All Society
Cover StoryPray and wash: Finding church in unexpected placesFor many, worship has always been about much more than the edifice in which it occurs. Today, a new locus of spiritual growth is emerging around alternative settings that redefine 鈥渃hurch.鈥澛�
To help the homeless, there鈥檚 an app for thatCities across California and the country are embracing digital tools to reduce the guesswork in counting homeless people聽鈥撀燼dvances that in turn could fortify efforts to help them.
First Look'Gangland' reporters persist, despite risksUrban video journalists are pioneering a new form of newsgathering by focusing on the inner workings of gangs. Critics contend the videos glorify gang life, but their defenders say the videographers give voice to communities often neglected by traditional media.聽
First LookBlack man who leads neo-Nazi group vows to dismantle itIn a move that suggests parallels with the recent Spike Lee movie "BlacKkKlansman," the new leader of a long-standing neo-Nazi, white supremacist group, James Hart Stern, is seeking to use his position to undermine the group's defense against a lawsuit.
When forgiveness is the headline 鈥� a reporter in search of a different angleBeing the New York staff writer for any news organization could be an overwhelming job. With a population and an economy larger than many of the nations the Monitor covers, New York City is at the intersection of some of the biggest stories on the planet, from finance to culture to criminal justice. Throw a dart somewhere and you鈥檒l hit a story target that will interest an editor and a reader somewhere.聽Which is why many of the big picture issues Harry Bruinius covers from his New York perch for the Monitor 鈥� morality, justice, and forgiveness 鈥� are so compelling. And why they universally connect with our readers.聽One in a series of monthly profiles of Monitor journalists.
鈥楤e a man鈥�: What does that mean in modern America?Beyond angst over ads and concern that America is afraid to let boys be boys, there are areas of agreement: Neither men nor women should be boxed into stereotypes. Both should be able to be themselves.
Super Bowl: With Saints not in, this town鈥檚 the Big UneasyIt is said that the test of true fandom comes not with victory but with defeat.聽Saints fans have met their latest trial with the relentless spirit of survival that has buoyed聽New Orleans after countless floods and hurricanes.
In frigid heartland, an outpouring of warmthAs extreme cold grips the Midwest, communities are rallying around their unsheltered聽residents. But will this acute outpouring translate into long-term support for efforts to curb homelessness?
Beyond politics: Behind the wave of compassion toward federal workersMany people know what it feels like to miss a paycheck. That empathy has led to coast-to-coast casseroles, gift cards, and pizza deliveries as Americans take care of neighbors who work for the federal government.
Negro Mountain? Why offensive place names are still on US maps.What鈥檚 in a name? When that name is Runaway Negro Creek, a lot of mythology, and racism, masquerading as history. Why crude names are still on the maps, and how some communities are seeking change.聽
For young Native Americans, running is a lesson in their own historyGreat teachers can make a lifelong impression and inspire learning across disciplines. Wings of America coaches seek to help kids overcome stereotypes with stories of Native American athleticism and advocacy.聽聽
Cover StoryBecoming an adult: Why more adolescents now say 鈥楧on鈥檛 rush me鈥�After 18, teens move into a new, widely acknowledged developmental phase called 'emerging adulthood,' putting off traditional markers of the grown-up world such as marriage, children, and home ownership.
FocusIn Flint, a future built on schools as well as safe waterThe Flint water crisis may have faded from national headlines, but for locals the story is lifelong. The city's holistic approach to recovery may hold lessons for other struggling communities.
鈥楶logging鈥� picks up steam 鈥� and trash 鈥� worldwideIt is perhaps a diversion for the inveterate multitasker. Enthusiasts of a Swedish-coined term, 鈥減logging,鈥� marry running with picking up trash along the way.
To bring refugees west, Americans look north 鈥� to CanadaThe US may be admitting fewer refugees in recent years, but Americans are still finding ways to bring families from the Middle East to safety in the West. The trick: They鈥檙e helping them reach Canada, not the US.
鈥業t鈥檚 like we don鈥檛 exist鈥�: California鈥檚 invisible rural housing crisisThe precarious state of low-income housing in rural America threatens to deteriorate over the next decade聽鈥� and from there descend into a full-blown crisis.
America鈥檚 Christmas tree: The hunt for the iconic Rockefeller treeLike hanging treasured ornaments and decorating gingerbread, for millions of Americans the annual lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree is a beloved tradition and a comforting symbol of the holidays.聽
No room at the inn: Mexican Posada tradition inspires US migrantsInternational traditions are commonly adapted to new environments via migration and globalization. In California, the ritual of La Posada, which reenacts Joseph and Mary's search for shelter, has taken on new meaning in a time of increased anti-migrant rhetoric.聽
Yes, you can discuss politics at the holiday table. Here鈥檚 how.During polarized times, we often avoid discussing politics at holiday gatherings to keep the peace. But engaging wisely can help build bridges, promote understanding, and enrich relationships.聽
First LookMajor cities saw homeless numbers decline, though US count slightly upLos Angeles and San Diego 鈥� both cities with large homeless populations 鈥� saw small declines in total homelessness. In other parts of the West Coast, however, the number of homeless continues to rise in tandem with lack of affordable housing.聽