Read this transcript of First Lady Michelle Obama’s 2016 commencement speech in which she advised students to celebrate the diverse backgrounds of the students at City College of New York and of the citizens of the United States.
Tag Archives: Current Events
Why Russians flock to Jack London’s California ranch 100 years after his death
Read why Russians connect with one of America’s most respected writer’s work.
Obama gets personal with Yosemite in speech, long hike
During a visit to Yosemite to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the National Park Service, President Obama recalled the wonder he felt visiting Yellowstone as a child and argued the importance of preserving natural spaces.
Democrats end House sit-in protest over gun control
After a sit-in to protest the lack of a vote on gun control measures, Democratic representatives in Congress promised to return to the next legislative session with renewed determination. House Republicans called their actions a publicity stunt.
Living under ISIS rule—and then escaping it
One of millions of refugees escaping the horrors of ISIS, a Syrian journalist shares his story.
Christo’s Newest Project: Walking on Water
Art is the medium that Christo Javacheff uses to make his voice heard. It took 46 years for his floating piers to be realized on a lake in Italy, but Christo was determined. Read his story.
Around the world…the hard way…
From city life to circumnavigating the world, a husband-and-wife team show that almost anything is possible when you put your mind to it.
Clare Students on Top of the World after Claiming NASA Prize with Radical Idea
Four Irish students from a school in Co. Clare beat 4,000 other students from around the world to scoop the NASA prize at the International Space Development Conference in Puerto Rico.
Brazil’s Students Occupy Schools In Rio De Janeiro To Protest Conditions Ahead Of Olympics
Students in Brazil have been protesting declining conditions of school facilities in the country, which recently saw the impeachment of its president over the state of its economy.
Why a 1920s legal move is responsible for the gender-segregated bathrooms we have today
Public Radio International gives some background to the United States’ separation of men’s and women’s bathrooms.
Reform the Nation’s Food System
Celebrity chef Tom Colicchio argues for farming and food reform and outlines steps government officials can take to ensure food quality and healthiness.
Ai Weiwei – from criminal to art-world superstar
In this interview, Chinese protest artist Ai Weiwei reflects on his past work and talks about his current endeavors and outlook.
Gibson: Madison was no party animal
In this opinion piece, Bob Gibson, the executive director of the Sorensen Institute for Political Leadership at the University of Virginia, argues that James Madison serves as a unifying figure in a divisive political climate.
Tales of the Super Survivors
Opinion columnist David Brooks examines the key qualities of people who have survived traumatic events while retaining a positive outlook.
How the Arab Spring Became the Arab Cataclysm
The events of the Arab Spring promised a birth of liberty in North African and Middle Eastern nations. Why did it instead lead to worse conditions than those that inspired the protests in the first place?
Hawking backs interstellar travel project
In April, physicist Stephen Hawking and a Russian billionaire announced plans for mankind’s furthest-ever exploration.
With Seattle Shelter Effort, Amazon Shows Glimmers of a ‘Good Neighbor’
American cities are getting help from companies in creating housing for families in need. Find out how one corporation in Seattle responded to the housing crisis and is partnering with a nonprofit to provide shelter.
WI-Fi-enabled school buses leave no child offline
Superintendent Darryl Adams decided that every student in his California school district would have access to the internet. Read about how he put school buses to work at night to get students connected to their schools.
Henry Worsley, a British Adventurer Trying to Cross Antarctica, Dies at 55
Walking in Ernest Shackleton’s footsteps, Henry Worsley’s expedition involved crossing 900 miles of the Antarctic on foot without assistance or support.
Uprooted
Read about what motivates radical environmental activists.