2009, when he was named deputy chief medical health officer.

Prior to that he worked internationally as an internist. He has also worked as a public health expert with multilateral health and donor agencies.

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A new breed of celebrity in the age of COVID-19: the chief medical officer - Kamloops Matters