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Friday July 18, 2025

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Inequity in Cervical Cancer Prevention and Treatment means Black women in Mississippi are dying at disproportionally higher rates

by: Barbara Brooks
Mississippi, a state known for rich culture and strong heritage, also faces some of the nations most glaring health disparities. Among them is the inequity in cervical cancer prevention and treatment, which is often shaped by racism and systemic discrimination in healthcare.
Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer at later stages and have a lower five-year survival rate, meaning they are less likely to survive for five years after diagnosis. Mississippi, which has the highest cervical cancer death rate in the country, is a stark example of this disparity.
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The Fight Against Cervical Cancer and for the HPV Vaccine

by: Abria Mobley
As a community-based researcher, Ive spent countless hours speaking with women in the Mississippi Delta about their experiences with healthcare, their knowledge of cervical cancer prevention, and the barriers they face in accessing care. These conversations have reinforced what we already knowBlack women in Mississippi are dying from preventable diseases, not because solutions dont exist, but because those solutions are not reaching them. The Southern Rural Black Womens Initiative (SRBWI), in collaboration with Human Rights Watch, recently released a report highlighting these inequities. But while we work to increase awareness, figures like Robert F.
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Mission Possible: Protecting Freedom, Justice, and Democracy Amid Fires, Injustice, and Loss

by: Sylvia Ghazarian
The week of January 20th, we mark the second anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade and honor Martin Luther King Jr. Day, reflecting on his enduring message of justice, equality, and nonviolence. Yet, as Southern California reels from devastating wildfires, we are reminded of how interconnected these struggles areand how justice cannot exist without addressing the multifaceted crises impacting our communities.
The fires are not just a climate disaster; they are a humanitarian one. Families displaced from their homes, people struggling to breathe amid toxic air, and entire communities facing upheaval are forced to navigate these challenges while contending with systemic inequities.
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It's not all about the Feds: state and local policymakers have a responsibility to deliver for families.

by: Anne Mosle
Many leaders elected this November won by saying that families will be better off in the years ahead than the years behind. Voters voiced their rejection of more of the same. In 2024 exit polling, 80% of voters agreed that if we want policies that work better for families, we need different kinds of leaders than we have now making these decisions. Families expect to see real progress: voters want a government working with and for them - not one stirring more polarization. Our collective call is to find common ground and deliver solutions that respond to the concrete needs of families.
States are where budget decisions and policy implementation have impact - and accountability is measured.
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Tackling Housing Instability through Two-Generation Approach

by: Barbara Siemer, Al Siemer
The holidays are a time when loved ones come together to share traditions and create memories. As we prepare meals, enjoy festive treats, and reflect on the season, its important to remember that there ...

Women voted in force to protect abortion in the midterms. They'll do it again in 2024.

by: Katherine Spillar
In 2022, when the U.S. Supreme Court stripped away abortion rights in the Dobbs decision, women especially younger women got the message, loud and clear.
Despite warnings from mainstream ...

Ballot Measure 1 Will Help Businesses and Communities Thrive

by: Derrick Green
Alaska small businesses are the vital heart of our local economy. I know that as a restaurant owner and as treasurer of the Alaska Black Chamber of Commerce. Im supporting Ballot Measure 1 to raise Alaskas ...

Two Years After the Fall of Roe

by: Sylvia Ghazarian
Two years ago, the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade marked a seismic shift in American reproductive rights. The repercussions have been swift and severe, with sweeping changes that jeopardize ...