On the Brink in Brownsville
The New York Times, Mosi Secret | May 1
Brownsville is one of New York's poorest neighborhoods. Shamir teeters between the influence of neighborhood kids who have already committed serious crimes and people like his brother and parents, who have made it out of Browsville's crime-laden corners.
Health Care For Foster Youth, if They Can Find it
Marketplace, Sarah Alvarez | May 1
The Affordable Care Act allows young people to stay on their parents' health insurance until age 26. But what about foster youth? Young people who aged out of foster care can sign up for extended Medicaid, but states have done little outreach about the provision.
Boy Joins Protest Blocking Traffic Near Congress To Highlight Immigration Reform Need
The Huntsville (Ala.) Times, Brian Lawson | April 30
Yahir Servin, an 11-year-old from Russellville, Ala., joined other children for a nonviolent protest in Washington, D.C. Yahir is an American citizen but his father entered the country unlawfully.
In Chicago, Advocate Finds Way to Bridge Gap for At-Risk Preschoolers
McClatchy/The Hechinger Report, Sara Neufeld | April 29
Ruth Kimble has ideas about how to get preschoolers prepared for kindergarten and beyond, and she's implementing them in her community. The grandmother and educator offers day care and preschool in a violent and impoverished section of Chicago.
The Photo Shoot That Changed a Teen's Life
CNN, Kelly Wallace | April 29
A professional photographer teams up with children in foster care to take portraits of them that truly showcase their personality.
Why Low-Income Kids Thrive in Salt Lake City
National Journal, Nancy Cook | April 29
Salt Lake City was named one of the best places in the country for upward mobility in 2013. To maintain its status and address population changes, government officials, civic leaders and the powerful Mormon church are pursing various strategies to ensure schools and neighborhoods continue to boost low-income children up the income ladder.
The DREAM Movement's New Agenda
Feet in 2 Worlds, Von Diaz | April 28
The struggle for immigrant rights is changing, as some young activists turn away from the DREAMer movement and its push for a path to citizenship.
National High School Graduation Rate Exceeds 80% For First Time
Los Angeles Times, Lalita Clozel |April 28
Graduation rates in the U.S. have risen eight percent in six years. Still, champagne corks are not popping. Low-income youth, children of color, English language learners and students with disabilities have much lower chances of getting their diplomas.
Shotgun Weddings Becoming Relics of Another Time
USA Today, Sharon Jayson | April 26
For a growing number of unmarried couples, a wedding is not the first reaction to an unexpected pregnancy. New studies suggest the so-called "shotgun wedding" is rapidly becoming a relic.
American Children Pose With Their Guns
WIRED, Jakob Schiller |April 25
A Dutch photographer was able to get pro-gun parents in the U.S. to agree to let her photograph portraits of their children with their firearms.
El Paso Struggles With Lack of English-Speaking Foster Homes
The Texas Tribune, Alexa Ura | April 24
A unique problem has surfaced in El Paso, Texas, a border community that is home to a growing U.S. Army base: the number of children from military families in need of foster families is far greater than the number of English-speaking foster families in the area.
