Posts in Articles
Unmasking The Truth About Single-Use Masks

Face masks are an extremely important item to own today, but their sudden and wide-scale use is having a major impact on our environment. Fortunately, there is a (potentially) fashionable solution that limits the amount of waste generated by surgical masks. By simply switching to reusable masks, we can help stop much, if not all, of the ecological impact of masks. They are good for your wallet and will help keep our frontline workers safe!

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Traveling In COVID

Living in the midst of COVID in the US, particularly in NYC, has us terrified and controlled, but there is life outside these walls. I recently traveled to a pole camp in Antalya, Turkey, and it opened my eyes. About two months ago, as I sat locked inside my Brooklyn home, I optimistically signed up for a pole dancing camp in Turkey. I kinda assumed that it wouldn’t happen, since most countries were refusing to let Americans in at the time. But in what I can only assume was an act of god, Turkey opened its doors to us with no quarantine! So off I went…

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Rest In Power - Notorious R.B.G.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg dedicated her life to the pursuit of justice. She was a trailblazer who fought vigorously for gender equality as a lawyer. RBG not only changed the law, but she also altered the fabric of society. And during her 27 years on the Court, she became an unlikely pop-culture icon, influencing an Oscar-nominated documentary film, and even her own action figure. Sadly the beloved hero passed on Friday from pancreatic cancer. She was 87 years old.

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Why I Vote...

Jejune is super excited to announce that we are partnering up with Head Count to help get the word out for voter registration! Today, September 22nd, is National Voter Registration Day. This means we don’t have a lot of time to register to vote ((normally there would be about two weeks left to register in most states)). So, let’s all sign up today! If you are not signed up already, please follow the link here. If you are already signed up, get all your friends to do it!

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Evolution Towards Stakeholder Capitalism - Miko Takama

The fashion industry is the largest culprit of global capitalism and exploitation. Although the public is increasingly aware of sustainability issues, there’s been an attitude-behaviour gap between consumers “wanting to do good” and “purchasing sustainable products”. But, we’ve been through a lot this year — wildfire in Australia, global pandemic, Black Lives Matter. People are taking actions to fight for human rights, environmentalism, and climate change. Can we finally close the gap? Is this the year of evolution towards Stakeholder Capitalism?

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The Unheard

Dr. King called riots the language of the unheard. That "unheard" is too passive a description. This element of society isn't unheard, it's forcibly silenced and held in place with a knee on its neck. The murder of George Floyd resonated so deeply because it wasn't like so many of the swift, brutal incidents we've grown so shockingly accustomed to. There was no sudden spray of bullets into unarmed black bodies. This was a slow, merciless, brutal suffocation. A killing horrifying not because it illustrated indifference, but rather the enjoyment taken in slowly snuffing out a life.

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Saying Goodbye During COVID

As I am writing this, the United States has already lost over 124K people to COVID-19, and our numbers are only increasing. The likelihood that you will know someone who passes from COVID 19 is high, but what happens after that, during a pandemic, while socially distancing? Read further to learn about how funerals are far from normal during COVID.

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Healing Chicago’s Frontlines With COVID RRT

COVID Rapid Response Team (RRT) is a collective of independent community members, healthcare students, and clinicians supporting healthcare professionals and underserved areas. With the insurmountable pressure and stressors inflicting our healthcare workers, it is beneficial to see communities uniting for a common good. Please read our exclusive interview here with Carrie Chui and Sara Majewski to learn more about COVID RRT.

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Police Brutality: Compassion, Anguish, and Love are Universal

Whenever news breaks of another black man falling victim to police brutality, part of me wants to despair at the futility of justice. I feel most people subconsciously share, at least partially, in my defeatist, encroaching on nihilistic, sentiment. A George Floyd will almost undoubtedly happen again and, as unproductive as these thoughts are, it is based in reality. It is a sempiternal threat that constitutes heightened prudence when interactions with police occur — civil or otherwise. Continually, we see black men (Charles Kinsey, Philando Castile, Eric Garner, etc.) face deadly or near deadly encounters with law enforcement.

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How NY State Failed Their Elderly During COVID-19

I’m angry. I’m not going to lie. I have hit that point in my grief. But I’m also happy to hear that the murmurs of unrest are starting to rise. People are moving past clutching their rolls of toilet paper as they hang on every word NY Governor Andrew Cuomo tells them. The panic and fear are starting to melt away as the sun is slowly finally starting to shine again on New York City. Yes, we are slowly starting to open up, and we can debate on how much longer that will take, I don’t have the answer to that. There is one thing I do know, there will be a lot less elderly to worry about during any additional waves in New York, thanks to our state government and Andrew Cuomo.

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Jejune Stands With African Americans

In light of the injustices and protests going on right now, Jejune has decided to pause this week’s contents in respect and solidarity of Black Lives Matter and African American rights. Instead, we will be focusing our content on sharing resources on how to support and help the movement and on different ways one may educate themself on the situation. Please join us this week as we further educate ourselves on how we can help and support the African American community as the Black Lives Matter Protests continue in the midst of Covid-19.

Attached below are some photos and a brief video from the protest in Brooklyn, NY. Jejune stands with you and wants the world to know, the protesters we have seen in NYC are peaceful, passionate, and beautiful human beings. We fight with you to be heard and seen.

Please stay tuned for our IG Live Interviews with voices from the African American community and reference our #BLM Reference Book. Thank you and be safe!

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#BLM Resource Book

Amid the Black Lives Matter protests going on worldwide, there’s no better time to educate yourself on racial injustice then now. Please use the presentation below as a resource to learn how to support and help the black community during this time, and to continue to spread the message.

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A Day In The Life Of An MTA Train Operator during COVID

As more states slowly begin to reopen, a contextually old, yet polarizing debate was brought new life: What constitutes an essential worker or business? According to New York State, essential encapsulates specific specializations under health care, infrastructure, manufacturing, and a myriad of other industries. In New York City, it is clear that our train system is essential for the vast majority of New Yorkers to get around, making all of the MTA employees essential workers. But as we shelter in place to stay safe and people are terrified to go into the trains, what steps are being made to make sure the people doing the most important jobs right now are safe. Please read further to learn more from one amazing train operator, Paul.

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Fostering Debate Talent Academy is Nurturing Our Future Orators

Fostering Debate Talent (FDT) Academy is an environment in which ideas breathe, mingle, and evolve. Founded in 2016 by Frankie Cena, FDT works to create a thriving space, building foundations for public speech and debate. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, FDT Academy announced the launch of its first-ever nationwide virtual speaking competition in support of Food Banks Canada. The event is an effort to encourage the creation and promotion of positive activities for youth amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and to raise funds for Food Banks Canada in a time of crisis and need for so many Canadians. To learn more, please read our exclusive interview here with founder Frankie Cena.

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The Masks Now Coalition

In the midst of a global pandemic everyone is struggling to feel safe, and yet, ironically, more puzzling than the origin of the virus is the overwhelming lack of ability to provide preventative measures in the form of PPE. Big N95 mask suppliers have been nationalized by China, and the U.S. based innovation tech company, 3M, has faced the impossible task of keeping with nationwide demand for N95 masks.

With the general public and, more specifically, healthcare professionals facing compromised safety, many are taking action to create makeshift PPE. The Masks Now Coalition (TMNC) is one of many groups leading this fight to help provide masks to hospitals, essential workers, and, well, everyone who needs one (aka everyone). TMNC is working in a grassroots way, by bringing in individuals to help however they can, and use their large information network and dedication to educating the public. Please read our exclusive interview with Sarah Kendrick to learn more about The Masks Now Coalition.

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COVID-19 Is More Than A Virus

Nine weeks. That is how long it took COVID-19 to become deadlier to Americans than every other war fought by this country, save for the two World Wars and the Civil War. It may be on track to take third place away from World War I. It has fundamentally changed the world, and exposed some deep and ugly fissures in our society.

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What it's like to Work in Retail Pharmacy during COVID

If you’ve never worked in retail community pharmacy, you probably don’t know how hectic it can get when there isn’t a pandemic out there roaming the world. Now that this immense x-factor is sweeping the nation, it’s certainly complicating things. Furthermore, population-dense metropolises such as New York, where I live, are impacted the most with the sheer number of cases and repercussions, trickling from the front lines to our business, economic and personal levels.

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Paw Works Saves Lives

Each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats, data estimates 2015- 2018). It is estimated that 6.5 million companion animals enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year (view data overview) .

In 1994, under the direction of Richard Avanzino, the San Francisco SPCA launched the no-kill revolution by ending the killing of healthy dogs and cats in the city. Paw Works is one of a few non profit rescue shelters building on the no kill legacy. Paw Works, founded by Chad Atkins and Larissa Wohl, was established with the clear mission to help make Ventura County “No Kill.” Paw Works takes in over 1,600 abandoned animals from multiple counties in Southern California, as well as from other rescue organizations throughout the state yearly. 98% of every donated dollar goes back directly to the rescue, care, education and adoption to Paw Works animals saved. Please read our exclusive interview with Chad Atkins, from Paw Works, and Larissa Wohl, who follows around Paw Works in their Hallmark Channel special Tails of Joy, to learn more about their beautiful work. 

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An Inside View Of NYC’s ICU, During The Mounting COVID-19 Crisis

Six weeks ago, my life was changed forever. I got one of those texts that you never want to get: “Kira, I had a heart attack. I’m in the ICU…”. Unfortunately, this couldn’t come at a worse time as the COVID-19 pandemic quickly took over the New York City hospitals. Please read further to learn about one ICU patient’s story in the midst of a crisis.

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