Rosalee Mayeux has had a thoroughly full and satisfying career. From modeling to acting to stand up comedy, she has experimented with every aspect of the industry possible and has worked very hard to make all her dreams and goals a reality. She has also recently overcome a devastating cancer diagnosis that she did not think she would survive, and works closely with the American Cancer Society to help other people that were once in her place.
Biriba Union is a band that celebrates unity, cultural expression and the warmth and authenticity that comes from playing a real instrument. Their advocacy for democracy and freedoms for all translates into their work as musicians and their humanitarian work through the organization “Play for the Vote.” You can stream all their unique and creative music through the links at the bottom of this article and be on the look out for more music from them at the end of the year.
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.
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!
A comparison between the healthcare services around the US and Mexico, is it possible that these bordersharing countries could be experiencing a very similar healthcare crisis?
Juliana Bennett (she/her), is running for Wisconsin State assembly. A Black pansexual Gen-Z woman, Juliana is heavily keyed in to her hometown of Madison, the capital city, as a former member of the city council, with experience in expanding housing. She is passionate about defending protesters, getting ICE out of Wisconsin, and sustaining immigrant communities across the state.
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.
Lynn Hollyfield has been releasing contemporary folk music on Spotify since 2011 with messages ranging from grief, mental health, addiction and how we as a nation could use a lot more unity. She is passionate about songwriting and playing the guitar as well as her work with PEO, an organization that promotes and encourages all women to receive the education they deserve. She speaks about the relationship between art and politics and how music has the ability to cause positive change. Her new album, “Diving In” will release July 24 (today!) and will cover all of the emotions that make us human and whole.
In Arizona, Brendan Trachsel (he/him/his) is running on the Green Party ticket for one of two seats that makes up the Arizona House of Representatives’ 6th District. This young activist and Quaker is running to be the first Gen Z elected official at the state level in Arizona. Brendan is passionate about securing abortion access in the state, fighting against Flock cameras, and increasing Arizona’s access to higher education.
Hila the Earth is not your everyday performer. A Brooklyn girl with heart, Hila grew up with hip hop and drag queens, and has been freestyling for a long time. The big turning point in her live was when she fell in love with nature and the Earth. This was a game changer! New York City is not known for its green spaces. But Hila, now dressed as the Earth, fully embodies the Earth wherever she goes and performs. With songs like “WAP — Wet Ass Planet” and “Go Parks” you will quickly fall in love with her fervor and wit as she raps and freestyles you into caring about the environment! Read on to learn more about this insanely talented woman and the Earth we all love!
Myrna Munoz (she/her/ella/they), ran on a platform of opposition to data centers and ICE. This Mexican-American teacher and gamer has generated wide support in her race, including from the Democratic Socialists of America. Myrna identifies as a “justice seeker” and advocates for people and the environment over corporate profits, for gun control, for organized labor, and for Black & Brown communities.
As we officially enter the month of July, New York City temperatures have already hit the 100 degree mark. Trying to stay cool can seem impossible when faced with numbers that extreme, but I promise you can avoid a sunburn this summer, and even healthily take care of your environment in the process. Here are the best ways to keep yourself, and the planet, cool and cared for.
On June 24 at around 6 p.m., the country of Venezuela was struck by a 7.2 magnitude earthquake along their coastal areas, followed 39 seconds later by a 7.5 magnitude tremor, according to the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), (ABC News). Primary damage was found in Caracas with ripples and tremors felt through the country and even in Colombia. These dual earthquakes were the biggest to hit Venezuela in a century, leading to immense destruction and death across the city of Caracas, which over 2 million people call home.
One of Topeka’s state representatives, Alexis Simmons (she/her), is an agnostic, bisexual Democrat. Born at the end of the millennial generation, she identifies as a “childless cat lady” and is a government professor at Washburn University. What drove Alexis to teach government was a belief that people should feel empowered to engage with government, and not be intimidated by the complexity of it. Alexis is passionate about defending the US Constitution from attacks on freedom of speech, freedom to worship freely (or to not worship not at all), and basic privacy.
One thing that’s for sure in this modern era is that a nations problem is a global problem. Modern individualism has trapped us in ourselves, our city, our country, and this has clouded our empathy for the outside world, making us lose sight of how similar the problems are that very different countries are facing: a problem that doesn’t develop the same way everywhere, but undoubtedly stems from the same root: the housing crisis in the United States and Mexico.
Kentucky is known as a very conservative state, but we discovered two years ago that even progressives represent constituencies in so-called “red” states! Most conservative states have cities that are heavily progressive, particularly the largest city in each state. In Kentucky, that city is Louisville. Sarah Stalker (she/her), is a representative from Louisville to the Kentucky House of Representatives. First elected in 2022, she won re-election in 2024 and is running again in 2026. Sarah believes in putting the environment and the working class over profits and capital gains, to the point that she encourages mutual aid, trading and bartering, and thrifting as much as possible for environmental reasons, cost effectiveness and to avoid participating in capitalism. She is also a huge proponent of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives.
Since moving to New York City for the summer at the beginning of the month, I have reveled in all the new freedoms and opportunities the city has to offer. Of course, this city’s reputation for being overcrowded, humid and, at times, a little dirty precedes it, and staying sustainable and clean can seem like a challenge.
Freya Everest is a London-born musician with strong electronic and folk influences that are inspired by other lyrically-focused women like Florence Welch, Lily Allen and Joni Mitchell. She advocates passionately for women’s rights, trans protection, mental health awareness, and the promotion of he Green Party. Her music career is just officially getting off the ground, but her storytelling abilities shine through her debut single “Monique” that dropped in May.
Luckily, a crop of progressive women are challenging the status quo in Texas. One such candidate is Diana Loya (she/her), a Latina millennial educator and mother in the rural Texas Panhandle. As a public school teacher, education is one of the foundations of her campaign, along with a level economic playing field, where government supports the needs of the working class, and not the 1%, and where taxpayer dollars go towards building infrastructure that benefits the people, and not right back into billionaires’ pockets.
Lauren Gottshall is a “true Chicago girl at heart.” and knows the value of working hard to give back to the communities that made her the artist she is today. Her songs uniquely reflect her experiences and stories and she wants to find topics with every one she writes. She has dedicated her time and effort towards fights for literacy and cancer research and believes positivity is key to success.
Integra Pink is a Southern California-based band that specializes in delivering the unexpected. Whether that means playing with all different genres from punk to disco, or constantly raising the bar for immigration advocacy, they know exactly who they are as musicians and advocates. Their work with immigration rights organizations like CHIRLA is inspired and their music makes people believe in a more optimistic future.
New Mexico is a state of wide open spaces, but most people in the state live in and around the largest city, Albuquerque. In the small section of city that encompasses La Mesa, Trumbull Village, and the International District, Janelle Anyanonu (she/her) has been the state representative for the past three and a half years. A former member of the New Mexico Black Central Organizing Committee, Janelle is descended from Nigerian immigrants and has spent her whole life in the state. During her first term in the House, this millennial Burqueña was one of five sponsors of legislation to protect abortion rights and gender-affirming care in New Mexico; the law passed and became the Reproductive and Gender-Affirming Health Care Freedom Act, ensuring access to healthcare denied to millions of others in many of the surrounding states. Janelle sings in the choir of St. John’s Episcopal Cathedral in Albuquerque and is an avid embroiderer of blackwork and cross-stitch projects.
Oregon-based punk band, Triple Lutz, embraces a lack of labels in everything they pursue. Their music and their identities are constantly evolving and changing beyond what can be seen inside the box. They work closely with organizations that promote mentorship and community among musicians of all kinds to spread their sound and make connections.
There has been recent talk of a Blue Wave coming for Texas. Texas has seemed tantalizingly close for Democrats for over a decade now, always on the cusp of becoming a “blue” state. Indeed, there are more Democrats in the US House of Representatives from Texas than any state except for California, New York, and Illinois. In the Texas House of Representatives, there are 62 (out of 150), or over 40%.
Texas’ 30th District, a sprawling district between Houston and San Antonio, is currently held by a Republican, but Democrats are betting that the district will flip in 2026, to Crystal Sedillo (her/she), a millennial Latina mother of six who is native to the district and has a background in education. Crystal is very active in local activism, advocating for her neighbors by working to stop the building of data centers, create free programs for schoolchildren, and prevent local African American history from being erased. In her campaign platform, Crystal is most passionate about preserving and expanding civil rights and workers’ rights and exposing corruption. Her priorities include strengthening public education, expanding access to affordable health care, protecting voting rights, and creating economic opportunities in underserved communities.
Before 2016, the last time Wisconsin had voted for a Republican was in 1984. If, like me, you are wondering what caused the transformation from a solidly Democratic state in presidential elections to one that supported a right-wing candidate, the answer has something to do with Wisconsin’s labor history. Once the only state that voted for the Progressive Party in 1924, and a state where Socialist Eugene V. Debs won over 11% of the vote in 1920, the reason for Wisconsin’s progressive politics had to do with the strength of organized labor in the state, and the support of workers for candidates who were solidly pro-worker. But in the 21st Century, with the systematic dismantling of unions’ power in the state, along with the rise of grievance politics that struck a nerve with disempowered workers, many in the working class in Wisconsin ironically decided to politically support the same party that took away their power.
We are hoping that change starts now, with the re-empowerment of the working class by progressive politicians. Francesca Hong (she/her), is one such candidate. Fran is a millennial State Assemblywoman and is running for Governor as a Democratic Socialist. Fran is solidly working class - in addition to her job as a lawmaker, she is a line cook and bartender in a restaurant. Fran’s platform is all about providing more for the working class: universal childcare, paid leave for all, fairer cheaper healthcare, and fully funded public education. In addition, she advocates for the abolition of ICE, and introduced legislation aimed to “protect Wisconsin residents from the terroristic overreaches of DHS’s occupation of our communities.”
Notep is an electronic musician from Thailand who obtains inspiration and power through the beauty of the oceans, the coral reefs, and nature as a whole. PAKARANG is her upcoming Earth Day-themed EP that details how humanity and nature are one and the same more than they are opposites. She has done work with many environmental organizations including her own initiative called High on Your Own Supply that promotes environmentalism and sustainability to the younger generation through events, projects and lessons.
Amanda Gonzalez (she/her), is running for Colorado Secretary of State this year. A bisexual millennial attorney, she is currently the Clerk and Recorder for Jefferson County, Colorado. Amanda is a member of the Colorado Hispanic Bar Association, Colorado Women's Bar Association, and Colorado LGBTQ+ Bar Association. She is running to protect every Coloradan’s vote from interference, expand voting rights, and keep Colorado’s election system secure.
Maren Davidsen is a Norwegian singer and songwriter who blends Nordic Americana with country influences to tell stories of growth and change both in her relationship with others and her relationship with herself. She discusses her latest single releases, how she balances existing in so many places at once and what her debut album means to her. She is passionate about encouraging empathy and aid for the homeless in her country and beyond.
The group Justice Democrats is a progressive campaign finance reform organization that endorses candidates who refuse to accept donations from corporate PACs and lobbyists. This year, they are primarily running in states like New York, California, and Illinois, but one endorsed candidate is running in Colorado: Melat Kiros (she/her), a Gen Z former attorney. Melat was born in Ethiopia and immigrated with her family to the United States at the start of the Ethiopian-Eritrean War. In the middle of this campaign for US Congress, she is also working on a PhD in Public Affairs. A one-time barista who worried about making rent, Melat has first-hand experience as a working-class woman and brings that experience to her campaign, which is centered on Medicare for All, abolishing ICE, getting big money out of politics, housing as a human right, and holding AI companies accountable before they eliminate entire workforces without a safety net.
Stanford Fraser (he/him), a Black millennial public defender. A graduate of Howard University in Washington, DC and Harvard Law School, Stanford is a die-hard Game of Thrones fan and Pokemon card collector. He has testified to the state government regarding legislation to ban no-knock warrants, require body cameras for police, and decriminalize drug possession. A former Amnesty International volunteer, he organized area college students and led protests to abolish Maryland’s death penalty, which Maryland did that same year. Today, Stanford’s platform rests on the pillars of criminal justice reform, overhauling healthcare, and lowering utility bills for Prince George’s residents.
Despite our dependence on cellphones and social media, many people are feeling lonelier and more disconnected than ever. In a technology-driven world, real social connections can feel rare. But your social wellness matters more than you realize. Here are some ways you can build community and meaningful connections.
Kelli Blanchett will seduce you with her soft sad melodies as she shares her life through her music. As a survivor of chronic illness she is a passionate advocate of disability rights and representation. We are excited about her new album Casual Dining, and had the opportunity to discuss it and her humanitarian work with her here.
Raaheela Ahmed (she/her) is a millennial South Asian woman who is the former president of the Prince George’s County Board of Education. Raaheela formerly served as the Student Regent on the University System of Maryland Board of Regents, representing more than 150,000 students across 12 public universities. Raaheela is a badass: she got her motorcycle license while in high school and played rugby for three years during college. Yet she also loves being near bodies of water and aims to visit every US National Park in her lifetime. A democratic socialist, this lover of cheesecake is basing her campaign around strengthening public schools, expanding access to affordable healthcare and housing, and protecting working families.
After the election of mayor Zohran Mamdani in 2025, the Democratic Socialists of America are flexing their muscle in races all over New York City, putting forward 10 candidates at the federal and state levels. One of these candidates is Christian Celeste Tate (he/him), a biracial millennial consultant who works with nonprofits to fight poverty, reduce inequality, and bring about social change. Christian’s platform calls for abolishing ICE, fighting predatory real estate investors, taxing the rich, and using grassroots organizing and electoral campaigning to build a socialist movement across the city.
Azadeh Afsahi fled Iran as a child, but her country never left her heart. She just realizes that it and the people there, especially the women, need help. Ergo, she started Iran House, and more recently Afghanistan House. These houses are build to help survivors from Iran and Afghanistan navigate the traumas they have been through, start their long journeys to heal, and help support the people there as much as possible.
New York’s progressives are not all concentrated in the city. They exist all over the state, particularly in upstate New York cities like Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Ithaca, and Binghamton. Dan Livingston (he/him), a millennial former city councilmember, dropped out of college during the Iraq War in the early 2000s and hitchhiked across America and Canada for two years. Dan’s despair over the war turned to resolve, and he returned to college and became politically active. He founded a Habitat for Humanity chapter, organized relief trips to hurricane-hit Louisiana and Mississippi, and worked for several organizations which provided meals to the hungry. In later years he protested at the Occupy Wall Street and Standing Rock protests.
On the Binghamton city council, Dan advocated for collective bargaining rights, creating apprenticeship programs in public schools to encourage young people to go into the trades, and he successfully fought back against a privatization scheme at a wastewater treatment plant, keeping the workers there unionized. Today, his platform is fourfold: taxing the rich, providing clean water for all, ensuring affordable housing, and protecting immigrants from ICE. Dan is running on the Working Families Party ticket, and he has been endorsed by Bernie Sanders.
Fitzroy Holt’s soulful music will leave you with hope and recognition. For someone who thinks everyone has been a bastard at some point he is very generous, giving back to organizations for kids with cancer and mental health. Read on to learn more about Fitzroy Holt.
Evan Smith (he/him) is a Gen Z democratic socialist candidate running from southern Maryland running for Delegate. He is the communications director of the Young Democrats of Southern Maryland. A former D2 track athlete, Evan is primarily focusing on public transit and the affordability crisis in his campaign. Should he be elected, he will be the youngest delegate and the only one born in the 21st Century.
From Madrid to Nashville Juana Everett has captured our hearts with her soft Americana vibe, with a little bit of Spanish flair. You wont regret letting her music wash over you and take you along on her journey as you read on to learn more about her, her music, and her volunteer work with World Central Kitchen.
Ericka Kopp (she/her), is a multi-racial (Black, Hispanic, and white) bisexual millennial attorney in suburban Richmond. Ericka has worked in the Richmond Public Defender’s Office and Wrongful Convictions Clinic, getting a wrongfully imprisoned man released. A 2026 Courage Candidate, this ice hockey player is centering her campaign on free universal healthcare (Medicare for All) and free public education from pre-K through post-secondary schooling.
With the rise of online sales and the allure of new trends, it’s easy to fall into the cycle of buying, wearing and discarding clothes. Fast fashion relies on this constant consumption, and it takes a toll on the environment, from resource depletion to overflowing landfills.
Yuh-Line Niou (she/her), is a former New York Assemblywoman who is currently running for State Senate. This queer millennial was the first openly autistic representative in the New York State legislature. Born in Taiwan, she is an anti-poverty advocate and activist who has fought predatory lending and red-lining in New York’s neighborhoods. Yuh-Line has taken progressive stances on many issues, including Medicare for All, Taxing the Rich, the Green New Deal, and Abolishing ICE.
After learning her family history Hilary Giovale made an important decision to do better than her relatives. As a sensitive soul she understands the damage white settlers did to the natives and the blacks that were enslaved along the way. She wants to help others understand this history as well through her book, Becoming a Good Relative. Please read on to learn more about Hilary Giovale and her journey.
Amaris Dordar (she/her) is a younger millennial and Chicana mujer. Born at the very tail end of the millennial generation, she is a first-generation college graduate, having gone to Yale for her Bachelor’s and Harvard for her Master’s. Amaris is an attorney who speaks multiple languages, including Spanish (fluently), as well as Mandarin, Hindi, and Tibetan. A lover of yoga and hiking, she passionate about affordable housing, environmental sustainability, wildfire prevention, LGBTQ+ equality, expanding access to healthcare and mental health services, and creating economic opportunities for working families and small business owners. Exploring Los Angeles’ diverse cultural communities has focused Amaris on practical, community-centered solutions to homelessness and climate resilience across Los Angeles County.
Mai Khoi went from golden album pop star to exile just for standing up for the rights of her people in Vietnam. As Americans we take for granted our right to free speech and to protest. But we now have Mai Khoi helping us to fight to keep that right in America too. Mai Khoi has some of the most incredible rang of a singer I have ever heard. Her songs range from metal banshee to jazz to surreal art. With her new album, Five Years in Exile, just coming out you don’t want to miss it or seeing her live, if you can. But for now, read on to learn more about this absolutely fascinating woman and her art!
America is supposedly the land of opportunity, although it doesn’t feel like that nowadays. But that opportunity is not gone. Shonique Williams (she/her), is a perfect example of that. Raised by a disadvantaged mother on welfare, Shonique was wrongfully convicted and imprisoned while trying to escape an abusive relationship. She fought against her imprisonment and was released after a year. In the aftermath, she founded an advocacy organization to help prevent the same thing that happened to her from happening to others.
This millennial progressive advocate is running on a platform centered on civil rights, with a focus on Black, Brown, and marginalized communities, alongside economic justice and making California more affordable and sustainable for everyday people. Her top priorities include affordability, sustainability, and criminal justice reform, including living wages, affordable housing expansion, Medicare for All, and universal childcare and pre K, but her wide platform includes abolishing ICE, ending mass incarceration, and protecting California’s natural environment.
From milky vocals to lyrics that touch your soul, Danni Nicholls will wrap her music around you with her songs that will inspire your own journey. When Danni isn’t creating music or living through the experiences that inspire her music, she is advocating for kids, the arts, or playing at benefits. To learn more about Danni Nicholls, please read on!
Late last year, voters in California voted to enact a mid-cycle redistricting campaign. This means that California’s US Congressional districts would be re-drawn to enact fairness and balance out Republican power grabs across the country. US Republican Congressman Kevin Kiley was moved from the 3rd District to the 6th District. In California’s election system, the top two candidates in a primary election move forward to the general election, regardless of party affiliation.
Today, Lauren Babb Tomlinson (she/her), is running for this seat. A millennial mother, Lauren is also a Chief Public Affairs Officer for Planned Parenthood. Lauren’s platform centers on expanding access to healthcare, strengthening protections for women and workers, and preventing price gouging.
After eight years, there is a wholesale changing of state government in California this year. Both the governor and lieutenant governor positions are open, and there is a large group of candidates for both offices. Today we are interviewing Janelle Kellman (she/her), a gay woman who is the former mayor of Sausalito. She is an environmental attorney and the founder and CEO of the nonprofit Center for Sea Rise Solutions. A passionate climate justice warrior, Janelle points out that the Lieutenant Governor sits on the State Lands Commission and the Coastal Commission. The lieutenant governor also sits on the University of California Board of Regents, the California State University Board of Trustees, and the Commission for Economic Development. Through these positions, Janelle plans to use the power of the office to to advance climate resilience, public education, housing, good jobs, and a more equitable economy.
This cycle, we are profiling another candidate, Angela Gonzalez-Torres (she/her), a Chicana millennial and community organizer in Los Angeles. She is running in the Congressional district that represents both Downtown and East Los Angeles. After time working on the Highland Park Neighborhood Council, Metro’s Public Safety Advisory Committee, and in the LA Mayor’s office, this district native is now running a grassroots, student-led, community-informed campaign to face the challenges of the highest costs of incarceration, the dirtiest air in Los Angeles County, and the largest number of eviction notices in the city. Angela’s top campaign issues include housing for all, economic dignity and security, healthcare for all, climate action, education and youth empowerment, immigration reform and community advocacy, and a pro-peace foreign policy.
Mexican-American artist Mariel Méndez (MARALOVE) views art as a way to understand the world around her. She utilizes painting, photography, and styling as her means of expression. For her, inspiration can be found within emotion and intuition. Passionate about ocean conservation, she’s worked with organizations like Azul and Kilómetro Uno. To learn more about MARALOVE and her art, read on.
In the 2024 presidential election, South Texas (particularly the Rio Grande Valley), voted overwhelmingly for Donald Trump, after over 100 years of voting solidly Democratic. The reasons were myriad: overwhelming inflation and a sputtering local economy, Trump’s machismo appealed to young male voters in the region, and widespread exhaustion with decades of illegal immigration. Well, we see what Trump’s presidency has wrought: increasing inflation and a sputtering local economy, a deranged machismo bordering on reckless insanity, and the wholesale deportation of both undocumented and documented immigrants alike (as well as several US citizens) from the Rio Grande Valley.
Esmeralda Cantu-Castle (she/her) is running to change all that. Esmi was first encouraged to run for political office in the aftermath of the brutal murder of her daughter, a Navy Seaman, last year, by a fellow sailor who kept her body for four days before dumping it in the woods behind an elementary school in Norfolk, Virginia. Esmi is passionate about supporting others, particularly workers, families, and veterans. This millennial mom is running to ensure that women in her district are afforded access to contraception and reproductive healthcare. Dismayed at how Elon Musk’s SpaceX corporation has willfully polluted South Texas, she is also running on a strong environmental platform that protects both the land and water of the Rio Grande Valley.
Singaporean singer-songwriter Charlie Lim recently released his new single “Nobody’s Home,” an intensely vulnerable track that offers a taste of his upcoming album “DAYDREAM.” The album is set to release towards the end of this year and touch on themes of regret and responsibility. Beyond music, Lim is an active advocate for cancer, supporting organizations like Singapore’s Children’s Cancer Foundation and Make-A-Wish Singapore. To learn more about Charlie Lim and his upcoming album, read on.
This article is about Caitlyn Gegen (she/her), a Gen-Z graduate of the University of Georgia and resident of Suwanee, and our best fight against Andrew Clyde. Caitlyn’s top three political issues are human rights, affordable living, and universal healthcare. She says, “by human rights, I mean the right to vote, a woman’s right to her own body, and the right to due process. To protect all of these rights, we need representatives who will bring an inclusive approach to policy making, and are willing to improve the democratic institutions in our country.” Caitlyn’s platform includes raising the federal minimum wage to at least $15 an hour, pushing for universal healthcare, investing in clean energy projects across Georgia, and breaking up corporate monopolies to help small businesses and consumers.
London-based alternative duo Joel X Eleanor is a distinctive collaboration. Their most recent release, a double single release tilted “Garden Plot / Something Strange,” lean into differing ideas about love, creating an addictive push and pull. Beyond music, the two are passionate advocates for animals, contributing monthly donations to organizations like Cats Protection and Dogs Trust. To learn more about Joel X Eleanor and their new music, read on.
Lilliana Young (she/her) is a millennial trans woman who identifies as a Democratic Socialist. Describing herself as “extremely gay”, she does not shy away from the LGBTQ+ label, in a state that is generally not friendly to the LGBTQ+ community. But that is not deterring her. As a member of the Bloomington/Monroe County Human Rights Commission (BMCHRC), Lilliana is invested in expanding socialist policies in Indiana, from public housing options, to expanding and strengthening state Medicaid, and she has also had success strengthening local protections for LGBTQ+ persons in her hometown of Bloomington. A bass guitarist, she has technical experience as a writer and script editor, trailer editor, music producer, marketing lead and community manager in indie game development. Lilliana is basing her campaign around six main issues: wage and worker’s rights, access to housing, access to health care, strengthening public education, accountability of government and human rights.
Indie-pop artist Will Hyde released his new single, “better without me,” an emotional collaboration with singer-songwriter Stephanie Poetri. The single is a raw reflection of the decision of whether to let go or not in a relationship. Beyond music, Hyde is an avid advocate for mental wellness and even created his own video series titled “Really Mental.” To learn more about Will Hyde and his new music, read on.
We are pleased that this cycle, there are so many young progressive women running for elected office in the Indiana legislature (we have profiled several so far)! This week we are adding Kirsten Root (she/her) to that number. A bisexual Gen-Z social worker, Kirsten wants to restore trust and humanity to government. The values that guide her are service, partnerships, integrity, dignity, competence, and social justice. Kirsten’s platform includes universal healthcare, legalization of marijuana, empowering and protecting marginalized communities, strengthening labor unions, and focusing on prevention and rehabilitation over punitive treatment.
Actress, producer, and filmmaker Brittany McVicker stars as Emma in “Terri Joe: Missionary in Miami,” a film that was just listed in a Variety top 10 list. She’s also slated for a lead role in the upcoming thriller Kill Trip set to release this summer. Beyond the screen, she’s a passionate advocate for the Vasculitis Foundation. To learn more about Brittany McVicker and her upcoming projects, read on.
Indiana is known as one of the most solidly Republican states in the country. But it does not necessarily need to be. Indiana has a long and proud tradition of manufacturing, supported by labor unions who made the state a notable center of steel production, automotive production, pharmaceuticals, and other heavy manufacturing. Indiana is a state with a large working-class population, and in recent years the rights of working-class people have been rolled back by Republican governors and the legislature through weakening of labor unions’ strength (becoming a right-to-work state in 2012), cutting food aid, and cutting access to child care.
Victoria Martz (she/her) is a bisexual millennial criminal defense lawyer who grew up on a farm in rural southeastern Indiana. Her experiences on the farm taught her the value of hard work and the dignity of owning one’s own labor. Victoria’s campaign focuses on workers’ rights, the legalization of marijuana (building tax revenue for the state to expand social programs), and creating public service programs for mental health.
In a time in history when every turn feels bleaker than the next there is a ray of hope emerging to help ride us in this fight to do good and care about each other. The Neighborhood Kids started out as just kids who wanted to make hip hop, but they couldn’t stay quiet to the injustices in the world. Now they are know as, and perfectly named their first album, the “Voice of the Revolution”. And with 233K followers on Instagram alone and millions of views, this generation is listening and ready. We are hungry and tired of the injustice, and there is nothing like a good beat to get us amped up to take on the world. Because if we don’t do it, no one will. Read on to get to know the Neighborhood Kids, their music, and the many nonprofits they work with better.
Karen Alzate (she/her/ella), grew up in the United States under that shadow, so this issue is not new, it has just been dialed up. While in high school, Karen’s Colombian father was detained for eight months before being released. Then six years later, he was deported. Today, as a Rhode Island Representative, Karen stands up for the rights of immigrants to ensure they are treated humanely and with dignity. In the State House, she was a lead sponsor of the Millionaires Tax, and she has led legislation on women’s health, particularly menopause, going so far as to appear on The Real Housewives of Rhode Island to discuss menopause legislation.