Youth Alliance for Activism in Society

   First off, welcome to our first official newsletter! We are an organization focused on breaking the CWRU bubble by providing pertinent news to students and ways to get involved in these issues, both inside and out of campus. If you are interested in writing for our next issue, you can fill out this form or directly contact us at nrp63@case.edu.
 

Substandard Cleveland Housing

    In the past year, family homelessness in Cleveland has increased by 40% due to eviction increases and difficulties in finding adequately-paying jobs. Still, Cuyahoga County Homeless shelters and subsidized housing are constantly working over capacity, leaving thousands without help. It is important to remember that the causes of homelessness are often external, resulting from unexpected or unavoidable events. In Cuyahoga County, 18.2% live in poverty, putting people in inescapable cycles of eviction. A single mom must work 55 hours per week to afford a one-bedroom apartment; the minimum wage is not livable and housing is unattainable. Call at (216) 522-7095 or email HERE to express your opinion on this issue and potentially emphasize the importance of the Ohio Housing Trust Fund, a state program which provides assistance to develop and rehabilitate affordable housing, subsidize rent for low-income families and more.

   Consider interning at NEOCH, an organization striving to break the cycle of homelessness or look here to find a service opportunity here that fits your abilities. On campus, get involved with Habitat for Humanity, which aims to reduce substandard housing in our area.

Mental Health Awareness

   Instagram account @world_record_egg is a social media phenomenon that garnered prominent international attention since January 2019. The account’s owner—anonymous at the time—posted an unremarkable photo of an ordinary egg and encouraged followers to help break a new record for the most liked photo on Instagram. After widespread speculation about the significance behind the egg (having achieved the record, which stands at 52.9 million likes as of February 19), it was revealed following the Super Bowl that the egg, named Eugene, had “cracked under the pressure of social media” and encouraged others who had similar issues to seek help.

   The minds behind the Instagram account, a trio of London-based ad execs, have, through the influential power of social media, established an international platform to emphasise the importance of mental health. With a current follower count at 10.1 million, @world_record_egg is able to widely disseminate positive messages and resources to a worldwide audience. While considerable progress towards mental health awareness has been made in recent decades, mental illnesses and health continues to be misunderstood and stigmatised. Reaching out to get help for yourself or for others is an important part of self-care just as maintaining physical health and well-being is.

   For resources to get help, you can text the Crisis Text Line at 741741 if you're in a moment of personal crisis. Additionally, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline in the U.S. provides a toll-free number is 1-800-273-8255 for anyone in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.

   @world_record_egg also has the website https://www.talkingegg.info/ for mental health support resources.
   On campus, get involved by volunteering with NAMI Greater Cleveland, or the Cleveland Rape Crisis Center. Volunteer with Crisis Text Line by becoming a Crisis Counselor at crisistextline.org. More info can be found HERE and HERE.
 

International Student Internship Opportunities

   The “Buy American, Hire American” plan, an executive order Trump signed in April, limits the number of foreign workers in the U.S, as well as encourages American companies to hire US Citizens instead of foreigners. Various plans put in place make it more expensive to hire international students for internships, as well as questionable if they can even stay to work. Many applications auto-reject non-US citizens because of this. Less than 30 percent of international students obtain an internship or full-time job offer in the US, despite about 80 percent intending to. If you are affected by this, it is suggested to plan out internships up to a year in advance and focus on large, international companies so that you can be transferred to other offices if need be.
   Using the template given here, call at (216) 522-7095 or email HERE to express your opinion on this issue. SOURCE