The Continuum is a monthly resource calendar brought to you by Designsake Studio.
Join us in our continued efforts to learn, act, and create with purpose. We recognize that progress is a process, change takes time, and our action must be constant. Together we stand, together we rise.
Despite more than 50 years of progressive movement towards equality based on a person’s gender identity and sexual orientation, the US has a long way to go. It wasn’t until 2015 gay marriage was legalized after the Supreme Court decreed it constitutional to grant “equal dignity in the eyes of the law” to same-sex couples. Only 10 years ago, were openly gay, lesbian, and bisexual people permitted to serve their country in the military. Today, LGBTQ Americans aren’t fully protected against discrimination in 29 states.
Blatant discrimination continues to exist on a state-to-state basis in the form of workplace intolerance, prejudice in the medical industry presenting unique obstacles to health care, and complicated laws that do not recognize surrogacy contracts between same-sex couples (just to name a few). As we celebrate Pride this month, let us remind ourselves of the need for acceptance and love for all humans and to proudly stand with the LGBTQ community in the fight for equity, dignity, and visibility.
The Asian American Pacific Islander community has long been excluded from the social justice conversation. Since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic and the racist stereotyping that resulted, hate crimes to the AAPI community are on the rise. Of the thousands of reported cases within the past year (disproportionately affecting elderly women), this is believed to only be a fraction of hate incidents that actually occur. These crimes include physical assault, verbal harassment, and civil rights violations.
Harmful stereotypes such as the ‘model minority’ perpetuate the notion that exclusivity exists within minority groups and disregard generations’ worth of blood, sweat and tears the AAPI community has contributed to American history. This month, join us in celebrating Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month by standing up against anti-Asian racism and showing your support to help heal the recent trauma this community has endured.
It’s been 10 years since Colorado became the first US state to legalize recreational marijuana. As of January 2021, 18 states have followed suit with at least partial legalization in the majority of those that remain. Legalization, however, is very different from decriminalization.
Drug offenses continue to be the leading cause of arrest in America- 1 in 5 of the 2.3 million people currently incarcerated in the United States, disproportionately affecting black and brown communities. A 2020 ACLU analysis reported Black individuals are 3.73x more likely to be arrested for marijuana possession. As we watch cannabis evolve into a multi-billion dollar industry, lining the pockets of white people in particular, let’s remind ourselves why we can’t talk about cannabis legalization without first understanding the imperative need for expungement and criminal justice reform.
Years of unsustainable agriculture have created a massive imbalance of carbon in our atmosphere, indelibly contributing to the devastating effects of climate change. But believe it or not, there is hope for the future of our planet… in the soil. Or at least that’s what proponents of regenerative farming suggest. Regenerative farming techniques can help rebalance carbon levels in our soil, biosphere, ocean and atmosphere, while ensuring the food we consume is healthy for our bodies and planet.
Join us this month as we explore where hope lies in the fight against climate change, figure out how we can reduce our personal impact on the environment, and learn how the greatest innovation may just be what’s been under our nose (or feet!) all along.
Black history month is upon us. Yes, for one short month each year, school curriculums in the U.S. pivot to the lessons of slavery and civil rights, to the stories of Black icons such as Rosa Parks, Martin Luther King and Frederick Douglass. But the truth is that without Black history, there would be no American history, so shouldn’t the lessons of Black history be taught and shared year round?
This February, our purpose is two-fold, while we dig into the history of Black history month, we’ve punctated our research with stories of Black joy. Rather than cover the history of inequity and violence faced by the Black community, let’s honor the resilience and creativity of these Americans. Join us this month as we challenge the lessons from our history books with resources that educate and inspire.
Over the past 4 years, an increasing percentage of Americans get news from social media, and as a result ‘fake news’ has become more than just a hashtag or meme. In 2021, misinformation has become a real threat to our our democracy.
This month, we’re debunking alt facts and learning how to check our sources, so that we can retweet and share with confidence. Join us in our efforts to avoid perpetuating blatant misinformation in an increasingly partisan and polarized America, and while you’re at it… you may as well educate your Uncle Jerry on how to do the same.
At last, the 2020 holiday season has arrived. With it, the usual anticipation of late night meals, celebratory drinking, and indulgent desserts… and maybe a few extra pounds. Rather than give into a tempting wave of self-loathing, let’s attempt to celebrate our body and mind, while cheersing to all it has done to get us through this year.
While we’re here, let’s take a good hard look at the subject of body image, self-worth, and representation of all body types—shape, color, and size.
Illustrations by Melinda Rodrigues.
Join us this month as we explore a subject that has been no stranger this year: Mental Health & Wellness. While only 1 in 5 people live with mental illness, we’ve all faced challenges that have negatively impacted our mental health at some point or another…did someone say global pandemic?
With this in mind, we’ve compiled the following resources with the goal of shifting the narrative around mental illness and treatment. If we’ve learned anything from 2020, it’s that prioritizing our own mental health benefits everyone.
This month our topic is a hefty one. But we can’t educate ourselves on the history of systemic racism and oppression in America without understanding intersectionality.
The identities on which we face privilege or oppression are multifaceted — our race, class, sexual orientation, gender, and physical ability all feed into the ways we move through the world. As part of our effort to become better allies within our communities, we are working to understand the overlapping biases that factor into our individual experiences. Join us.
With the 2020 Presidential Election fast approaching, there’s a lot of confusing rhetoric around how to exercise your right to vote. Wondering where (or if) you’re registered? Not sure what to expect on your ballot? Concerned your state might be a victim of gerrymandering? Want to understand more about voter suppression? We’ve got you.
This month, we’ve compiled a quick and dirty resource list to help cut out the noise and equip you with the information and education you need to rock the vote this November 3rd.
Let’s do this.
COVID-19 is exacerbating the many problems menstruators already face: lack of access, unfair taxes, gender inequity, extreme poverty, and education and health services.
Follow the links below to learn more about how period poverty affects menstruators around the world and how you can get involved to ensure period care is deemed essential to promote the health, dignity and welfare of ALL people who menstruate.
