Every time I think about the incident in Richmond I still can’t believe something like that could have happened. I still feel bad about it, but even more, I feel angry.  How can the school, or the adults monitoring the dance not catch that happening? For some reason teachers, society and the police are never around when you need them, then the police wonder why no one likes them.

Today, I was browsing the Internet and I saw that a witness decided to come out and speakon why he choose not do step in and help. Actually, there were two witnesses that came out. It’s funny they both probably don’t even know each other but have the same bull **** ass answer.  “I was scared.”

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 Editor’s Note: The recent violence at Ft. Hood and the high profile execution of the DC Snipermade one young writer reflect on the fine line between military and civilian violence. Valerie Klinker is a content producer for YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia.

 The U.S. military is turning men and women into killing machines. See, the government teaches our family our friends how to be killers, how to protect, and how to manipulate. But what it does not teach them is how to cope with all of the killing that people in the armed forces must endure.

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Editor's Note: One young mans tells his story of living on the street, his time on probation that set him up for failure, his dream of going to college and what he hopes his future job will be. This video is part of a collaborative series between YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia/New America Media and the California Research Bureau in honor of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Min Lee is a senior producer at YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia. 

Homeless Youth on Haight Street from New America Media on Vimeo.

Editor's Note: It isn't easy living in the streets. One young man shared his experience with constantly being harassed by cops while sleeping on the streets. He also expressed frustration with the lack of support and assistance for homeless youth. This video is part of a collaborative series between YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia/New America Media and the California Research Bureau in honor of National Homeless Youth Awareness Month. Min Lee is a senior producer at YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia. 

 Editor's Note: Lifetime, a non-profit organization that aims to empower low income parents, launched the 1st annual Single Mothers’ Achievement Awards, to promote the accomplishments of amazing women who have achieved the impossible as single mothers that often drive welfare policy in our country. Min Lee is a senior producer at YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia. 

Lifetime's 10th anniversary from New America Media on Vimeo.

Editor's Note: In the summer, Chris Brown pleaded guilty for attacking and abusing his then-girlfriend singer and pop icon Rihanna earlier this year. Brown was sentence to 180 days of community labor and briefly spoke about his actions on Larry King Live in August. Yesterday, Rihanna spoke for the first time on Good Morning America. We asked young people to watch a clip of Rihanna's interview and share their reactions on how Rihanna addressed the situation. These contributors are fall interns with YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia.

They Are Both At Fault

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 I Don't Want the Vaccine

Blog, Valerie Klinker,
Nov 03, 2009

Today I when came into work and got on the computer I came across a story that caught my attention. It was basically an article explaining the H1N1 virus. Well, actually it was talking about people who are at higher risk to catch the swine flu and it states their argument on why we need to get vaccinated.

I already knew about the swine flu being more of a risk for ages 18 to 22 year olds. Which means we are at higher risk to get the H1N1 virus. I think it has something to do with our immune system not being able to fight off the flu on its own, but I didn’t know that it’s also attacking little babies, children, the elderly, people with asthma or women who are pregnant.

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 Richmond Rape Victim Releases Statement at Vigil

Blog, Eming Piansay,
Nov 04, 2009

Last night at the candle light vigil held in Richmond in support of the 15-year-old student who was brutally gang raped outside of her Homecoming dance, the victim herself released a statement to the public which read by her church pastor.

"We realize people are angry about this. But let the anger cause change, change that is necessary to keep our children, our neighbors and our friends safe."

She also wrote in her statement, “violence is always the wrong choice."

Editor's Note:  The economic downturn has caused a troubling spike in homeless youth: young people spending their nights in shelters, abandoned cars, sometimes finding shelter on a friend's couch, too often literally sleeping on the streets, in parks, under freeway overpasses, and in riverbed encampments across the country. No one knows how many young people live this way because no one really bothers to count them but federal experts estimate that at least 1.6 million juveniles leave or are put out of their homes each year. Other research has found a 40% spike in the number of homeless youth over the past year. Who are these often-invisible young people? What are their lives like, and what do theythink would help them get stable and off the street? This video is a series in a collaboration between YO! Youth Outlook Multimedia/New America Media and the California Research Bureau.

Looks like a victory for San Francisco's undocumented youth won't come without a drawn-out fight in City Hall.

Yesterday, Mayor Gavin Newsom vetoed a change to the city's sanctuary policy that barred authorities from reporting undocumented minors, arrested on suspicion of felony crimes, to federal immigration agents.

The veto comes just weeks after crowds of people gathered at city hall to celebrate the board's decision to overturn its draconian mandate to report undocumented minors, arrested and charged with felony crimes, to ICE for deportation.

Critics said that the the policy of reporting minors to federal agents unfairly targeted undocumented youth, particularly those who had not yet been convicted of any crimes.

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