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Understanding The Importance Of Snap Benefits As A Social Safety Net For All Americans
In this gripping episode of the KYRC Podcast, we confront the devastating toll of America’s longest government shutdown that stretched beyond 40 days and drained over $10 billion a week. Families who depend on SNAP are going hungry, blocked from the benefits they’ve earned, as political gamesmanship turns food access into leverage. Through raw stories and urgent commentary, we explore how millions are forced to choose between survival and dignity while the government funds wa
Nov 22, 20251 min read
ICE Recruits Fail Drug Tests, Background Checks Amid Rush to Expand Force
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been fast-tracking new recruits into training before completing background checks, a deeply troubling move tied to President Donald Trump’s mass deportation push. According to current and former Department of Homeland Security officials, the rush has resulted in unqualified and even dangerous individuals entering ICE’s ranks. “There is absolutely concern that some people are slipping through the cracks,” one DHS official admitted,
Nov 19, 20252 min read
ICE Is Hiring Dozens Of Health Workers As Lawsuits, Deaths In Custody Mount
The Trump administration’s decision to expand health staff inside immigration detention centers comes amid a surge in detainee deaths and a decline in federal oversight—raising urgent questions about accountability rather than care. ICE has reported 20 detainee deaths in custody in a single year under Trump, nearly matching the Biden administration’s entire tally, a staggering figure given that more than 60,000 migrants are currently detained. These facilities are described
Nov 18, 20252 min read
Brandon Jackson Teaches St. Louis Youth How To Stay Safe & Confident During Police Encounters
Brandon Jackson led an unforgettable session at the Know Your Rights Camp in St. Louis, where he poured into students the critical knowledge of how to navigate encounters with authority. He explained federal and local laws not as dry statutes but as urgent lessons for survival, framing them through scenarios like investigatory stops, traffic stops, and warrant searches. Each example carried weight, showing how everyday moments could escalate without preparation. The young par
Nov 11, 20251 min read
Jennings High Senior Jacob Jackson Uses Brotherhood & Leadership To Drive Community Change
Jacob Jackson, a senior at Jennings Senior High School and president of Gentleman of Vision, shares how the mentoring program shaped his values of brotherhood, manhood, and discipline through stepping. Deeply committed to community involvement and education, Jacob draws inspiration from the Know Your Rights Camp’s mission to empower Black communities. This is influenced by role models like KYRC co-founder @Kaepernick7—whose stand for social justice cost him his NFL career. Un
Nov 10, 20251 min read
Etoya R. White Shows St. Louis Youth How Mental & Physical Wellness Can Build A Fuller Life
At the Know Your Rights camp in St. Louis, licensed professional counselor Etoya R. White led a session that bridged mental and physical health in practical, accessible ways. He engaged young audiences through humor and relatable examples, making wellness feel approachable rather than abstract. White highlighted how sessions like these help fill important gaps in education, empowerment, and access to resources—areas where many communities often go underserved. Closing his tal
Nov 10, 20251 min read
Two Middle School Students Share How Culture, Rights & Education Inspire Their Future
In this thought-provoking conversation, Ellis, an eighth grader, and Lydia Lockhart, a seventh grader, share their unique insights and future aspirations. Ellis highlights the rich cultural history of braids in African heritage and reflects on the powerful act of taking a knee, inspired by KYRC co-founder @kaepernick7's fight against oppression. He speaks on the value of education and reading, especially within the African American community. Lydia, full of ambition, dreams o
Nov 9, 20251 min read
Cbabi Bayoc & Bmike Odums Show Youth How Art Can Fuel Community Change
Cbabi Bayoc and Brandan “Bmike” Odums, celebrated visual artists, led an inspiring art and activism session at Know Your Rights Camp in St. Louis. Bayoc shared his murals and series, emphasizing the importance of recognizing the creators behind powerful visuals. Odums spoke on imagination as a tool for activism, urging participants to envision and build the futures they want. Both highlighted art’s collaborative role in social movements, complementing actions like marches and
Nov 9, 20251 min read
18-Year-Old Lacienne De Joie Is Rebuilding A Better St. Louis Through Community Action
Lacienne De Joie, an 18-year-old student from Parkway West High School and St. Louis Community College, is determined to uplift her community. After learning about Missouri’s delayed educational system for Black people at a camp, Lacienne became more motivated to make a difference. A visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture inspired her vision to transform St. Louis. She plans to launch community initiatives to clean neighborhoods, replace liquor s
Nov 8, 20251 min read
Youth Power Is The Shield Protecting Public Schools From Misinformation And Political Attacks
Charli Cooksey, founder and CEO of We Power, delivers an urgent call to protect public education. She warns of efforts to dismantle schools and emphasizes that young people must rise through advocacy, organizing, and civil disobedience. For Cooksey, this fight is personal—rooted in her connections with students and their dreams. She stresses that truth, not propaganda, should guide political decisions and highlights the danger of misinformation spreading online. By urging com
Nov 8, 20251 min read
Mykail James a.k.a. The Bougie Budgeter Sparks Powerful Money Conversations At KYRC St. Louis
Mykail James, widely known as the Bougie Budgeter, led a financial education session at the St. Louis Know Your Rights Camp, stressing that money is deeply political and financial defense is essential. She introduced both new and familiar concepts, sparking conversations about budgeting, entrepreneurship, and homeownership that reflected the youth’s eagerness to learn. James highlighted the systemic barriers marginalized communities face and reminded participants that financi
Nov 7, 20251 min read
Colin Kaepernick Reflects on KYRC St. Louis Camp & Expanding Youth Empowerment Nationwide
Our co-founder @Kaepernick7 reflected on the Know Your Rights Camp’s 14th event in St. Louis, honoring its deep impact on the community. He spoke to the camp’s mission of equipping young people with the tools to navigate today’s shifting digital and political landscape. For Colin, true empowerment is about making youth feel seen, heard, and capable of shaping their futures. The heart of the camp’s success lies in inspiring self-determination and preparing the next generation
Nov 6, 20251 min read
Trump Cuts $8M Grant to Chicago Schools Over Equity Policies
The Trump administration has decided to cancel an $8 million Magnet Schools Assistance Program grant for Chicago Public Schools (CPS) because the district refused to eliminate its Black Student Success Plan and restrict the rights of transgender students. Federal officials claimed CPS’s decision “fails to address the harms befalling CPS students,” according to Craig Trainor, acting assistant secretary for civil rights. CPS leaders pushed back, stressing that both policies fol
Nov 4, 20251 min read
California Fights Back to Protect FEMA Disaster Funds
California cities and counties are fighting back against the Trump administration’s attempt to tie FEMA and disaster preparedness funding to unrelated political demands. A coalition of 29 local governments — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San José, and Santa Clara County — has filed a lawsuit challenging more than $350 million in threatened cuts to Department of Homeland Security and FEMA grants. At stake is money that funds emergency response, disaster preven
Nov 3, 20252 min read
Immigration Raids Devastate LA Fashion District, Immigrant Communities and Businesses Reeling
Businesses in Los Angeles’ Fashion District are facing serious economic harm due to recent immigration raids that have frightened customers and workers. Federal operations that began in June—part of the Trump administration’s crackdown—have targeted businesses with search warrants and detentions, sending a chilling message to immigrant communities. At Ambience Apparel, officers in tactical gear detained workers after accusing the owner of using false documents. This display o
Oct 31, 20252 min read
Black Employment in Federal Leadership Rolled Back Under Trump
For many Black public servants, the Trump administration’s dismissal of key Black officials has felt like a targeted effort to erase hard-won representation within the highest levels of government. Robert E. Primus, who led the Surface Transportation Board, discovered he had been fired through an abrupt email, not a conversation. “I didn’t see it coming at all,” he said, later reflecting that maybe the administration believed “this job was not intended for Blacks.” His firing
Oct 31, 20252 min read
NBC News Cuts Diversity Teams, Sparking Fears for Inclusive Coverage
NBC News’ decision to eliminate its dedicated teams covering Black, Asian American, Latino, and LGBTQ+ communities marks a deeply concerning shift at a time when inclusive storytelling is more essential than ever. As part of layoffs affecting “about 150 staffers,” NBC confirmed that the news verticals NBC BLK, NBC Asian America, NBC Latino, and NBC OUT will no longer be supported by their own specialized teams. While NBC says these platforms will “continue to publish stories,
Oct 31, 20252 min read
California Fights Back to Protect FEMA Disaster Funds
California cities and counties are fighting back against the Trump administration’s attempt to tie FEMA and disaster preparedness funding to unrelated political demands. A coalition of 29 local governments — including Los Angeles, San Francisco, Oakland, San José, and Santa Clara County — has filed a lawsuit challenging more than $350 million in threatened cuts to Department of Homeland Security and FEMA grants. At stake is money that funds emergency response, disaster preven
Oct 30, 20252 min read
Mother Left Searching After ICE Seizes 13-Year-Old Without Due Process
There are few things more sacred to a mother than hearing her child’s voice. For Josiele Berto, those phone calls are no longer ordinary moments of joy—they are lifelines to her 13-year-old son, Arthur, who now sits in immigration custody, shuttled across states like cargo, without explanation. “I only talk to him – never to any official who could explain what kind of place it is or what’s happening,” she said, her voice heavy with disbelief. The nightmare began when Everett,
Oct 30, 20252 min read
Former Deputy Sean Grayson Found Guilty in Killing of Sonya Massey
The conviction of former Sangamon County deputy Sean Grayson for the killing of 36-year-old Sonya Massey represents a crucial moment of accountability that many see as long overdue. On October 29, a Peoria jury found Grayson guilty of second-degree murder for fatally shooting Massey, an unarmed Black woman who had called police for help during a mental health crisis. “Accountability has begun,” said attorneys Ben Crump and Antonio Romanucci, calling the verdict “a measure of
Oct 30, 20252 min read
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