Urban Issues
Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, New York, New Jersey and Philadelphia are among the cities News21 reporters visited to dig into broad social, economic and cultural issues that signal change in the United States.
- Pentecostals Ascendant in L.A.'s Little Central America
Los Angeles houses the largest community of Central Americans outside of Central America itself. More and more, members of that community have traded their traditional Catholic roots for new, Pentecostal lives. Of the 5,000 Hispanic churches within the city, 94 percent are now Pentecostal, and the greater the number of converts, the more that Guatemalan, El Salvaradoran and Honduran contingent will change the identity of Christianity in this southwestern metropolis. - Children of Immigrants Face Struggle
The children of immigrants in California carry the legacy of their parents’ sacrifices and the promise of a better future for themselves and the state. But breaking free from cycles of poverty is a debilitating struggle. Latino youth in both Los Angeles and the iconic farm worker city of Delano face rigid barriers to social ascension. - Arab-Americans Education Their Own
With a mission to maintain students' Arab and American identities, Star International Academy reflects the conservative values of Dearborn Heights, Mich. - Fighting Battles: Latinos in the Military
Fighting Battles tells the stories of Latinos and their experiences in the military, from the first non-citizen U.S. soldier killed in Iraq to an activist who is trying to counter the military’s recruitment efforts in heavily Latino communities. The stories are told in video, text and photos. A Flex/Flash presentation is used to present data in a visually compelling way. - Newark Up Close: Tale of Two Charters
In Newark, N.J., two very different charter schools iare competing for similar resources, space and students. One is rooted in the community of Newark; the other belongs to a national network. One is led by Newark educators, the other by out-of-town Teach for America alumni. One has plans to stay small, the other has aggressive plans to expand. One wants to change how children learn, the other aims to prepare them for life. One needs money, the other — not so much. Together, Discovery Charter and the KIPP middle schools frame a debate percolating beneath the charter school explosion. - Are For-Profit Schools Dead? Not in Cyberspace
For investors in the education sector, memories of the trials and tribulations of Edison Schools and other early education management companies may still be fresh. Even though doubts may linger, though, for-profit education management companieshave grown steadily over the years. Indeed, reports of the death of education management organizations have been greatly exaggerated. They are alive and thriving in a new realm: cyberspace. - Behind the Newark Charter School Fund
When the Newark Charter School Fund was announced in April 2008, it certainly created a splash. True, Newark schools had been getting increased attention with the election of its young, Ivy-educated mayor, Cory Booker. Several Newark schools had been commended on their own merits. But the creation of the $20 million fund placed Newark squarely on the education reform stage, primed to attract big private money. Since then, Fund officials have immersed themselves in the Newark education scene, getting to know the players and the schools and ascertaining needs. - One Less Bell to Answer: Auditing Charters
It’s been four years since the New York State Legislature authorized the State Comptroller to audit all public schools, including charter schools. And almost two years since the charter schools began their constitutional challenge to that legislation. Now, the charter schools have an answer. Sort of. Yes, the New York Court of Appeals said, the charter schools were right. They don’t have to be audited by the state comptroller. For now, but that could change. - Newark: Welcome to the Renaissance City
Since riots racked the city in the 1960s, Newark has endured several aborted attempts at revival. Recent developments, though, are leading residents and visitors alike to believe that they may now be witnessing a rebirth with traction, stemming from an unlikely place. While investment opportunities in real estate and business have certainly caught the attention of glitterati, it’s the city’s charter schools that have captured the imagination of philanthropists and policy wonks alike. - Newark Schools Fight Back Against Charters
Challenged by a growing number of high-performing charter schools within its bounds, the Newark, N.J., public school district announced an ambitious plan to turn around its schools to create a system that is bolder, more accountable, more transparent and more innovative. - The New Town Square
Explore with resident from three Northern California towns as they struggle to define community in an increasingly suburbanized landscape. This short introductory video blends old techniques (stop motion animation) with the digital platform. Other elements in the package include an interactive map illustrating how these three towns have grown and changed over the last century, and a series of maps where residents describe the places where they find their community. - Careers: A Diverse Generation Explores its Choices
"What do we want to do when we grow up? Oh, wait, that's now! " This project explores how young people use technology and creativity to start their careers, even in tough economic times. - Community: A Diverse Generation Explores its Choices
Young people, from artists to activists, organize themselves around shared experiences or values to connect with each another. - 51st and Telegraph: Exploring a California Intersection
A busy north Oakland intersection provides a glimpse into the issues facing this gentrifying community. A 360-degree “portal” span of the intersection offers macro- and microscopic looks into property battles, commerce, diversity, transportation and urban landscaping. Includes a blog for residents passing through the intersection to post messages. - BARThood: 4 Bay-Area Neighborhoods Up Close
This project focuses on four neighborhoods, visualizing demographic data of ridership and aggregating content and news about each area. Includes interactive charts and graphs, slide shows and custom feeds that combine up-to-the-minute Google blogs, Google News, Twitter and Yelp posts specific to each station. - Sibling Dynamics in Immigrant Families
This series, through the voices of several adult children of immigrants, explores what happens when the next generation’s culture and values collide. Video, text, photos. - This Muslim-American Life:
A six-story package explores the lives of second-gen Muslim-Americans from various perspectives: culture, arts, community, young adults’ activist, artistic voices and more. Text, video, graphics. - Food, Faith and Bacon (now there's a holy trinity)
kThere are Hindus who haven’t set foot in a temple in a decade, but still refuse to order a burger. And Muslims who smoke and drink, but won’t eat a pork chop. And Jews who haven’t been to synagogue for awhile still pick bacon bits out of Cobb salad. Text, glossary. - Coming Out Atheist:
As teens, young nonbelievers start thinking that it just doesn’t make sense anymore, and for years, it’s their secret… then, in college, surrounded by more open-minded peers, they come out of the dark, still-stigmatized atheist closet. Text, charts, video, sidebars. - For the Love: Professional Passions of Six Adults
A half-century ago it was a white picket fence, 2.5 kids and a secure job to support them. Today it encompasses the hopes of a constantly changing America, and what constitutes a successful life is a definition that’s just as volatile. Ask five young people what they hope to accomplish as adults, and you’ll likely get five very different answers. Video, text. - The Detour Years:
A series of podcasts explores less-traditional post-college experiences like moving to a small Texas artists’ enclave, joining VISTA and taking an extended road trip. Photos, audio. - Health Care Options and the Young:
Most college graduates bid farewell to their insurance plans the same day they bid farewell to their alma mater. But some states and private insurance companies are addressing the increasing numbers of uninsured young adults with programs or laws to make the transition to the working world a little easier, and healthier. The question is whether these policies are enough. Text, photos, video, graphics.
