Skip to content

Arlington Teens

Live Kindly

Live Kindly, a brand based in Annapolis, began just earlier this year and is dedicated to spreading kindness through all generations young and old. This brand was created by Dave Neely who, after the birth of his children began to realize the impact of living a simple kind life. The goal of launching this brand says Dave is “to make a positive difference” and for people “to pass their kindness onto people they touch day in and day out”. Simply put at the core Live Kindly is about the little acts of kindness, such as holding the door for someone or even just saying “please” and “thank you”.

On their website, www.livekindly.com simple products such as shirts, hats, pins, and stickers are available that encourage people to start a conversation about what kindness means to them and the impacts of living a simple kind life. Dave says that he plans to introduce more products “that have fun, simple but impactful messages about kindness.” Soon more products such as coffee mugs, tote bags, magnets, dog collars, and much more will be available for purchase.

When Dave began to create Live Kindly he knew of multiple organizations that had made a positive impact in his life and he wanted to ensure that a percentage of Live Kindly’s profits went back to these organizations. Every time a purchase is made you get to choose the organization that you want your purchase to benefit. The causes that Live Kindly supports are Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, GRREAT (Golden Retriever Rescue Education and Training), and SCUTE (South Carolina United Turtle Enthusiasts). When Dave and his wife had their second child they discovered that their son was born with severe Hydronephrosis. When doctors recommended surgery their son was admitted to Johns Hopkin’s hospital where he received excellent care and attention. Dave discovered GRREAT nine years ago when he adopted his second golden retriever- Hogan. GRREAT is run solely by volunteers and places approximately 100 Golden Retrievers each year. Lastly, Dave found SCUTE while visiting Litchfield Beach, South Carolina. Also solely run by volunteers, SCUTE is dedicated to sea turtle conservation. Before assisting in hatching and releasing these turtles, the volunteers take time to explain the hatching process and take any questions. All of these organizations have given something to Dave and his family and now through Live Kindly he is able to give back to them.

Since Live Kindly is about sharing kindness there are many ways that you can become involved. First, you can send “kindness in action” photos or stories to admin@livekindly.com. Each month a favorite story will be selected and the winner will receive a special gift from Live Kindly. Second, you can follow Live Kindly on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Pinterest @welivekindly to learn about new ways to spread kindness and sales going on in their store. Third, periodically volunteer opportunities will be posted on their site so make sure you check back occasionally. Fourth, spread kindness in your daily life and be the person that others look up to.

Lastly, always remember this Japanese proverb: “One kind word warms three winter months.” and Live Kindly in ALL you do…Everyday!

By Claire Jackson 4/2017

Women’s March

This time of extreme uncertainty in our country is difficult for many especially teens. Often we hear conversations in the halls at school and then go home and turn on the news and hear another. It is difficult to find our place in this chaos. Through all of this we must continue to voice our opinions and concerns even if it seems as though are we are not powerful enough to make a difference.

On Saturday, January 21, 2017,around one million people gathered in Washington DC and millions of others around the US and even more worldwide to voice their concerns and advocate for their rights. This march originally named the Women’s March on Washington was meant as a way for people to come together and advocate for women’s rights as the new administration was just getting to work on their first official day in office. Although this march began just to advocate for women’s rights it also turned into a rally for LGBTQ, abortion, African American rights, and much more.

I attended this march as a young women who wanted one message to be sent to the world “We are always stronger together”. After the recent election that demoralized women, the LGBTQ community, and many different races this message is important to me because while we may feel defeated and powerless alone when we understand what our neighbor is going through we can combine our beliefs and experiences and turn that into positive change.

Originally it was estimated that about 200,000 people were going to be in Washington for this march and that estimate more than doubled to 500,000 the night before the march. When I first arrived at the mall I had many emotions flow through me. To see all of these people from many different backgrounds come together in a nonviolent way was powerful. Just knowing that this feeling of defeat was not just affecting me but so many others.

One of the most powerful things about this march that I experienced was the number of teens that attended. I knew of a few friends that were planning on going; however, I did not think that there would be a great deal of teens there. I realized that this march was a way for teens to get their voice heard and to feel counted.

We as teens are often considered a minority and our opinions often not acknowledged or accepted. From experience, I know that it is difficult to express your opinions when all the adults around you think of your opinions as less than theirs. While we may not have as much experience or even be able to vote, most of the issues that are being voted on directly affect us.

In order to change this pattern teens must form a community with others teens who understand and support what the other is going through. Doing this is so important because when bonds are formed positive change occurs. No matter what you support, advocate for, or are going through it is critical that you find someone who feels the same way and connect with them to build healthier relationships.   

 

By Claire Jackson 1/2017

College Visits and involving yourself in the process

Lets face it: thinking about college is quite stressful. With all the work we already have to for school and our other extracurricular activities it seems as though thinking college is put on the back burner. Let me tell you, this is not a good thing. The earlier you start thinking about college the better.

There is absolutely no reason why you shouldn’t be thinking about college especially in your sophomore and junior year with your college advisor at school, free guided tours at every college, and online information for you explore. It is never too early to start touring colleges because the earlier you start the more schools you can explore and the more likely you are to pick the perfect fit for you.

When you are ready to start looking at your options after high school there are a few things to keep in mind. One, start by exploring your interests and see what type of college might be a good fit for you including law school, a liberal arts college, culinary school, and so many more. Amongst all the pressure to pick a major right away, there is absolutely no reason why you should have one picked out right away. Many colleges won’t allow you to pick a major until you have completed a certain amount of credits at that school to ensure that you are exploring all of your interests and opportunities.

Two, going on your first college tour is always the most exciting; however, don’t get caught up on one school and stop looking. You may think that the first school you toured was the absolute fit for you; however, you never truly know until you have explored other options even if at first glance they seem less favorable.

Three, most graduating high school students want to go to a college far away from home to have more freedom. While this works for some, it can be a struggle for others who are very accustomed to always living in one place. Don’t be afraid to look at in and out of state colleges no matter what you think you want to do. There are may stigmas that going to an out of state school is more expensive, and while this is true, there are also many scholarships that colleges offer for out of state students.

Four, take advantage of school/community sponsored college trips. Many of these sponsored trips do come at a fee to you for transportation and occasionally hotels; however, it is a great time to really dive into the college process and yes have a fun road trip with your friends. Trying to go through the college process alone is very difficult, it is always better to go through it friends.

While going through this process with friends is always better you must understand that you and your friends will most likely not end up at the same college. This is why it is truly important for you to find a college that you like both academically and socially. On a tour you get a glimpse into life on that school’s campus and explore the opportunities they offer outside of academics.

Fifth, when on a tour DO NOT be afraid to ask questions. Your tour guide will most likely be a student at that school and who better to ask questions to than someone who knows exactly what you are going through and already has had the experience of attending that school. You may feel intimidated by all the students on campus but understand that they were in your shoes just years before.

Looking at colleges is a big deal and is an exciting experience so be sure to take it all in and truly enjoy the experience. While at times it may be stressful just know that there are many resources available to you to help you with the process. Never be afraid to ask questions to anyone and always make sure that you are focusing our your interests and looking at what colleges you are interested in not what your friends are.

 

By Claire Jackson

What does it mean when a university labels itself “a sanctuary campus”?

In the wake of an increasingly intolerant political climate, many universities now identify as “sanctuary campuses”. Despite the title’s growing popularity, its actual definition remains unclear. Generally, a sanctuary campus signifies a higher education institution that adopts policies to protect undocumented students from deportation.

The concept of sanctuary campuses hails from sanctuary cities, such as Los Angeles and New York, which refuse to cooperate with Federal authorities to deport undocumented immigrants.
The actual policies of sanctuary campuses vary widely between colleges. Some sanctuary campus schools, such as Wesleyan University, strive to shield its students from deportation to the best of its ability, while others, like Portland State University, may merely function as a safe space where students will not face discrimination. This inconsistency in the label’s meaning drives criticism of the sanctuary movement.
Some skeptics argue that the term sanctuary campus” is actually harmful because it lacks specific regulations and legal basis, confusing undocumented students, thereby worsening their situation. Additionally, some may argue that sanctuary campus universities are violating the law, but in reality, these universities are merely doing all they can to protect their students. These flaws deter many universities, such as Harvard, Princeton, and Brown, from describing themselves as sanctuary campuses.

In response to pressure on the university to adopt the term, Drew Faust, president of Harvard, said in a meeting with the school’s faculty, “It risks drawing special attention to the students in ways that could put their status in greater jeopardy… Sanctuary Campus status has no legal significance or even clear definition. It offers no actual protection to our students. I worry that in fact it offers false and misleading assurance”. However, the benefit of ensuring campuses are safe and welcoming for all students, regardless of race, ethnicity, or religion, cannot be overestimated and sanctuary campuses serve this purpose.

Despite President Faust’s rejection of the sanctuary campus label, Harvard is preparing to aid students fearing President Trump’s immigration policies by hiring immigration experts to provide legal resources and appointing an administrator to assist undocumented students.

Other universities, like Columbia, do not define themselves as sanctuary campuses, but refuse to cooperate with authorities to expose undocumented students.
While it remains to be seen whether sanctuary campuses will actually be successful in protecting undocumented students, the benefits of students feeling safe at their school are countless. Feeling supported and valued by faculty and peers won’t magically grant a student citizenship. It might, however, provide vulnerable students with strength and motivation to overcome fear, feelings of isolation, and continue their education. Even the creation of safe spaces fosters a better learning environment for all students and ensures students will not be forced to contend with discrimination on a regular basis. A school cannot pride itself on teaching its students if even a fraction of them feel unsafe.

In order to legitimize the label and movement, a concrete definition should be established, unifying sanctuary campuses across the country and strengthening their reach. Such a definition would also address many criticisms of sanctuary campuses by clarifying their resources for students and providing a general set of guidelines. Promoting sanctuary on campuses, in whatever form, is a vital step toward acceptance, tolerance, and valuing all individuals at a time when it is needed most.

by Catherine Burke

TNB is cool!

 

Sticker shock

teen network board members eating pizza

TNB meeting at Central Library. 2017

All American Boys

2/7/17 http://arlingtonva.libcal.com/event/2888707

An author talk by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, the authors of “All American Boys.”

“All American Boys” was a 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, and recipient of the Walter Dean Myers Award for Outstanding Children’s Literature.

Two teens—one black, one white—grapple with the repercussions of a single violent act that leaves their school, their community, and, ultimately, the country bitterly divided by racial tension.

A bag of chips. That’s all sixteen-year-old Rashad is looking for at the corner bodega. What he finds instead is a fist-happy cop, Paul Galluzzo, who mistakes Rashad for a shoplifter, mistakes Rashad’s pleadings that he’s stolen nothing for belligerence, mistakes Rashad’s resistance to leave the bodega as resisting arrest, mistakes Rashad’s every flinch at every punch the cop throws as further resistance and refusal to STAY STILL as ordered. But how can you stay still when someone is pounding your face into the concrete pavement?

But there were witnesses: Quinn Collins—a varsity basketball player and Rashad’s classmate who has been raised by Paul since his own father died in Afghanistan—and a video camera. Soon the beating is all over the news and Paul is getting threatened with accusations of prejudice and racial brutality. Quinn refuses to believe that the man who has basically been his savior could possibly be guilty.

But then Rashad is absent. And absent again. And again. And the basketball team—half of whom are Rashad’s best friends—start to take sides. As does the school. And the town. Simmering tensions threaten to explode as Rashad and Quinn are forced to face decisions and consequences they had never considered before.

The talk will be presented in partnership with Wakefield High School, Yorktown High School, Arlington Public Library and An Open Book Foundation.

Healthy Lunch Challenge 3

Week 3 – whole grain pasta with spinach and tomato sauce:
Prep Time: 20 mins
Taste: 9/10

This was a phenomenal recipe. I made a couple servings worth and ate it both hot and cold, and it tasted great both ways. It’s light enough that it doesn’t make you feel gross, but it’s enough to keep you full throughout the school day.

1. Boil whole grain pasta (the stuff from a box). I used about a third of a box, which is about 6 (?) oz. The water can be salted, but there’s really no need. If you look on the side of the box, it will tell you how long to cook the pasta for it to be al dente (listen to the box!! Otherwise, the pasta will get soggy after a day or two when sitting in the sauce).

2. As the pasta is cooking, dice two to three tomatoes (depending on how much you like) and mince garlic.

3. Combine garlic, tomatoes, and white canned cannellini beans in a saucepan. Keep cooking until the tomatoes are kind of soggy. Then add in spinach leaves, and keep stirring until they’ve wilted. This part is so easy, you can really just wing it in terms of time and amount of ingredients, and there’s a 99% chance it’ll still end up amazing. Give it another minute, and you’ve got your sauce!

4. Drain pasta and combine with sauce. You can top it with shredded cheese if you want (do it!!!!!) – I used Gruyere

*Ed. Note – also good with swiss chard or kale in addition to/instead of spinach

The Millennial Vote and why it matters

Why are millennials feeling so marginalized when it comes to today’s politics? And what implications does this have, with the election less than two weeks away?

Posted: Oct 26, 2016 by Elizabeth Kraisinger  While watching the post-debate commentary last Wednesday, one man that was being interviewed by an anchor – maybe in his late twenties – stood out to me, expressing dissatisfaction at how the candidates rarely breached topics that were important to millennials. Even I, technically a millennial if using the US Census Bureau’s definition of 1982-2000, didn’t realize this until he brought it up. Millennials are often dismissed, and often stereotyped as entitled and lazy.

But the millennial vote is more important than many believe, and therefore, there should be more of a focus on the issues important to them. On June 25, 2015, the US Census Bureau reported that millennials, defined as those born between 1989 and 2000, now outnumber baby boomers by about 12 million, and represent more than 25 percent of the population. Seeing as such a large portion of the population consists of millennials, putting these issues at the forefront of political campaigns could encourage them to vote, and swing an election one way or the other. In fact, David Cahn, co-author of When Millennials Rule: The Reshaping of America, believes that if “[millennials] turn out and vote for [Hillary] Clinton, she wins. If they don’t, she loses.” The fact that one generation can have such a large influence on the outcome of an election isn’t surprising, but it is a testament to the importance of their votes.

If only they voted. A poll by GenKFD on January 11, 2016 found that that while millennial voters make up 36 percent of all eligible voters, 85 percent of these voters feel ignored by the 2016 presidential candidates, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Republican nominee Donald Trump. Additionally, the US Census released data that showed that youth voter registration and turnout was at a 40-year low in the 2014 midterm elections. This feeling of disenfranchisement isn’t without reason.

The topics predetermined by Chris Wallace to be covered at the third and final debate were the national debt and entitlements, immigration, the economy, the Supreme Court, foreign policy, and fitness to be president. Yet topics important to millennials generally lean more towards issues such as jobs and student debt, racial issues, the environment, and reproductive health. As a technical millennial, I can say I care very much about these issues and think it is imperative that they are addressed in order to move forward as a society.

Throughout the third debate, Green Party candidate Jill Stein repeatedly criticized the candidates on Twitter for not focusing on the environment. One tweet read: “still waiting to hear about climate change, student debt, health care, criminal justice reform, etc. Just war, war, war.” Stein is correct in asserting that a shockingly large portion of time was spent addressing war – all three of the debates addressed foreign policy in some way, especially policy involving Syria. The back and forth included contentions about airstrikes, ground troops, and who was being outsmarted by Putin. However, the general consensus of the American public is fairly well established – an Economist/YouGov poll conducted in 2013 found that only a quarter of those polled are in favor conducting airstrikes against Syrian government targets and nine percent favor sending in ground forces. To summarize, the majority of people don’t want to dip their toes into the messy disaster we call the Syrian civil war. They are in favor of providing aid or taking action in other ways, but all the candidates could focus on is who to kill or whether or not to take back a certain city. The implications of this conflict are serious and this is not a topic to be taken lightly; however, there are still other issues in America that we can’t afford to wait on addressing.

Yes, one of the topics covered was reproductive rights, but only the issue of abortion was addressed. There was no mention of sexual health and contraception. The discussion during the third debate was obscured by Trump either avoiding Wallace’s question on Roe v. Wade or repeating the very eloquent phrase “rip the baby out of the womb at nine months”, which is factually incorrect and only serves as a scare tactic. Additionally, abortion wasn’t even mentioned in the previous two presidential debates. Regardless of where one stands on this controversial issue, the fact that reproductive rights are so scarcely covered – and when they are, rarely focus on anything but abortion – doesn’t bode well for those wishing to appeal to millennial vote.

Coverage of the environment and education was minimal at best. The candidates rarely discussed these topics, and when they did, their policies did not align well with millennials’. Former Democratic candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders was able to draw a staggeringly large portion of the millennial vote because of his liberal views on the issues that are important to millennials. During his campaign, which ended in July, he pledged to fight for free higher education, come down hard on big business and the wealthy to benefit the poor, and increase access to certain welfare programs. He also promised to address the daunting issue of climate change. Similarly, President Barack Obama was able to do the same in the 2008 and 2012 elections – because he addressed issues that millennials actually cared about.

Another reason Sanders and Obama were so successful in getting the millennial vote is the millennial generation is far more liberal than previous ones. A Gallup poll conducted in May of 2016 reported that 28 percent of millennials describe themselves as liberal, compared with 21 percent of Generation X, 21 percent of baby boomers, and 18 percent of traditionalists. This overwhelmingly positive support of Sanders and his liberal views could be seen on everywhere from Twitter to Instagram – essentially social media platforms that were dominated by youth – in the form of posts and tweets, videos and funny hashtags. In contrast, coverage of the other two main contenders for the Democratic and Republic nomination – Clinton and Trump, respectively, was mostly negative.

On November 8, 2016, fate of our great nation will be decided – will it come to lie in the hands of Clinton or Trump? There’s a gigantic portion of America’s electorate that they both still have yet to fully address. They have autonomy over their own campaigns; hopefully, they will realize the significance of the millennial vote and adjust their agenda to represent that 25 percent of the nation that’s feeling ignored.

Undocumented Students – An Issue for our Next President

Posted: Sep 27, 2016 by Catherine Burke  Last night, the two presidential candidates debated, not only face-to-face, but, more importantly, in front of millions of viewers here in the U.S. and around the world – in front of you and me. They debated many topics, some important and some not so much. But one very important, urgent even, issue they failed to address was the status of undocumented students living here in the United States, students whose lives are in limbo and who need answers.

Imagine all the late nights spent studying for tests, all your hard earned A’s, and the endless homework assignments you’ve completed in order to gain admission to the college of your choice. Imagine the moment you get accepted, when the long hours of hard work pay off. Now imagine being told you cannot go to college using in-state tuition simply because you were not born in the United States. This happens everyday to thousands of undocumented students around the country. And it does not matter how long a child has been in the United States, or that they proudly consider themselves to be Americans.

I cannot imagine what it must feel like to discover that you cannot go to college and take advantage of in-state tuition, to see all your friends follow their dreams knowing that when the next school year starts, you won’t be there with them.

Many undocumented students have lived in the United States their whole lives and identify as American. These students feel more comfortable speaking English than their native language. They also feel more at home in the U.S. than they do in their native countries. For example, one student, Lilly, an undocumented immigrant, was on the path to becoming a doctor. She attended her local community college for one year until she was forced to drop out because her family could no longer afford the full tuition. Lily was denied in-state tuition just because she was not born in the U.S. Even with Lily’s mother working extra shifts and her whole family pooling their money, Lily’s dream of becoming a doctor was over. Lily wanted to becoming a neonatologist, a doctor who cares for newborns. Lilly said “I’m 22 years old. I’ve been here all of my life. My friends are here. My life is here, I love the U.S. more than anything.”

These students deserve the opportunity to receive the college education they have been working towards. Significantly, they have often already received 12 years of education funded by our taxpayer money. If these students do not go to college, taxpayer money and their previous education will be wasted. The benefit to these students and society is enormous and cannot be overestimated. Given the chance, many of these students will pursue careers as doctors, engineers, scientists, writers, and teachers.

And so, I dedicate this post to the moderator of the next debate. Please ask the candidates how they will help these undocumented students, some of whom have served in our military, continue their future, achieve their dreams, and go to college. And if you are not moved by the sheer importance of higher education alone, please advise the candidates to consider the many practical reasons these students should be allowed to benefit from in-state tuition. Without the opportunity to pursue higher education, their dreams are lost and taxpayer money is wasted.