What is the point of making national parks more accessible if they aren't sustainable? In 2025 alone, the United States National Park System recorded 323 million recreational visits. However, as visits increased, there weren't enough staff to sustain such a system. Since Trump took office, it was reported that by mid-2025 the administration had dismissed nearly 1,000 NPS employees as part of a wave of far-reaching federal layoffs, all under the promise of "saving money."

A low-waste lifestyle grows through practical habits that fit your daily routine. Clear goals and time frames make progress easier to see and easier to maintain. These seven challenges can help you reduce waste in measurable ways while creating low-waste habits that feel realistic and rewarding.

Expensive handbags, shoes, and clothes had taken a backseat to water during an era ruled by climate change; those who can afford the comfort of water, air conditioning, and a lifestyle unchallenged by the heat wave are now owning the new luxury.

With the arrival of summer comes the need for versatile footwear; however, dressing for the season shouldn't cost any living being its life. That is why I have put together a list of stylish, fun, and functional footwear made in an environmentally friendly way.

Fashion means the world to me, and nothing gets me more excited to leave the house than the chance to style a new outfit for whatever my plans may be for the day. I love layering, I love accessorizing, I love creating new combinations and I just love my closet. However, eventually, the months speed by and the seasons catch up to me and I realize that summer has arrived, and, wow, do I hate summer clothes. 

Agata Jurago-Pach is a vegan environmentally aware sexy as hell pole dancer, who decided to create her own epic vegan eco-friendly pole wear brand, Sway! Naturally, as I am a vegan sustainable minded pole dancer myself, we became quick friends! Agata had always dreamed of being a fashion designer so when she found her way to pole and the options were limited there it was an obvious decision to make pole wear. But pole wear isn’t so easy to make. Pole dancers are strong, opinionated, super flexible, do crazy tricks, and need their skin to stick to the pole! One can’t just throw anything on them and call it a day! They need looks that will stay in place no matter what while slaying! We are also a pretty conscientious. This is where Sway comes in! Super sexy vegan conscientious pole wear that can handle everything we throw at it! Read on to learn more about Agata Jurago-Pach and her inspiring pole brand, Sway!

In the world of makeup and skincare, the 2020s have been defined by little to no visible product on the face. “Clean girl” minimalism and the “no make-up make-up look” have long lapped the 2010s passion for big, blocky eyebrows, cut creases with thick eyeliner, blinding highlighter and overdrawn lips. As someone who began her makeup journey during that heavy, colorful era, I yearn for the days when people wanted to go outside wearing more than the latest in an endless parade of lip oils.

CEO of Crate 61 Organics Alexandros Hanou knows that sustainable skincare is not only a possibility we can aim for, but a standard we must strive for. He shared his insights into top-notch, sustainable ingredients, production and shipping methods and even marketing tactics. Crate 61 Organics provides customers with satisfying soaps and other products without any bells and whistles regarding scent, plastic usage in their packaging and other stereotypes that plague the skincare industry.

As winter sets in, beauty shifts toward richer textures, softer light, and a more thoughtful approach to makeup. The season invites looks that feel intentional yet expressive, balancing warmth with a sense of atmosphere and mood. From luminous finishes that catch the light to deeper tones and gently diffused color, winter beauty this year explores contrast—between glow and depth, softness and drama. Together, these styles reflect a season that favors creativity, subtle romance, and a touch of bold elegance.

Hawaii is known for being one of the most progressive states in the country, but even there, progressives have had to fight their way into the state legislature to ensure equitable representation of all groups and to push progressive policies to move Hawaii forward and better the lives of everyone who lives there.

One such representative is Kim Coco Iwamoto (s/he, hir, hirs), the first transgender legislator in Hawaii’s history. After two terms on Hawaii’s Board of Education, she ran five consecutive elections before finally unseating Hawaii’s powerful House Speaker, Scott Saiki, who she challenged twice before. A Sansei, hir Japanese grandparents and great-grandparents worked on sugar cane plantations on the island of Kauai and cantaloupe farms in Imperial Valley, California. She is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, and has a BA in creative writing from San Francisco State University and a juris doctor from the University of New Mexico. This accomplished surfer is passionate about increasing the gas tax to fund free public transportation across the state and imposing a tax on seasonal homes to help fund rent subsidies to make housing more affordable for the working class.

Ashanti Martinez (he/him) is a gay Afro-Latino millennial representative in Maryland’s House of Delegates. Active in politics from his early teenage years, Ashanti comes from a working-class family in Prince George’s County, a majority-Black county outside of Washington, DC. Ashanti attended Howard University, and is passionate about LGBTQ rights, universal healthcare, gun control, and the environment.

Darius Oon is branching out on his own in the music industry. After a childhood of playing guitar and piano and listening to The Beatles with his parents, he’s been a proud member of a number of bands before releasing his first single as a solo artist this past June. Taking inspiration from Djo and Wallows, he describes his sound as having a certain “nostalgic quality.” Oon is also a passionate advocate for mental health awareness and cancer research, and has worked closely with many organizations that support these causes.