Tag Archives: civil rights

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#YesAllWomen

07/27/2014 Nativegrl77

Understanding The Culture Of Violence Towards Women

In the wake of the mass shooting at UC Santa Barbara, the hashtag #YesAllWomen (a response to the “not all men” meme) became a venue on Twitter and beyond for women to share personal stories and experiences about misogyny, domestic violence, and violence toward women. One quote from Margaret Atwood that reverberated throughout the conversation summed up women’s worst fear: “Men are afraid that women will laugh at them. Women are afraid that men will kill them.”

Our colleagues at Think Progress put together this infographic that paints a grim picture:

CREDIT: Adam Peck/ThinkProgress

BOTTOM LINE: More than one in three women will experience rape, violence, and/or stalking at the hands of an intimate partner in their lifetimes. #YesAllWomen has started a serious and vital conversation about misogyny and violence against women, issues that too often are either ignored or treated unseriously in our society.

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the other Washington … in the news July 2014

07/25/2014 Nativegrl77

Blacks disproportionately fined for public pot use

Employment Security layoffs

Woman gets life for Northwest crime rampage

Report: Microsoft layoffs Thursday 18K

I-90 closures ahead: Eastside drivers might want to just stay home

Senate GOP blocks Patty Murray’s contraception coverage bill

It’s hot, it’s dry, so keep your butts in your car add to reading list

Analysts predict Microsoft layoffs by July 22nd add to reading list

Casey Kasem’s body still in Wash. morgue add to reading list

Start time for Huskies’ opener at Hawaii pushed back

Raise for City Light CEO zapped

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New Commitments in Support of My Brother’s Keeper

07/24/2014 Nativegrl77

Earlier this week, President Obama visited the Walker Jones Education Campus in Washington, D.C. to participate in a town hall with youth, and to announce new commitments in support of the My Brother’s Keeper initiative.

Find out more about the new commitments here.

As the President said during the town hall, “We want fewer young men in jail; we want more of them in college. We want fewer young men on the streets; we want more in the boardrooms. We want everybody to have a chance to succeed in America. And it’s possible if we’ve got the kind of team that we set up today.”

In February, as part of his plan to make 2014 a year of action focused on expanding opportunity for all Americans, the President unveiled the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative to address persistent opportunity gaps faced by boys and young men of color and ensure that all young people can reach their full potential.

The Administration is doing its part by identifying programs and policies that work, and recommending action that will help all our young people succeed. Since the launch of My Brother’s Keeper, the President’s Task Force has met with and heard from thousands of Americans, through online and in-person listening sessions, who are already taking action.

Learn more at WhiteHouse.gov/My-Brothers-Keeper.

And if you haven’t already, commit to making a difference by pledging to mentor a young person in your community.

Stay Connected

Watch President Obama answer questions during this week’s town hall:

Watch the President in this week's town hall.

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Support ~~ Amazon Watch

07/24/2014 Nativegrl77

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You and your friends can save the Amazon!
Here’s how.

We have huge news! We’re kicking off a $50,000crowdfunding campaign to help our work in the Amazon rainforest.Crowdfunding campaigns rely onindividual supporters like you. Creating a global team of fundraisers is part of our commitment to increasing our capacity to meet the challenges faced in the Amazon.Take the first steps towards becoming a fundraiser. Check out our campaign page, watch our video, and create your personal profile. Then share it with your friends.

If we all come together, we’ll smash our goal. Do something meaningful this summer: Share your passion for the rainforest. Become an active Amazon ambassador by signing up and promoting this worthy cause. Will you join us?

Thank you!

Branden Barber
Director of Engagement

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a message from VP Joe Biden

07/23/2014 Nativegrl77

The White House, Washington

Hey, everyone —

During his State of the Union address, the President asked me to lead an across-the-board review of our nation’s job-training programs.

It’s a top priority for the President, and it is absolutely critical to our economy’s success.

So earlier today, I put forward a roadmap for how the United States can keep and maintain the highest-skilled workforce in the world.

I’ve met with business leaders, community college presidents, governors and mayors, and most importantly, hard-working Americans who were hit hard by the Great Recession, but who are doing everything they can to learn new skills to find a decent, good-paying middle-class job.

And there was a clear consensus: We must rethink how we train today’s workers so that our programs are job-driven, teaching real skills that employers need.

We’ve heard from businesses that many jobs in today’s brightest sectors go unfilled because there simply aren’t enough people with the skills to do them. That’s not good for businesses, it’s not good for workers, and it’s not good for this country.

Some of our country’s businesses, community colleges, and state and local training programs — often supported with federal dollars — have found ways to successfully prepare Americans for these jobs. We need to make sure our entire system is learning from them.

Find out why training programs matter for middle-class Americans — and which ones around the country are working best.

We’re taking steps to improve that training, directing federal agencies to make current programs that serve more than 21 million Americans smarter, and holding training programs that use public funds accountable for making a difference.

This isn’t the only step we’re taking to make sure Americans have the skills they need, either. Today, I joined President Obama as he signed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act into law. It connects more ready-to-work Americans with ready-to-be-filled jobs. And it builds on bipartisan efforts in Congress to improve business engagement and accountability. While there’s still more to do, it’s another important step in getting Americans working.

Thanks,

Vice President Joe Biden