"Black people’s hairstyles can change — but our hair is a foundational part of who we are." Thanks to Toella Pliakas for coming to Washington Post Opinions with this excellent op-ed. washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…

Yes, we need a law protecting Black people against hair discrimination, Toella Pliakas writes in a guest opinion wapo.st/3vbpmPX

Toella Pliakas: “Yes, we need a law protecting Black people against hair discrimination.” #CrownAct washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…

Please understand that over 1,000 cops were added to the subway system in the past couple months, meaning there are over 3,500 subway cops in NYC. And this tragedy still happened. We desperately need to think beyond police when it comes to public safety.

In the The Washington Post today, for an important piece about the Crown Act and politicisation of Black hair. Ty Danielle Kunitz for the opportunity Writer: Toella Pliakas

Read our own Youth Engagement Fellow Toella Pliakas in Washington Post Opinions on the need for the CROWN Act's ban on hair discrimination! washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/…

"The historical politicization of hair has created stereotypes and biases that affect Black people’s ability to thrive, and our laws do not adequately address this discrimination," Toella Pliakas writes in a guest opinion wapo.st/3jxboCF

Some legislators have called the Crown Act trivial. They're wrong, Toella Pliakas writes in a guest opinion: wapo.st/37HrFCm

The Crown Act seeks to provide legal protection for Black people and other minorities who face discrimination based on their hair, Toella Pliakas writes in a guest opinion: wapo.st/3O5Q8SF

“The specificity of that critique. I looked down, becoming increasingly self conscious of standing up there next to Marinette. I began to imagine how the students in this class would remember this moment.” -from "Early Bird", a story by Toella Pliakas. alonghouse.com/early-bird/

My first piece of fiction was published last weekend. I’ve been too much of a scaredy cat to share it until now. If you read it let me know what you think! And be sure check out the rest of the Origins issue of A Long House! alonghouse.com/early-bird/

Just released: The Youth Advisory Committee’s Bill of Rights to Support the Mental Health of Girls of Color in Schools! The Youth Advisors deem these 5 rights fundamental to meeting girls’ mental health needs. Read the Bill of Rights: bit.ly/mentalhealthbor #ProtectOurPsyche

Listen to girls: Our Youth Advisors demand the right to police-free schools. Schools must be places where girls and gender-expansive youth of color are supported, rather than criminalized. #ProtectOurPsyche

It’s hard to accept that the U.S. is heading towards democratic collapse. So, I photoshopped some potential headlines to show #WhatsToCome if we don’t act now…

NEW RELEASE: Millions of young people shoulder significant caregiving duties at home, especially during the pandemic. This work is unpaid, unrecognized, and understudied–and it is disproportionately carried out by girls. Read our new report now. bit.ly/caretakingrepo…

At the time, I was growing increasingly concerned that 1) no Black editors for feature pieces existed then at the The New Yorker; and 2) this meant that almost none of the longform feature pieces—those sent up for Pulitzers, etc.—had been edited by a Black editor in nearly 15 years.

“We have burned down the house of mental health in this city, and the people you see on the street are the survivors who staggered from the ashes.” nytimes.com/2022/12/07/opi…