Race, Parenting
"Discussing race can be tricky, so as
a Black mother I enter friendships with white parents apprehensively. Many
white parents are unaware of the additional factors Black parents have to
consider when raising a child. Will our daughters be mistaken as more threatening than
their white classmates? Will our sons be killed before becoming
teens? Are our children being unfairly punished by the
education system? And often, white parents are even less aware of
the toll systemic racism has on our mental health.
Fortunately, many of my white parent
friends have found a way to be allies through their parenting methods. The
sense of community I've gained through their actions has given me strength when
I have none. Those measures have been so helpful that I believe everyone should
be informed and given the opportunity to make a similar impact among their
groups of friends.
Here are four ways my white parent
friends have proven to be allies in a non-invasive manner. Think of them as
simple, initial tips to help guide your own allyship."
Creativity, Self-help
Video: We all can use more 'aha' moments. These techniques can
help.
Gender,
Athletics, Role Models
"Yet the preponderance of male
coaches, even kind and gentle ones, has consequences for boys. “Boys are denied
the ability to see women operate in leadership roles that males most respect,”
Farrey said. “This has deep implications for our society as boys grow into
adulthood, work with, and decide whether to empower, women,” he added. Exposure
to female coaches can pay dividends for boys.
Of course, for girls, the absence of women
coaches means a dearth of female role models in powerful leadership positions.
And same-sex role models matter, particularly for women. The University of
Toronto social psychologist Penelope Lockwood, who has studied the impact of race and gender in
role modeling, found that girls benefit from same-gender role models more
acutely than boys. Female role models act as “inspirational examples of
success” and “guides to the potential accomplishments for which other women can
strive,” Lockwood concluded."
Inspiration, Middle East,
Education
Read the transcript or listen to the
segment:
SCOTT SIMON, HOST: Malala has
turned 20 years old. She shared that event with young Yazidi women in Iraq who
are trying to overcome violence and discrimination. That's Malala Yousafzai of
Pakistan. Five years ago, she was shot in the head by the Taliban because she
spoke up for the right of girls to go to school. She survived and continued to
campaign for girls education, becoming the youngest Nobel Peace Prize winner
ever. NPR's Jane Arraf traveled with her on her birthday in Iraq.
YOUSAFZAI: When I was about 10 or 11, in our region, the
extremist-minded people called the Taliban - they banned girls' education, and
I could not go to school at that time. So in response to that, I started
speaking out. But then, like, later on, I was targeted by the extremists.
ARRAF: Malala was shot in the head. It's amazing that she
lived. She's gone around the world to meet girls struggling in conflict zones
and desperate to go to school.
Infrastructure, Transportation Bill
“The Senate Committee on Appropriations passed a bill on
July 27 to fund the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban
Development for fiscal year 2018 (which according to the federal calendar
begins October 1). The bill funds the Department of Transportation (DOT) at
$79.6 billion for FY18 (a $1.5 billion increase from FY17). That total is $1.1
billion more than the House version of the bill and $3.6 billion more than the
Trump Administration’s budget request.
The bill was particularly notable on the aviation front,
including a $250 million increase in funding for the Airport Improvement
Program (AIP) and an increase of the cap on the Passenger Facility Charge (PFC)
for the originating airport from $4.50 to $8.50. AIP is an aviation
infrastructure-focused grant program paid for out of the Airport and Airway
Trust Fund, which is supported by user fees, fuel taxes, and other similar
revenue sources. PFCs are fees airports can collect from departing passengers
and use to fund federally-approved capital projects. The current $4.50 PFC cap
has not been changed since 2000 and inflation and increased construction costs
have cut its real value by more than half. As a result, many airports have
substantial infrastructure needs they cannot afford to address, evident in the
“D” grade Aviation received in the 2017 Infrastructure Report Card.
The bill would require large hub airports that raise their PFC
beyond the current cap of $4.50 to give up all their AIP funding (large hubs
previously agreed to give up 75% of the AIP money in exchange for raising their
PFC to the current cap of $4.50). Increasing both AIP funding and the cap on
the PFC are solutions named in the Report Card to improve the grade, so
airports of all sizes can address their infrastructure needs”
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