Speak Up for Change | A Youth Blog on Activism and Social Change

Posted by ACCESS on Apr 15, 2012

Importance of international pressure on gay rights

TweetBy Katie Martin Russia is a home for the new law passed that bans ‘gay propaganda’. I posted on my Facebook after I received an email from AllOut.org, a website and activist movement pushing equality everywhere, stating: “How do we still have to deal with the issue of Homosexuality being an issue? Moreover why are we still residing in an era where there are arrests for activist...

Posted by ACCESS on Apr 14, 2012

Fill Canada’s Food Banks by watching this video

TweetYou can Help Fill the Food Banks just by watching this video, or multiply your efforts by sharing it on Facebook and Twitter. For every YouTube view, before May 11, 2012, Shaw will donate $1 to the food bank drive and Campbell Canada will donate 1 pound of food up to $250,000 and 250,000 pounds of food respectively. Hunger affects every community. You can have a positive impact on those around you...

Posted by ACCESS on Mar 28, 2012

Am I Suspicious?

TweetDo I look suspicious? This video depicts Howard University men standing against racial profiling and the killing of Trayvon Martin in March 2012. Watch the powerful video below, a NEWMecca Movement Production filmed by John “JayDex” Ledbetter. More information on the efforts of the Howard Community to raise awareness can be found here. Howard University Trayvon Martin “Am I...

Posted by Blog Editor on Mar 28, 2012

Hunger Games race controversy amidst Week of Solidarity with Peoples Struggling against Racism

TweetBy Naomi Leanage, Blog Editor It’s ironic how during the Week of Solidarity with the Peoples Struggling against Racism and Racial Discrimination, several stars of one of the most publicized and anticipated films of the year, The Hunger Games, have been under as much vicious attacks as the characters they play in the film. Lenny Kravitz, Amandla Stenburg and Dayo Okeniyi who played stylist...

Posted by Blog Editor on Mar 12, 2012

Challenges women face are from lack of opportunity, not lack of will: Q & A with Jessi Cruickshank

TweetBy Naomi Leanage, Editor Jessi Cruickshank may be known for her cheerful and outgoing personality, great looks, fiery red hair, unique sense of style and as being the face behind MTV Canada’s now defunct hit The After Show, but she’s also one media mogul who has traveled around the world documenting child labour, hunger and poverty issues as a diehard ambassador for an education-focused...

Posted by ACCESS on Mar 7, 2012

Stop Kony’s crimes against children by making him famous

TweetChances are, if you haven’t watched the video below, you don’t know who Kony is. Change that right now, by watching the amazing documentary below. KONY 2012 is a film and campaign by Invisible Children that aims to make Joseph Kony famous, not to celebrate him, but to raise support for his arrest and set a precedent for international justice. Pledge your support by continuing to share...

Posted by ACCESS on Feb 24, 2012

Welcome to the New Speak Up for Change

TweetThe Speak Up for Change Blog has undergone a complete website re-design, moving to a new platform with additional features and ways to explore a variety of content. The all-new homepage highlights the latest content on the blog, a new menu allows easy-access to now categorized articles, and you can easily comment and share our posts. To kick-off this launch, we are featuring a motivational video about...

Posted by ACCESS on Feb 16, 2012

What makes you so strong?

TweetThis powerful video, entitled “What Makes You So Strong”, displays the struggles, and barriers, triumphs and success that people of African decent have gone through historically and in their present day lives. Showcasing individuals from the Continent, Caribbean, and North America, the video aims to highlight the many faces of the African Diaspora in addition to featuring a few of the many...