Justice - Aligning Within

A Nation Struggling With Its Own Reflection

Look around. Something’s broken, and we all feel it. Political fights that used to be disagreements are now full-blown wars. Trust in nearly every institution — government, media, even science — is cratering. Social media turns every issue into outrage bait. Leaders yell past each other. Neighbors who used to wave now avoid eye contact. […]

So Much Trouble in the World: Marley’s Warning for Modern America

When Bob Marley released “So Much Trouble in the World” in 1979, the world was convulsed by Cold War tensions, African liberation movements, and crushing inequality. Nearly half a century later, those words cut just as deep. The song’s haunting refrain—” So much trouble in the world”—transcends its moment in history; it stands as a […]

Stand Against Injustice: Why Silence Is No Longer an Option

In a world full of complexity and inequality, standing against injustice is among the most powerful actions we can take. Throughout history, from civil rights movements to contemporary activism, individuals who spoke out against oppression sparked transformative change in their communities and beyond. When we challenge unfairness, we send a clear message that discrimination, exploitation, […]

The Legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Ongoing Fight for Human Rights

A Vision That Endures As we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, his vision of equality, justice, and human dignity remains as urgent today as it was during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. While significant progress has been made, conflicts around the world and persistent inequalities remind us that the struggle for […]

Class of 2022

Class of 2022 Try not to lose sight of who you are, as you navigate this stressful time. You are the kids who went through one of history’s strangest educational times. The lockdown generation. Exams are not defining for anyone, but in your case, that is even more true. Because you are so much more. […]

A Trailblazing Black Architect Who Helped Shape L.A.

Paul Revere Williams began designing homes and commercial buildings in the early 1920s. By the time he died in 1980, he had created some 2,500 buildings, most of them in and around Los Angeles, but also around the globe. And he did it as a pioneer: Paul Williams was African-American. He was the first black […]

Elizabeth Eckford made history at age 15.

On September 4, 1957, nine students arrived at Central High School in Little Rock, Arkansas for their first day of school. They were bright students, chosen for their academic excellence to attend the most prestigious school in the state. They were there to learn—and to make history as the first Black students to attend the previously all-white […]

Maintain Your Integrity

Many of us have to make decisions that define who we are and what we believe in. Most often, the choices we face may seem insignificant. But this doesn’t mean that they’re not essential to us: even the most minor action can have an impact on our self-respect, our integrity, and, ultimately, our reputation. Integrity […]

Women Torched for being Female

It was not witches who burned. It was women. Women who were seen as Too beautiful Too outspoken Had too much water in the well (yes, seriously) Who had a birthmark Women who were too skilled with herbal medicine Too loud Too quiet Too much red in her hair Women who had a strong nature […]

Hispanic Heritage Expands From a Week to a Month

From 1968 until 1988, Presidents Nixon, Ford, Carter, and Reagan all issued the yearly proclamations, setting aside a week to honor Hispanic Americans. In 1987 U.S. Representative Esteban E. Torres of California proposed the expanding the observance to cover its current 31-day period. Torres wanted more time so that the nation could “properly observe and […]