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Showing posts from October, 2014

Understanding Ebola

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According to the World Health Organization,"t he Ebola virus causes an acute, serious illness which is often fatal if untreated. Ebola virus disease (EVD) first appeared in 1976 in 2 simultaneous outbreaks, one in Nzara, Sudan, and the other in Yambuku, Democratic Republic of Congo. The latter occurred in a village near the Ebola River, from which the disease takes its name. The current outbreak in west Africa, (first cases notified in March 2014), is the largest and most complex Ebola outbreak since the Ebola virus was first discovered in 1976. There have been more cases and deaths in this outbreak than all others combined. It has also spread between countries starting in Guinea then spreading across land borders to Sierra Leone and Liberia, by air (1 traveler only) to Nigeria, and by land (1 traveler) to Senegal." I remember watching  a documentary about the Ebola virus when I was in sixth grade, so about three or four years ago. I believe the documentary was called

The Young Voices of Milwaukee

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Two weeks ago I decided to be a part of a youth led organization called Urban Undergrounds. A friend of mine told me to check it out last year and thought that it would be a perfect way for me to start as a young passionate person who is committed to make a change within our community. The organization brings together young people between the ages of 14 to 18 who want to make a change within the community in terms of violence, poverty, health, criminal justice and education. According to Urban Underground's website the purpose of creating such organization is because," very often communities will convene stakeholders to explore and address issues impacting youth without ever consulting or engaging them. Although young people are often told that they are "the future" they are treated as if their ideas, creativity, and influence have no relevancy to the present. Urban Underground believes that every issue is a youth issue and their voice and leadership is