Public Service Organizations

Fall 2020

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Demands on Nonprofit Groups Rose in the Pandemic, Even as Volunteering Fell

A new study found that two-thirds of all volunteers had started giving less of their time or stopped entirely.

The article in the New York Times shows how valuable volunteers are to any non-profits organization. Since the start of the  pandemic  most Non-profit Organizations are affected due to the lack of people wanting to give their time and effort through volunteering. The loss is significant during a time where the need becomes greater. Some non-profits however, has benefitted through virtual volunteering in cases of remote counselling to home bound individuals. While others had to shutter their doors from the lack of support.

Change is hard at the heart of volunteering since people power is so important. The cost of replacing volunteers for paid work has been demanding on operations cost and will eventually translate to fewer services and programs being offered. In addition to the loss of money and efforts there is a decline in people interactions and through service that has left a void in those who love o serve.

#Volunteers#Essential

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Group Seeking Equality for Women in Tech Raises $11 Million

The nonprofit organization, All Raise, is working on an expansion, as diversity in the tech industry remains elusive.

A group of female Venture Capitalist formed a non-profit called Raised after years of frustration, with a focus on women’s equality. The group built a network of 20,00 people across four  U.S. Tech Hubs. Raised include backers such as Melinda Gates Foundation and Reid Hoffman Foundation raising over four million dollars. This funding will provide and support peer groups, boot camps and mentorship programs for females and nonbinary investors. The efforts by Raised to empower women in tech is far reaching and should be duplicated by others. Women are oftentimes discourage from this industry that is dominate with men influences. Providing support will change the trajectory of women and young who aspire to enter the field.

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Helping the Environment, One Small Sensor at a Time

New York City nonprofits are using a cloud-based service from the start-up Temboo that helps monitor storm-water runoff and other environmental factors.

Several New York City Non-profit organizations are using cloud based technology to improve cost while improving local water and air quality. This move was supported especially during the Covid-19 Pandemic since there was shift in the importance of the environment at this time. A TriBeCA-Based technology start up  called Temboo captures data from a sensors to help monitor a range of metrics in environmental and manufacturing sectors. Temboo creates system to collect data from sensors that are placed in soil to measure moisture levels to control irrigation systems.

There has been a growth in demand for environmental sensors signaling a growing demand. The goal is to incorporate sensors as part of a green infrastructure. This is an great achievement and a step forward in saving our planet in a time when our leaders are choosing to neglect efforts against our environment.

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New Jersey citizens will determine the fate of Marijuana becoming legal for recreation use after the  November 3rd 2020 election. The Governor of new jersey, Phil Murphey has been favorable towards making recreational marijuana use legal in the state. However based on the article in New Jersey local newspaper NJ.com, New Jersey’s  Assistant Commissioner of Health Jeff Brown states it will take months before legal recreation marijuana become available to the public. The delays would be due to licensing issues and the interpretation of the law. In addition to legal and licensing issues, there is also the concern of equity for all, social and racial equity is most important in this industry that has been plague with incarceration's of minority for possession offences. If recreationally marijuana become legal in the state of New Jersey the law must clearly state how this new business industry will function going forward.

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Wounded Warrior Project empowers post 9/11 American veterans, often of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, providing support to warriors wounded in combat and their families.

The Wounded warrior is a Non-Profit organization that provides services to veterans and service members who incurred physical or mental injury, illness or wound while in the military on or after September 11, 2001. With Veterans day approaching on November 11th I think it is very important to highlight the great work that this non-profit has been doing for Veterans, who severed when we needed them most. Some the wounds experienced by our veterans are invisible and ranges from depression to post-traumatic stress disorders. Wounded Warriors help to provide free services that help to reduce the burdens being experienced by the warrior giving support to their families. In addition to transitional services that provides support to veterans and their family who face the challenges of returning to civilian life

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NESFNJ

NESFNJ

Newark Emergency Services for Families is a Non-profit service provider in Essex County for over 40 years. Located in Newark, New Jersey NESF has been a pillar in the city of Newark. Providing services for individuals and families most of whom are experiencing financial hardship, homelessness, food insecurity and unemployment or under employment. The services provided by Newark Emergency Services for Families are designed to help provide the necessary resources to individuals and families that will lead to them sustainable life.

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N.J.'s drug epidemic continues unabated. How the public health crisis lurks in the shadow of the pandemic.

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, New Jersey faces another crisis.

In addition to the Covid-19 Pandemic, New Jersey continues to battle with the drug epidemic. There has been an 8% increase in the opioid overdoes cases since the start of the pandemic, adding to the many actions that  must be taken by the public health authorities. Public health authorities must consider the impact that quarantining can have on individuals, especially with the rise of depression. One can easily make the connection change in social activities depression and self medicating as a result to cope with the change of daily life as we know it.

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Not just Obamacare: How Supreme Court's conservative majority could remake American health care

The court will soon weigh cases that could shrink Medicaid or undermine Obamacare's marketplaces if the health care law survives.

Obamacare is once again under attacked of being stricken down, more so if Justice Amy Coney Barret is elected to the Supreme Court. Although Judge Coney Barret is considered conservative in her ideologies, this not always an indicator on how the justices in the past have and will vote. Meanwhile, no matter who wins the presidential election, the long running battle over Obamacare will continue after the we elect the president. However, if Joe Biden's wins the election it is anticipated that much of the trump healthcare policies will be rolled back.

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Children From Immigrant Families Are Increasingly the Face of Higher Education

U.S.-born children of immigrants or immigrant students raised in the United States accounted for nearly 60 percent of the growth in university enrollment since 2000.

With an increasing number children from immigrant families obtaining higher education, Admittedly, this will eventually change the economic and racial inequalities that has plagued many our  American institutions. The implications for the future and our workforce will look different. Studies have shown that college grads will earn 1 million  more over their lifetime than those with an high school diploma. Oftentimes, people’s earning power translates to better lifestyle and health outcomes. With this changing demographic students of immigrants will become more important and should be considered for jo opportunities that were not available to them.

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The pandemic is amplifying the U.S. anti-vaccine movement — and globalizing it

Social media and in-person rallies have been key in helping anti-vax advocates spread their message.

Long before there were talks of a global pandemic looming, anti-vaccine advocates had always supported  individuals who chooses not to get vaccinated or have their children vaccinated. In most cases Anti-vaccine advocates have used religious privilege's to avoid be mandated by school or the law. However, now that there is new vaccine being produced for the Corona virus and delays in obtaining approval from the FDA. There is an increase awareness globally and even more support for anti-vaccine advocates. The public’s  loss of confidence is evident and will directly impact the way the vaccine will be received. Of course, individuals mostly people in the United States will choose to exercise their right to choose or refuse this vaccine. The pandemic has heighten conspiracy theories even though this my be to our  own detriment. 

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Biden Says He Will Make Roe v. Wade ‘The Law Of The Land’

The Democratic nominee said he would work to enshrine abortion rights in federal law if the landmark Supreme Court decision is overturned.

Presidential Nominee Candidate Joe Biden has pledge if elected to codify Abortion Rights Law if elected. I would argue that this is in response to the newly nominated Supreme Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Ms. Cooney Barrett is known to be conservative in her values. There are discussions that her appointment will overturn Roe VS Wade. Presidential Nominee Joe Biden wants to make Roe Vs Wade a Federal Law, making the law of land. This would affect the ways in which women’s rights polices going forward  are implemented and interpreted. As well as prevent any future lawsuit infringing on a woman’s right to choose within the states.

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Analysis | Poll: USPS should be run like a public service, not a business, Americans say 2-to-1

The Postal Service continues to rate favorably despite recent delivery backlogs and President Trump’s attacks on voting by mail, according to the Washington Post-University of Maryland poll.

The new Post Master General Louis  DeJoy was hired in part, mostly due to his private sector experience. Mr. DeJoy’s position will require him to overall the post office operations similar that of a private business, resulting in several cut backs on service delivery and thousand of employees. However, the public views of the post office are favorable despite the recent cut backs in service. This should be noted by the current administration that the public still wants the service of the  post office. Moreover, the post remaining as a public service organization means cost to consumers will be affordable and access able to everyone. 

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The Children in the Shadows: New York City’s Homeless Students

More than 100,000 city public school students lack permanent housing, caught in bureaucratic limbo that often seems like a trap. This is what their lives are like.

There are more than 100,000 homeless children in New York City living in Homeless shelters on any given night. The COVID-19 Pandemic has made clear the challenges being experienced by families experiencing homelessness. The number of homeless children has increased to nearly 70% over the past decade, the pandemic has further exacerbated these numbers. Children are required to maintain isolation while navigating the various technological challenges of using limited online resources for learning. While being isolated, children are missing out on necessary resources such as breakfast and lunch that is served in school as well as connecting with teachers and friends. School for many homeless families provides a place of safety and means of child care while parents work or seek employment.