IGNITE's Blog

My favorite member of One Direction is Harry Styles. I like Cheez-itz and women's empowerment. I'm also the founder of a media company created by and for young disabled people. You’ll notice these things are all incongruent to each other. But to me, they are all the things that make me the young disabled person I am. Other people, or rather, mainstream media, would tell you that I spend all my days crying into my Cheez-itz because of my disability. But honestly, that could not be farther from the truth.

As an organization dedicated to empowering young women to pursue political office, IGNITE is deeply concerned about the recent expulsion of Rep. Justin Jones and Rep. Justin Pearson, two young Black state reps, from the Tennessee legislature, after they participated in a protest over gun control. The move sets a dangerous anti-democratic precedent for removing young people of color from political office and deterring others from aspiring to hold these seats of power. It is unacceptable for lawmakers to silence the voices of their constituents, especially those who are marginalized and underrepresented in our political system.

Many people will never forget where they were and how they felt when the Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization decision was leaked. News that Roe v. Wade was about to be overturned quickly spread, and individual reactions ranged the entire emotional -- and political -- spectrum. In that moment, it seemed as though 5 decades of work toward reproductive justice would simply vanish.

Lianne Aratea is IGNITE's Bay Area Campus Organizer. Lianne is a professional that centers equity and community care at their core. In previous roles, she has worked...

Happy International Women's Day! Throughout Women's History month, IGNITE will be highlighting some of today's young changemakers. These IGNITE leaders are making an impact on their communities through advocacy, policymaking, organizing and much more. Keep reading to learn more about their work! 

When it came to Hillary Clinton during the 2016 election, there was a lot to talk about. From think pieces about her emails to op-eds on whether she would deliver on more progressive campaign promises, the conversation surrounding her was almost unending.

But out of everything being said about Hillary Clinton during the election, one word kept popping up again and again: pantsuit.

It's Black History month and our IGNITE community continues to push for racial justice in America. 

Black History Month was first recognized at the Federal level in 1976 to push back against years of denial of Black history in America. It is sad to say that almost half a century later, efforts to prevent the teaching of Black history continue. The U.S. Supreme Court's imminent affirmative action ruling will likely also undermine representative democracy.

In the few weeks since 2023 began, over 100 pieces of legislation have been introduced in state legislatures that target and discriminate against members of the LGBTQ+ community. Transgender students are being barred from participating in sports. Drag shows are being banned. Restrictions on gender-affirming care have tightened even further.

Much of this discriminatory legislation effectively strips individuals of their bodily autonomy, a worrying trend we continue to see. With the overturning of Roe v Wade, many state legislatures have passed laws that infringe on our privacy and bodily autonomy rights. These laws tend to disproportionately impact cis and trans BIPOC women, transgender men, and nonbinary people.

And yet, through it all, activists in the LGBTQ+ community and their allies continue to push for change.

The excerpt below was originally published in Ms. Magazine. Click here to view the full piece. 

I’m an Asian American woman who serves on the city council in Eastvale, Calif. I’ve served as mayor there. I’m also a survivor of intimate partner violence, and it’s time for me to talk about it. Here’s why.

Yesenia Baldivia-Zarate is the IGNITE Detroit Fellow. She is a movement politics organizer with Michigan United and Michigan People's Campaign. Yesenia is also a DACA...