Posts by Cassandra Brandt
Self-Care for Activists & Volunteers
When we’re in the thick of the fight, advocating for others, raising our voices for the voiceless, it’s possible to nearly forget ourselves and the needs we still have. The needs we are seeking to provide others with are indeed dire, but we can’t help others unless we help ourselves.
Read MoreOutrageous Rent Increases Impact Americans
This winter I was suddenly the only member of my immediate family not facing the very real possibility of homelessness. I’m disabled, so Medicare and my Disability checks pay for a room at an assisted living group home. My disability checks don’t pay enough for me to afford rent on a home by myself.
Read MoreA Very Humanist New Year
In the wake of a tumultuous 2021, we are all looking toward 2022 with understandable trepidation. As humanists, we hope humankind will see a period of relief after the storm for families suffering through the pandemic with food insecurity and economic hardship.
Read MoreHumanists on the Holidays
As a humanist, how do you celebrate the holidays?
Read MoreHow Food Waste and Rescue Affects the Climate Crisis
Wasting food is one of the significant ways we contribute to climate change.
Read MoreCollege Students Face Food Insecurity
Food insecurity among college students is more widespread than many Americans may assume. More than 1/3 of college students today experience insecurity with food and/or housing because of the rising cost of tuition and high cost of rent.
Read MoreParticipating in Humanist Communities Makes a Difference
Like many humanists I was raised religious. In the years that followed my apostasy, sometimes I missed the camaraderie and community: church potlucks, theatrical plays, holiday celebrations, and charitable volunteering and fundraising. Studies show that community is important for pro-social behavior, volunteerism, health, happiness, and well-being. Community connection can be complicated in today’s society, though,…
Read MoreEnding Child Marriage in the U.S.
The U.S isn’t the first country that comes to mind when one considers married children, but New York and Rhode Island just became the mere fifth and sixth states to ban the practice outright. (Following New Jersey, Delaware, Pennsylvania and Minnesota.) The marriage age is set by each state and territory, either by statute or…
Read MoreWhy Kids Need a Summer Without Hunger
Every day 13 million children in the U.S. aren’t sure where their next meal is coming from. One in six kids don’t have enough to eat at least some of the time. While that number is significant, during summer months it’s even more alarming, nearly doubling as kids lose access to school lunch and breakfast…
Read MoreHurricane Season To Exacerbate Food Insecurity
June 1 marked the official start of hurricane season. When hurricanes hit they can demolish homes, devastate communities and displace people. In most cases electricity is cut, and keeping food fresh is impossible. Food insecurity is a significant dilemma that always emanates in the event of a disaster like a hurricane. An estimated seven million…
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