December 2010
1 post
Thoughts on WikiLeaks
(via Global Grind) *note* Thanks to the prowess of GlobalGrind.com editors, this post was originally accompanied by a pretty scandalous pic of Kim Kardashian. I couldn’t bring myself to actually publish that here in my space but, fyi, as a result of the pic, I got my highest # of click throughs and page views ever on their blog. Ha! I’ll use James Bond here instead.
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Thousands...
November 2010
3 posts
Charlie Rose / Pop & Politics
Hey gang - Can’t figure out how to embed these two appearances but last week I had the privilege of participating in two really interesting post election discussions.
The first was Charlie Rose the night of the election. Hadn’t finished getting turnout results yet so most of the conversation was just speculation at that time about what the obvious “Republican Tsunami”...
Why such low youth voter turnout? (via CNN.com)
Below is my piece that ran on CNN.com last week:
Many will call the 2010 election the rejection of the Obama agenda heard round the world. But young voter turnout tells a very different story.
CNN’s exit polls show 55 percent of voters age 25 to 29 voted for Democrats, compared to 42 percent for Republicans. Even more progressive, 58 percent of voters age 18 to 24 voted for Democrats...
Heard me complain about the Stewart/Colbert rally after it happened? Bill Maher perfectly explains why: http://bit.ly/dyqA7g
October 2010
4 posts
chic ironic bitterness
I had a really dope conversation w a colleague of mine today about the relationship between irony and righteous anger. An older professor suggested that due to our generation’s [laugh at everything-irreverent-sarcastic-nothing is sacred-trust no one-we get the joke] irony, we lack a sense of frustration & rage that is critical to effective activism and social change. In other words: Is...
Check out my interview with Racialiscious’...
Thoughts
I’m sitting up late looking at the beautiful Denver skyline, working on my plenary speech for tomorrow morning on “Expecting Change & Seizing Opportunity” and thinking about how crazy the times are that we are living in. In the past 2 weeks I’ve been to Chicago (Facing Race), Atlanta (Ignite 2010 with the League of Young Voters & Vibe.com), New York (leadership...
September 2010
3 posts
WatchCheck the “BIG Citizenship: Fad or Philosophy?” panel from the National Conference on Citizenship with journalist Judy Woodruff, Jonathan Ehrlich, Director of Consumer Marketing of Facebook; Alan Khazei, CEO of Be the Change, Inc.; Anne Roosevelt, Vice President of Global Corporate Citizenship of Boeing Company and me.
“This world demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state of...”
– Robert Kennedy
New VoiceofaGen.com Coming Soon!
Hi all -
It’s been a while since I’ve updated you on all of the wonderful developments happening, but things are indeed moving.The updated VoiceofaGen.com will be up - with our new logo! - in a few short weeks. I wish I could give you a sneak peak, but rest assured the content is going to be amazing (how could it not be…it’s about our generation…) For the time being...
August 2010
3 posts
On the Hill: Talking about Entrepreneurship Under...
Yesterday I was one of 14 people who had the privilege of participating in a roundtable hearing, hosted by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA) and the Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship. The purpose was to “explore the unique challenges that young entrepreneurs face and possible solutions to their problems”. My co-witnesses included Monique Coleman (actress from High School Musical,...
She's Baaaaack
Hey gang – So I haven’t blogged in months. Prior to that, I think I blogged 4 times and then hadn’t blogged in almost a yr. Pathetic. If you haven’t noticed, I’m a pretty inconsistent blogger. But all of that is about to change. So many wonderful things are happening and my life is going through an amazing transition as we speak…more on that later…but it feels almost selfish to not...
April 2010
2 posts
My 5 Questions with NAACP President and CEO, Ben...
Me on CNN.com: Health bill a huge victory for...
(originally published on March 28, 2010)
As President Obama signed the historic health reform bill into law Tuesday, little was said in the media about the people who stand to gain the most from the package: young Americans.
The passage of health care reform — and the under-publicized but far-reaching student aid reform that passed along with it in reconciliation — arguably...
January 2010
6 posts
New: Politics As Usual Podcast, Dr. King's Legacy
Hey everyone - Happy Dr. King Day! Below a quick podcast about Dr. King’s unfinished legacy of focusing on poverty. Check it out and let me know what you think.
Politics as Usual: Dr. King’s Other Legacy
Secrets & Solutions: Immigration Injustice
The New York Times recently reported a heart breaking but not surprising story of the deaths and human rights violations taking place in our immigrant deportaion jails. Despite the government’s attempt to cover it up, there are many cased of neglect, lack of access to medical care, abuse, and downright murderous treatment of immigrants in these in the detention facilities. And yes – I said despite...
New: Politics As Usual Podcast
Hey gang - So after much urging, I’ve decided to start “producing” (such a fancy word!) a weekly podcast. It’s called Politics As Usual after the classic Reasonable Doubt song and is my take - typically the opposite of usual - on a topic that is bubbling in the news.
As I do more and more I expect to change up the format, play around with what works, and overall increase...
Politics as Usual, Ep. 1 “Harry Reid &...
December 2009
1 post
Via Global Grind: Can I Trust My President?
Originally posted this morning http://globalgrind.com/content/1185817/Can-I-Trust-My-President/
Let’s be honest: I was dreading last night’s speech. Having been burned before by a President that used our nation’s fear and pain to launch a misguided, ill-directed and downright wrong war, I instinctively cringe when I know my President is going to spend 30 minutes telling me why we must continue to...
Obama's Brilliant First Year? →
For some late night reading, click the title above to check out a new piece from Slate on Obama’s first year in office. Makes the case that come January, if health care reform passes as its expected to, Obama will have accomplished more than any first year President since Franklin Roosevelt.
Me & the Senate: back to work
So it’s the Monday after Thanksgiving and I’m feeling full - of food, of love, and of energy to keep pushing forward on health care reform. Hopefully the Senate is too. Today’s floor debate was over two amendments (the first to expand preventative care for women and the second to reduce the proposed cuts to Medicare. As a side note, the latter proposal is another example of...
November 2009
28 posts
Google explains racist search results for “Michelle Obama” images. http://bit.ly/5bwhXG
RT @vvillano: Just saw the campusprogress ad during the Rachel Maddow show! Missed it? Check it here: www.studentsoverbanks.org #SAFRA
Watch out for the new electorate. Young, low income, minority - the coalition of the unlikelys could easily take over http://bit.ly/8nhVjj
“Man’s capacity for justice makes democracy possible, but man’s capacity for injustice makes democracy necessary” Jaroslav Pelikan
Monday morning - back to caring about important things… like the future of our country.
I owe my television an apology for that performance. I’m so very sorry. #AMAs
seriously - I just want this to be over. Good or bad, but I can’t take the nervousness. Fingers crossed for Whit #AMAs
Did he just say Lady Gaga’s video has “sold 16 million views on You Tube”? How exactly does that work? #AMAs
So as a feminist I have to like Rihanna now? Look - I stand with her as a woman, but as a musician, she still makes my ears bleed. #AMAs
As a boxing fan, J. Lo owes me an apology for that lame song. No, Jenny from the Block, you are not the champ. #AMAs
Did you hear how quiet the audience got when Jermaine said Allah? Hilarious. #AMAs
Out of respect for my Whitney, I will not comment. #AMAs
Oh Alicia - I used to appreciate you being the only female singer that didn’t need to gyrate her pelvis. Please keep the baby grand. #AMAs
Finishing up my Thanksgiving lesson for my Sunday School class. I love the babies…
Gonna slip in “the people’s history” during my Sunday School lesson about Thanksgiving today. Let’s see how cute the Pilgrims are then…
RT @Shoq ACORN hired Jim Zorn #acornfacts
speaking w/ an organizer from United Students Against Sweatshops about their big win. reminds me why activism works. http://bit.ly/1Hf5pb
Comparing the House and Senate health care proposals http://bit.ly/1NBUag
Denial isn’t just a river in Africa…Looks like Repubs think that Obama didn’t really win the election: http://bit.ly/3ClL51
“I eventually, solemnly, w a bit of malice in my voice said, ‘Ma’am, w all due respect, u can go jump off a bridge.’ http://bit.ly/4gUMSR
RT @ErinRosa Hot off the presses @campusprogress Students Claim Victory After Factory Reopens http://bit.ly/19Eued
RT @andrew_zolli: Can social media remake US diplomacy? Watch Alec Ross, Sec’y Clinton’s Innovation Advisor http://bit.ly/1uZLrj
“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have...”
– Archbishop Hélder Câmara
Check out my #poptech speech on youth politics! http://bit.ly/4BEb3j Bad hair day, but hopefully people were too busy listening to care.
WatchCheck out my Pop Tech speech! Not quite sure what was going on with my hair that day, but I hope that people were too interested in being inspired by my generation to notice.