Scholars Strategy Network's No Jargon

Suicide is the second leading cause of death for young people in America. And black youth in particular face increasing suicide rates and challenges in accessing mental health services. Scholar and advocate Kimya Dennis dives into the background behind these suicide statistics, what prevents black youth from getting help, and how mental health providers can address this disconnect. If you or a loved one are experiencing a mental health crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) any time of day. For More on this Topic: Read Dennis’s SSN briefs, Debunking Myths about Mental Illness Among Blacks and The Complexities of Black Youth Suicide Check out her piece for The Conversation, Suicide Isn’t Just a White People Thing

An unexpected surgery can cost a worker thousands in medical bills. And in states without paid family and medical leave, they also have to go without a paycheck while recovering. Professors Randy Albelda and Alan Clayton-Matthews explain why paid family and medical leave is important to small businesses, workers, and their families, and how Massachusetts tackled this policy problem with help from their research. Read Clayton-Matthews and Albelda’s SSN brief, Why Massachusetts Can Afford to Require Paid Family and Medical Leave for All Workers Check out this Boston Globe article about the Massachusetts policy

Knowledge is power. Or at least that’s how the saying goes — but when it comes to climate change and its causes, that knowledge hasn’t translated into action. Postdoctoral Fellow Matthew Motta discusses why climate research is often disregarded, where Americans’ suspicion of scientists comes from, and how our interest in science affects our trust in scientists. For More on this Topic: Read Motta’s SSN brief, How Interest in Science Boosts Trust in Climate Scientists Check out his radio interview on the rise of anti-intellectualism

Having a warm and comfortable home is important for health and well-being. But with rising rent prices and growing inequality, it can be tough – if not impossible – to find a place to live. Professors Rosie Tighe and Megan Hatch explain why the U.S. has such a shortage of affordable housing, how government programs help, and why they often fall short. Read Tighe and Hatch’s SSN brief, How Fair Housing Programs Can be Bolstered by Laws Prohibiting Source of Income Discrimination Check out their piece with Joseph Mead in Shelterforce, Section 8 Allowed Find Joseph Mead’s New York Times opinion piece on their nuisance ordinance research

Since 9/11, fears about extremism have shaped the public’s view of Islam. And American policies often reflect these fears, zeroing in on Muslims and Muslim-Americans in the name of national security. Professor Rachel Gillum explores whether these policies work, why we use them, and how they impact Muslims in America. Read Gillum’s SSN brief, Assessing– and Reducing– Public Fear of Muslims Find her book, Muslims in a Post-9/11 America Check out her piece in Talking Points Memo on racism as a national security issue

In April 2018, Senator Kirsten Gillibrand introduced legislation to make basic banking services, like loans and check cashing, available at every branch of the United States Postal Service. Professor Mehrsa Baradaran explains the history of that idea, why postal banking is needed now, and how it can help reduce America’s growing inequality. Read Baradaran’s books, How the Other Half Banks: Exclusion, Exploitation, and the Threat to Democracy and The Color of Money: Black Banks and the Racial Wealth Gap Check out her OpEd in the Washington Post

A college degree can make a huge difference for parents and their kids. But if you’ve got an eight-year-old to support and a low-paying job, it’s next to impossible to pay for both tuition and childcare. For residents of Maine, a new law will help. Working with Joby Thoyalil of Maine Equal Justice Partners, Professors Luisa DePrez and Lisa Dodson used their research on the benefits of a college education for low-income women to help advance a bill called LIFT 2.0. Read Luisa and Lisa’s brief, “Why Higher Education is a Must for Low-Income Mothers” Check out the op-ed they wrote in the Portland Press Herald Learn more about Maine Equal Justice Partners on their website

Lawyers, doctors, engineers, and bankers are among America’s most respected professionals, and most are middle-aged white men. So what are the experiences of black men who join their ranks? Adia Harvey Wingfield describes how black men in high-powered professions navigate race and gender in the workplace, and what their experiences say about our changing economy. For More on this Topic: Read Wingfield’s brief, Constructive Steps to Further Workplace Diversity Find her book, No More Invisible Man: Race and Gender in Men’s Work Check out her Slate article on black men in the field of nursing

Since the Cambridge Analytica scandal broke, Americans have been talking about data: what online information is saved, what we should do with it, and who gets to decide. But these conversations often miss an important piece — government data. Professor Matthew Weber lays out what is currently happening with data collection and why we should actually save more information than we currently do. For More on this Topic: Read about the impossibility of comprehensive digital archives in the Atlantic Check out efforts to preserve federal agency data, featured in Forbes

Everyone needs healthcare. But Americans can’t agree on how to fix our troubled healthcare system. Now, the Trump Administration and a number of states are pushing one idea — require people on Medicaid to work. Professor Philip Rocco explains what’s behind these new requirements, what they would mean for people on Medicaid, and why they should really be called paperwork requirements. For More on this Topic: Read Rocco’s two-page brief, Why Work Requirements Will Not Improve Medicaid