“Feeding Ourselves” Connects Native American Health Disparities and Federal Policies

In 1940, diabetes among Native Americans was almost unknown. The disease began appearing in the 1950s and expanded until during the 1960s it became a common condition. Today, nearly every Native American is involved either personally with diabetes, or has family and friends with diabetes, According to a new report released today, Diabetes has beenContinue reading ““Feeding Ourselves” Connects Native American Health Disparities and Federal Policies”

Take Down the Confederate Flag – And Raise Up Medicaid Expansion

This opinion piece by LeeAnn Hall was originally published in Huffington Post. It’s tempting, this summery week, to sit and savor the sweet victory that was handed us by the Supreme Court in late June with the King v. Burwell decision. The court’s ruling protected the health care subsidies that allow 6.4 million people toContinue reading “Take Down the Confederate Flag – And Raise Up Medicaid Expansion”

Native Organizers: Building a Grassroots Movement in Indian Country

Thirty organizers and activists from across Indian Country came together in Seattle in June for a special training opportunity hosted by the Native Organizers Alliance: the annual intensive four-day Native Organizing Training. Grassroots organizing is both an art and a science. In Indian Country, the art of organizing is reflected in the Native-led action againstContinue reading “Native Organizers: Building a Grassroots Movement in Indian Country”

Building Momentum to “Ban the Box” Nationwide

Last week, Oregon’s Gov. Kate Brown signed into law a bill that prohibits questions about prior convictions on initial applications for employment. This makes Oregon the seventh state in the country to “ban the box” on private employment applications, giving people with records the chance to get to an interview and a fairer shot atContinue reading “Building Momentum to “Ban the Box” Nationwide”

American Healthcare and the Medicaid Mason-Dixon Line

This opinion piece by LeeAnn Hall and Glenn Harris was originally published in Black Star News. There’s a new Mason-Dixon Line being drawn in our country – and it runs right through Medicaid, one of the country’s most important health insurance programs. Historically, the Mason-Dixon Line marked the division between states that embraced slavery andContinue reading “American Healthcare and the Medicaid Mason-Dixon Line”

Victory! King v. Burwell Guarantees Millions Will Keep Their Health Care

Today is major victory: the Supreme Court rejected King v. Burwell, an attack against the Affordable Care Act that attempted to deny quality health care to millions of people in the United States. Here is a joint statement on the King v. Burwell decision today from: LeeAnn Hall, executive director of Alliance for a JustContinue reading “Victory! King v. Burwell Guarantees Millions Will Keep Their Health Care”

More Low Paying Jobs Means Families Continue to Struggle

The Bureau of Labor Statistics has released the Employment Situation Summary, commonly known as the “jobs report,” for May. While many news outlets had headlines lauding May’s jobs numbers, at least some are beginning to come around to a fact that we have been stating for months: too many of these new jobs are inContinue reading “More Low Paying Jobs Means Families Continue to Struggle”

Questions Fly Over $400 Million Donation. But They’re the Wrong Questions

Last week, author Malcolm Gladwell stirred up the 1% hornet’s nest by sarcastically calling out a hedge fund manager, John Paulson, for his $400 million donation to Harvard University. The billionaire’s donation to the richest university in the world will benefit the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Upon hearing the news, Gladwell, the New Yorker writer and “Tipping Point” author,Continue reading “Questions Fly Over $400 Million Donation. But They’re the Wrong Questions”